The best dried flowers for gift wrapping

3rd October 2023 Celebrations, Crafts, Creative Living, Flowers & Plants, Gardening, Gift Wrapping, Seasonal DIY with dried flowers, dried flower gift wrapping, dried flowers, gift wrapping

This dried flower topped gift highlights some of my favourite flowers to grow and use throughout the year. The best part is many of the seeds can be planted in autumn so you will have a beautiful cutting patch for the year ahead.

September was a busy month for birthday’s. The upside, apart from celebrating of course, is a feast of content and ideas to share. First up is this dried flower topped present I finished for my friends birthday. I love to use dried flowers wherever I can, now is the perfect season to harvest your supplies before the cold sets in.

If you are new to gift wrapping follow my basics of gift wrapping post as a guide to get you started. For this gorgeous gift, I used hand marbled paper from a really inspiring shop called – Goldfinch Woodbridge and my hand-dyed silk ribbon. I tied in a little extra gold ribbon into the bow and added dried flowers to the top. A simple touch that creates a big impact.

The best dried flowers for gift wrapping. Autumn is best the season for harvesting dried flowers to use for wrapping presents.

For the flowers, these are some of my favourites to grow in a cut flower patch.

Strawflowers (Helichrysum) – These are SO easy to grow but the slugs love them. I sow seeds in the autumn and in spring to ensure a good crop.Sow at least three times the amount needed as they are really vulnerable to those slugs. When they are 10cm tall and looking sturdy they are ready for planting out late April onwards. They will flower all summer and well into winter if in a sheltered spot. If you only have a small space, grow a mixed selection of colours, like these.

Bunny Tails Grass (Lagurus ovatus) – Another crop that can be planted in Autumn. Bunny tails are always a favourite, it’s impossible to not touch them when walking around the garden. They will keep flowering for months and last for years as a dried flower.

Statice (Limonium Sinuatum) – I find this one harder to grow but that’s because I try to grow too much at once. It comes in a variety of colours from yellows to peach and pinks to purples. Again I’d start with a mixed seed packet and see what happens, this year I have some amazing violet flowers.

Hydrangea – The queen of the dried flowers. As they start to fade, garden centres will be selling these off – now is the time to grab yourself a bargain. I’ve added a few Paniculata Hydrangea (the pointy ones) to my cutting beds this summer and they are a dream to work with as the colours are so beautiful as they fade. Just make sure you cut them before they turn brown.

Hops – These can grow like crazy and work really well when they are still fresh. As they dry they will turn a parchment brown and eventually fade. away. I grow a small ornamental variety called ‘Golden Tassels‘ – it’s great for a small space.