Learn the secret for drying hydrangeas that will last for a long time. They will look great in wreaths, and vignettes all over your home.
Are you growing hydrangeas? If so, you will definitely love drying hydrangeas to save in a vase, use in a wreath, or any home decor craft projects. The process is really very easy. I think most people would agree that hydrangea blossoms are almost as beautiful dried as they are fresh.
They keep quite a long time once dried, as an everlasting bouquet, in wreaths and many other decorative projects.
How to Dry Hydrangeas
Cut Them At the Right Time of Year
Timing. That's the key. If you cut hydrangeas too early in the season there is a good chance that they will wither quickly. The best time is typically at the end of the growing season around late summer or early fall. I've noticed them drying as early as August or as late as October.
These flowers (above) are all getting ready to be cut for drying. They start to get a washed-out antique look. Some even feel dry to the touch.
The Drying Process
The easiest way to dry hydrangea flowers is to cut some with a good bit of stem, strip off all the leaves and place them in a bucket or vase with only 2-3 inches of water. After about a week, the water will evaporate and the flowers will dry in place. Pretty simple, huh?
Sure you can try hanging them upside down as you might with drying lavender flowers. You could also use silica gel but you'd need a lot to cover the flower petals. Overall, this water method is so easy and has worked well for me on all types of hydrangea shrubs and colors.
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This process works well with mophead hydrangeas and other varieties such as H. arborescens and H. paniculata. You could also dry them with silica gel but since they are so large I feel it's a lot harder and why spend the money when you can air dry them for free.
Decorating with Dried Hydrangeas
I have dried hydrangeas all over the place in my home. I've used them in flower arrangements and centerpieces during the holidays, in wreaths, and some in vases.
After a while, they can get a little fragile and dusty. Some say a good aerosol hairspray can help protect them and deter dust. However, did you know that you can dunk them in water to make dried hydrangea blooms more pliable for use in a project? See my post on creating a square hydrangea wreath (above) where I used older dried hydrangea flowers.
While they seem fragile they actually last a long time. Drying hydrangea flowers is a great idea if you are growing them outside already. Why not give it a try?
More Fun with Dried Hydrangeas:
How to Dry Hydrangea Flowers
Equipment
- Scissors or Pruning Shears
Materials
- Fresh hydrangea flowers just cut from the shrub in late summer
- Bucket or vase
Instructions
- Cut several hydrangea blooms with long stems directly from the shrub.
- Remove most of the leaves.
- Set the stems in a bucket or vase with 3-4 inches of water.
- Allow the bucket or vase to set until all water has evaporated. At that point, the blooms should be dried.
Karen
Great ideas !!!!! Excited about this site !!!!
Patti Estep
I'm so glad and hope you stop back often.
Karen F. Pierson
Thank you, Patti.
I am new to the group and looking forward to everything you post.
I have two beautiful Hydrangea bushes in my back yard. I have enjoyed drying flowers for decades. I especially enjoy Roses and Hydrangeas.
My method of drying most flowers is to hang them up side down. Yes, it looks strange-walk into my condo and you'll even see them hanging in the kitchen from the knobs of the cabinets. Pretty; but, strange. Yes, I'm known to be a bit eclectic. The Roses I like to dry by the bunch. I tie twine around the stems of the bunch(sometimes I take the leaves off and sometimes I leave them on) and just hang them upside down. By doing that, the stems also dry beautifully and straight. I also dry Baby's Breath in with the bunch. At times I dry single Roses from special occasions .
Hydrangea stems are hardy,so even right side up the stems stay straight. I do use hair spray to stabilize the petals after the flowers are dry. Sometimes I use spray color on the flowers -but most of the time I love them just the way they dry . Thank you so much. I am looking forward to learning new projects. Karen
Patti Estep
Hi Karen,
You sound like an old pro. Hanging is a great way to dry flowers too. It gives them a great air circulation for even drying. I sometimes use hairspray too but not always and have even tried a little spray poly on a wreath or too.
Karen F.Pierson
Hi Patti,
Yes, old!
I found your page the other day while just surfing the web. I can hardly wait to "dig" into it. Thank you for the great ideas I see on your site.
I know I will be spending a lot of time learning from you and your followers.
Never too old to learn (age 75) Thank you, Karen
Patti Estep
Hi Karen,
So glad to have you. I'm sure you have a lot of wisdom. Please feel free to share with us all.
Deborah Tyger
Do you spray your hydrangeas to "fix" them?
Patti Estep
Hi Deborah,
To be honest I usually don't, but from time to time I've used both hairspray and spray poly to help protest a wreath.
Hope that answer helps you.
Carole West
That's something I miss hydrangeas... this variety is my favorite and that wreath is beautiful. I remember my grandma had a pink one and she let them dry on the plant and then clipped to bring in the house. Just a beautiful plant even when it isn't blooming.. Back in my florist days we sprayed them gold at Christmas and tucked them into the trees with ribbon and berries. So many things you can do with them...
Patti Estep
Hi Carole,
I also remember using dried hydrangeas at Christmas and I used a few a couple of years back. Spraying them gold is a great idea. After all, everything that was old is now new again, right?
Margie
Fantastic idea. Even though we live in NZ which is hot at Christmas, I may give this a go for church. What sort of berries did you use?
Patti Estep
Hi Margie,
Carole was talking about pepper berries like the ones she used here:
http://www.gardenupgreen.com/2014/11/the-amaryllis-box.html
She also sent this link for a place to purchase them:
http://www.drieddecor.com/dried-pepperberries-p-428.html
Hope that helps!
Kirby
We had a bumper crop this year, so I have a ton for The Gray Door Market in September.
Patti Estep
Hi Kirby,
How wonderful. I bet they will be a huge sale for you at the market. I wish I lived closer because it looks fabulous!
lauren
I have always wanted to dry hydrangeas! I've tried roses and I don't like the look, kind of old-feeling 🙂 while the hydrangeas keep their fresh look for so long. thanks for sharing! maybe I'll give it a shot...
Patti Estep
Hi Lauren,
Yes. Some of the newer dark hybrids are so beautiful. Just wait until they are starting to dry out a bit before picking. If you have an abundance of blooms you can try some earlier, but your results may be hit or miss.