List of flowers suitable for use with Desiccants

July 7, 2012April 24, 2014 dotcomwomen

Below is a list of plants suitable for drying with desiccants. It is by no means exhaustive, and there may well be flowers which you have tried which don’t appear on here! The thing to do if in doubt, and the flower doesn’t appear in this list, is to experiment to see if it dries successfully. It is possible to dry practically every type of flower with desiccants. The most suitable types, however, are those with fairly simple flowers, as more complex flowers make it difficult to get the desiccant in between the petals, and this can result in uneven drying. Also, fleshy leaved plants, such as succulents, are not really suitable, as they tend to rot before they dry. Both the flowers and foliage of plants can be dried using desiccants.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Alstroemeria Amaryllis Anemone	Peruvian Lily Hippeastrum –

B
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Betula pendula Briza Bromus	Birch Quaking Grass Brome Grass

C
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Calendula Callistemon Carlina acaulis Carthamus tinctorius Catananche caeroleum Celosia Centauria Chrysanthemum vulgare Cladonia Clematis Cortaderia selloana Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ Craspedia globosa Cynara scolymus/cardunculus Cytissus	Pot Marigold Bottle Brush Carline Thistle Safflower Cupid’s Dart Cockscomb or Prince’s Feather Cornflower Tansy Reindeer Moss – Pampas Grass Contorted Hazel Globe Flower Artichoke/Cardoon Broom

D
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Dahlia Delphinium ajacis Digitalis Dipsacus fullonum	– Larkspur Foxglove Teasel

E
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Echinops ritro Eleagnus pungens Erica Eryngium	Globe Thistle – Heather Sea Holly

F
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Foeniculum vulgare	Fennel

G
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Gnaphallium Gomphrena globosa Gypsophila paniculata	– Globe amaranth Baby’s Breath

H
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Helichrysum bracteatum Helipterum humboldtianum Helipterum manglesii Hordeum jubatum Humulus lupulus Hydrangea	Straw Flower – – Squirrel Tail Grass Hop –

I
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Iris foetidissima Iris orientalis	Stinking Gladwyn –

K
Kochia	Silver Cypress

L
Lagurus Lapsana communis Lavandula Liatris Limonium Lonas inodora Lunaria annua	Hare’s Tail Grass Nipplewort Lavender Gay Feather, Blazing Star Sea Lavender – Honesty

M
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Miscanthus Morina longiflora Muscari	Grass Whorl Flower Grape Hyacinth

N
Nicandra physaloides Nigella damascena Nigella orientalis	Shoo Fly Plant Love-in-a-Mist –

O
Origanum dictamnus Onopordon acanthium	Ditany Scotch Thistle

P
Paeonia lactiflora Papaver Phlomis fruticosa Phlomis samia/russelliana Phormium tenax Physalis alkengii Protea	Peony Poppy Jerusalem Sage – New Zealand Flax Chinese Lanterns –

R
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Reseda lutea Rhodanthe – See Helipterum Rosa – Hybrid Tea Types Rumex	Mignonette – Rose Dock

S
Salvia Santolina Scabiosa stellata Sedum spectabile Senecio cineraria Senecio greyii Silene pendula Silybum marianum Sisyrinchium striatum Solidago canadensis Stachys lanata	– Cotton Lavender Drumstick Scabious – Silver Leaf – – Milk Thistle Satin Flower Golden Rod Lambs’ Lugs

T
BOTANICAL NAME	ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Typha angustifolia	Reed Mace ( incorrectly, Bull Rush)

V
Verbascum bombyciferum	Mullein

X
Xeranthemum annuum	–

Z
Zea mays Zinnia	Sweet Corn, Corn on the Cob –

About the Author

Chrissie Harten lives in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, with her husband, and her cute dog Toby. Gardening is her passion, and Chrissie loves to describe herself as a plantaholic. When she is not in her garden, Chrissie teaches Flower Arrangements and plays the Saxophone. She is the Secretary and Internet Officer of Bromsgrove and District Flower Arrangement Society, which is affiliated to NAFAS.