No question Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs in the landscape. They are also one of the easiest flowers to air dry . The flowers make beautiful, dried long lasting arrangements, but that is not the only way to decorate with Hydrangeas. I like to use them around the holidays in my outside winter containers and window boxes.
Dried Hydrangea flowers hold up very well in the winter wind and snow. To decorate around my home for the holidays, I fill a few freeze-proof containers with an assortment of different colored greens, berries and branches. Large hydrangea flowers are added as a finishing touch to give the completed containers a really nice look.
Here are the steps to air dry Hydrangeas:
1. The trick is to know the right time to cut the hydrangea flowers off the shrub. Cutting them too soon will only result in wilted flowers. Newly bloomed hydrangeas do not air dry well; the flowers need to age on the bush. Go out and touch the flower. If it's starting to feel 'papery', now is the time to cut it off the shrub. If the flower is soft all over, it is not ready to be cut yet. Your best bet is to continue to check the flowers each week.
2. Cut the stem as long as you like. I usually try to cut a stem at least 18 inches or longer. Snip off all the leaves on the stem. I place all the Hydrangea stems upright in a tall bucket that has no more than a 1/4" of water.
3. Don't crowd the flowers. Give them space to dry in the bucket.
4. Drying them in a cool, semi-dark space might be best, but I have no problem drying them in a vase in my sunny kitchen on the fireplace mantle.
5. In about a week they should feel very papery and delicate. They are ready to use in an arrangement. Handle with care, they will be fragile.
My favorite Hydrangeas to dry are:
1. Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' - in my eastern Pennsylvania zone 6 garden,
'Limelight' won't be ready to cut until mid-September. By this time of year, a 'Limelight' will have large flowers that are a creamy-rose color.
2. Hydrangea arborescenns 'Annabelle'- in my zone 6 garden, I'm cutting 'Annabelle'
in early July to dry. These flowers have already turned a very large and beautiful green.
That's it. It couldn't be easier. If you have a Hydrangea bush or know someone who wouldn't mind letting you cut off a few flowers, give it a try. You'll be happy you did.
Marie Meiklejohn, owner of Marie's Garden in Skippack, Pennsylvania has been gardening for over 25 years. The last 16 years at her property in Skippack where Marie's Garden is located. Many of her gardens showcase what she grows and sells each year.
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