How To Dry Hydrangeas

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Hydracoll I received a question from a reader (Hi, Debra K!) from this post about how I dry my hydrangeas. So I thought I'd share a few of my simple tips with you:

  • Cut your hydrangeas in the very early morning or cool part of the evening.
  • It's best to trim off all the leaves and keep the stems 12" or longer.
  • From experience the water drying method works best for me.
  • Place cut flowers in a vase with 2-3" of water.
  • Don't refill, instead let the water evaporate. This make take a few weeks.
  • Drying them upright in water allows the flower to retain it's large shape.
  • Once dried, their color will last for about a year before they start to fade.

17 Responses to “How To Dry Hydrangeas”

  2. Alice

    Heather, thanks for the instructions!!!! I don’t have any hydrangeas, but when I get my garden organized I hope to plant some. I just love the look of them dried.
    Enjoy your week!

  4. sarah-jane down the lane

    Thanks Heather, this is very timely as mine are just beginning to turn sepia and I want to catch them while they still have a suggestion of the their original hue,
    Sarah x

  5. theresa

    Thank you! I think I added too much water with my bouquet of limelights that I brought into the house a couple of weeks ago.. They just withered up. I’ll try your method next time.
    t. xoxoxo

  6. Rose C.

    Thank you for this blog….my bushes are still in full bloom and are over flowing. I’m going to try your suggestion and cut some blooms tonight!
    HuGs,
    Rose

  7. Chyrle @ Mrs. McKenzie's

    I don’t have the time or energy anymore to grow flowers for cutting, but this reminded me of how much I used to love dried hydrangeas. I think I’m going to buy some and dry them. Thanks much!

  8. Jeanine Burkhardt

    Helloooo Heather… In Wisconsin I dry mine just by hanging them from my Husband’s Ladder in the GaRaGe… Check out “This Year’s HarVesT” – currently on my blog!*!*!
    Jeanine, ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!

  9. Mindy Hill

    I always wait till the mophead type are a little tough or firm to the touch. They hold their shape better that way.

  13. Debra K.

    Thanks, Heather. This is how I dried hydrangeas accidentally last year, and I’ve been trying to replicate the process. I find if you empty the water too soon that the petals curl up. Best to do just as you say, let the water evaporate entirely.

  14. GIO

    HI HEATHER 🙂 ANOTHER METHOD I USE IS TO CUT THE HYDRANGEAS, BUNDLE THEM, HANG THEM UPSIDE DOWN IN AN OUTBUILDING (MINE ARE LIKE SAUNAS) THEY DESSICATE IN A WEEK, THEN THEY’RE READY TO GO, BUT IF I GET A LITTLE BROWN ON THEM, I PAINT THEM WITH SPRAY PAINT. YOU CAN’T EVEN TELL THEY’RE PAINTED……WELL UNLESS YOU PAINT THEM ORANGE OR SOME UNNATURAL COLOR!

  16. Mitzi Curi

    This is the first year I’ve grown hydrangeas, and I was just wondering how to preserve them. Thanks for the timely tips!

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