If you’re looking to bring a little garden magic indoors year-round, dried flowers are one of the simplest and most charming ways to do it. And the best part? You don’t need to grow anything fancy or unusual. In fact, there are easy flowers to dry that you probably already have blooming in your yard. Whether you want to try making homemade wreaths, potpourri, or just a vase of everlasting blooms, these five familiar flowers are a great place to start.
Below, I’ll walk you through the best ways to dry each flower and a few creative ways to use them once they’re preserved.
1. Marigold
Bright, cheerful, and tough as nails, marigolds are garden staples-and they dry beautifully. Their bold orange and yellow blooms hold their color well and have a long history of being used in garlands, potpourri, and even natural dyeing.
How to dry them: Cut the blooms when fully open and hang them upside down in a dry, dark place with good airflow. You can also pick the petals and dry them flat on a screen or paper towel.
How to use them: Sprinkle dried petals into bath salts or homemade soap, string whole blooms into festive garlands.
2. Cosmos
These airy, delicate flowers bring a whimsical feel to any arrangement. Cosmos are one of the easiest flowers to grow and come in a variety of lovely colors, from pale pink to deep magenta.
How to dry them: Harvest when the blooms are freshly open and firm. Hang them upside down in small bunches or press them flat between layers of parchment paper for use in crafts.
How to use them: Add to homemade cards, journals, or frame them as a botanical art. Imagine how pretty it would be to have a couple dried flowers in a small brass frame. Their dainty shape and soft color also look lovely tucked into dried floral bouquets.
3. Hydrangeas
A favorite in cottage gardens, hydrangeas practically dry themselves. With their big pillowy blooms and muted vintage tones, they’re perfect for fall wreathes, dried arrangements, or even Christmas decor.
How to dry them: Let the blooms mature on the bush until they start to feel papery to the touch. Then cut the stems and place them in a vase with a couple inches of water. Allow the water to evaporate naturally. The blooms will dry slowly, preserving their shape and color.
How to use them: Display them in a basket, make a dried hydrangea wreath, or tuck them into a dried floral centerpiece.
4. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Not just a pollinator favorite, coneflowers offer unique texture when dried. The spiky seed heads and sturdy stems hold up beautifully in rustic or natural-style arrangements.
How to dry them: Wait until the flower starts to fade and the seed head is firm. Cut and hang upside down to dry, or leave the heads to dry on the plant before harvesting.
How to use them: Use dried seed heads in wreaths or dried bouquets, or leave a few in the garden to feed birds through the winter.
5. Zinnias- Colorful and Easy Flowers to Dry
Beloved for their bold colors and long bloom time, zinnias are an excellent choice for drying-especially if you’re after something easy and cheerful.
How to dry them: Harvest when blooms are just open and before the petals start to curl. Hang upside down in bunches in a dry, shaded space. For flatter applications, you can press them.
How to use them: Add to dried arrangements, glue to wreaths or gift tags, or use them to decorate your seasonal table.
Bonus: 3 Wildflowers That Are Also Easy Flowers To Dry
You don’t have to stop at your garden-some of the prettiest dried flowers can be found along the roadside or in meadows. These wild blooms are not only beautiful but also easy flowers to dry with minimal effort.
- Queen Anne’s Lace
- Lacy and delicate, it adds a vintage, romantic feel to dried arrangements.
- Harvest before it goes to seed and hang upside down to dry.
2. Goldenrod
- Its golden plumes brighten up any fall-themed decor and dry to a soft yellow.
- Air dry in bunches; best when picked just before full bloom.
3. Yarrow
- Known for its medicinal properties and sturdy umbels, yarrow dries quickly and retains its shape well.
- Harvest when flowers are fully open and airy dry in bunches.
Tips For Drying Flowers Successfully:
- Harvest in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot.
- Bundle small bunches and secure with twine or rubber bands.
- Hang them upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space to preserve color and prevent mold.
- Be patient! Most flowers take 1-3 weeks to dry completely.
Whether you’re crafting, decorating, or simply want to preserve a bit of summer’s beauty, these easy flowers to dry make it simple and satisfying. Chances are, you’ve already got a few blooming nearby-so why not give it a try?
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