Flowers for Drying

Wondrous names . . . Immortelle, Pearly Everlasting, Velvet Flower, Foxtail, Life Everlasting, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Chenille, Strawflower, Chinese Lantern Plant . . . these and more like them bear witness to the never-ending search for flowers suitable for dried arrangements. They will start appearing for sale in late fall. But if you want a selection for yourself or as gifts, now is the time to commence.

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It only be added that for the novice gardeners, few things could be easier. Modestly priced seed, ease of culture with minimum care, little skill in preserving, these are the ultimate no fuss, no muss plants. One can only wonder why they are not grown more. If there is space for but a single selection, choose Common Immortelle, also known as the Annual Everlasting, Xeranthemum annuum. That botanical name is something of a mouthful but simply combines Greek xeros, dry and anthos, a flower. Colours run almost the full rainbow: white, pink, rose, violet and purple on 40-60cm stems. Harvest when fully open then hang upside down in a shady area to dry. Hailing from central and southern Europe to Caucasus this symbol of eternity; most widely cultivated species of everlasting flowers The Common Immortelle, like most candidates for dried flower production, is an annual that can be seeded direct in a sunny spot as soon as the weather breaks in spring. True, they can be started six to eight seeks earlier inside to get an advance start but we promised a no fuss, no muss, remember. A simple tip though when sowing fine, tiny seeds. Prevent later overcrowding by sowing too thickly by mixing a teaspoon or so of cage bird fine sand into the seed package, bulking out the seed and making it easier to spread thinly. There are other flowers known as Immortelle but probably listed under Strawflowers in seed catalogues. Some Helichrsyum hail from the Antipodes, but species may also originate South Africa, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Crete, the Middle East, Yemen, Turkestan and southern Europe in a sort of botanical travel agent’s delight of over 500 species, mostly in shades of pink, orange and yellow with some whites. Most grown for dried flowers are annuals, but the genera include perennials, subshrubs and shrubs. The ‘flowers’ are actually colourful bracts. Cut before the centre petals fully open and strip off all foliage before drying these popular flowers.

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There are several other popular and easy annual candidates for drying. Globe Amaranth, Gomphrena globosa, a widespread tropical unsurprisingly tolerates heat and drought. Often offered by garden centres, 45cm stems bear white, rose, purple, salmon, and bronze blooms that attract butterflies. The Everlasting Sand Flower or Winged Everlasting, Ammobium alatum, from Australia produces silver white flowers with yellow centres. Celosia argentea (syn. cristata), Cockscomb is a familiar annual bedding plant in shades of rose pink, coral, salmon, purple or yellow. Tolerating dry conditions like so many of our listed flowers for drying, they should be harvested when at their peak. In China they arte used for stopping hemorrhages and diarrhea. A close relation from the Amaranth Family is Amaranthus caudatus variously known as Love-Lies-Bleeding, Velvet Flower, Chenille or Foxtail. Magnificent rich red plumes will, if not used as a dried flower, bear grain that was widely used in Central and South America before being replaced by European cereals in 16th century. The name derives from Greek a-, without, and marain, to wither, alluding to the inflorescences that appear to be everlasting Perennials for our purposes do not form such a large group. One of the commonest and widely available makes its appearance either first or last in listings thanks to its botanical and common names. Yarrows are hardy perennials that enjoy full sun and seem to flourish in any soil. Scientifically they are Achillea after Achilles, hero of Greek mythology, who is said to have used it to heal wounds at the Siege of Troy, having been taught the uses and virtues of plants by Chiron the Centaur. In French it is the herbe aux charpentiers in reference to its use for healing cuts made by carpenters’ tools an interesting survival over three millennium. A. filipendulina is yellow yarrow, 75-150cm, while A. millefolium is white and claimed to repel mosquitoes. Anaphalis margaritacea, Pearly Everlasting of wide distribution, is a 30-40cm hardy perennial usually of white or yellow bracts but extremely variable, growing in sun or part shade, claimed by some to be the most showy of all the everlastings. Unless you can restrain it, avoid Physalis alkekengi, Chinese Lantern Plant with its white-purple flowers followed by attractive orange seed pods: the creeping rhizomes can become invasive Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana, from Argentina is not a plant for more northern climates but a wonderful addition elsewhere. Be wary of the very sharp edges to its leaves when harvesting the 150-200cm silky white plumes that are so valued in larger arrangements. Being known by so many common names proves Lunaria annua to be worthy of its nomens: Honesty, Moonwort, Silver Dollar or Money Flower. Strangely this lovely European is a member of the Cruciferae, or Cabbage Family. The 60-90cm stems bear mauve flowers followed by silver seed pods. These are shaped like the moon, hence the luna in its Latin name. L. rediviva, Perennial Honesty, has fragrant flowers but otherwise is similar to L. annua Perennial blue Statice, Limonium latifolium from southern Russia, also known as Sea Lavender, lasts for months in dried flower arrangements and is often sold in separate bunches. It has also found use as an astringent tonic useful for diarrhea and dysentery. Strictly speaking, this is a perennial but grown as an annual for cut flower purposes. In addition to blue, there are yellow, pink, rose and white forms available. A last and an oddball is the Fuller’s Teasel, Dipsacus sativus, a biennial or short-lived perennial originating from Eurasia, but naturalized in North America. The lavender flowers are borne on 120-150cm stems, often thorny. These are followed by the strange spiky seed heads once used for raising nap on woolen cloth. Wear gloves when harvesting!

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