We have been experimenting with drying flowers for as long as we've been working with flowers.  I think any floral enthusiast has also experienced this. It's so interesting to look a tight budded flower, see it open, reach its prime, then fade... 

Over the years we've learned that most flowers and foliage dry if given a chance. Some are better suited for this, some shed, some don't. Some maintain their shape, others don't. 

The basic thing to know, is that some flowers require being hung upside down to dry well. Others dry better in vase, just as they are. Below, a list of flowers we like to dry and include in our dried bouquets. (((( link to dry bouquet ))))

Flowers that dry well in vase, as they are arranged. Just remove water, arrange, and leave as is. 

• Hydrangea ( these need to be late summer hydrangeas that have weathered well outdoors and have a leathery look and feel to thier petals ) 
• Eucalyptus ( all kinds! ) 
• Gypsophilia ( also known as Baby's Breath or "Gypso" in floral industry language) If you're lucky, you'll have the wild local British Columbia gypso that grows wild along the Coquihalla Highway all over in summer months )  
• Caspia, also known as limonium. This is a staple ingredient in our dried bouquets, adding nice texture and fill, without overwhelming the other ingredients. It dries perfectly, the colour fading from a light blue to a warm white over time. 
• Grasses, all kinds! We have been drying local grasses for a long time. We collect large quantities in the summer and fall, and store them and use them the rest of the year. In more recent years, wholesalers have been importing grasses from California, Africa, and Europe. 
• Sago palm, this is a striking tropical leaf that fades from a dark green to a golden tone. Super impactful in a bouquet or solo in vase. 

Most other flowers need to be hung upside down for several weeks. These flowers have heavy heads that will just look sad when dried in vase. Using our floral wire, we wrap these in bunches, cleaning off all green leaves and hang them upside down. 

• Roses 
• Peonies
• Ranunculus 
• Tulips 
• Iris 
• Daffodil 
• Lisianthus
• Sweet peas 
• Straw flower 
• Scabiosa 
• Allium 
• Camomile 
• Amaranthus 
• Rice flower

We teach designing with dried flowers through our seasonal workshop series. 

Over the last few years, and really, since the 80's and beyond. Dried flowers are just as beautiful and valuable in this naturally preserved state. The demand for them is surprisingly consistent year-round as our clients sometimes prefer the low maintenance aspect of this floral designs. 

Read more: We talked with The Globe and Mail about the dried flower resurgence.