Growing flowers that dry beautifully can transform your Ohio garden into a source of year-round joy. When winter blankets your garden in snow, these dried blooms will keep your home colorful and fragrant.
Ohio’s climate offers perfect growing conditions for many flowers that maintain their beauty long after being cut and dried.
1. Lavender’s Purple Perfection
Lavender thrives in Ohio’s climate, especially in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. The slender purple spikes retain their color and distinctive calming scent for months after drying.
Plant lavender in spring after the last frost, spacing plants about 18 inches apart. Harvest stems when flowers are just beginning to open for the strongest fragrance and most vibrant dried color.
2. Strawflower’s Papery Charm
Resembling colorful daisies with papery petals, strawflowers seem almost pre-dried while still growing in your garden! Their stiff petals maintain vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges for years when properly dried.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before Ohio’s last spring frost. Cut strawflowers when buds are partially open but before centers are visible for best drying results.
3. Globe Amaranth’s Everlasting Blooms
Round, clover-like blooms in magenta, purple, white, or red make globe amaranth a standout in Ohio gardens. The flowers feel slightly crispy even when fresh – nature’s way of telling you they’re perfect for drying!
Direct sow seeds after danger of frost has passed. For dried arrangements, harvest when blooms are fully open, strip lower leaves, and hang upside down in a dark, dry place.
4. Statice’s Rainbow Display
Statice produces clusters of tiny paper-like flowers in purples, blues, yellows and pinks that keep their color remarkably well when dried. Ohio gardeners love its durability and versatility in arrangements.
Plant in full sun locations with good drainage. The papery calyces surrounding the actual flowers give statice its long-lasting quality.
Cut when most flowers in a cluster have opened for best drying results.
5. Celosia’s Fiery Plumes
Known as cockscomb or woolflower, celosia brings dramatic flair to Ohio gardens with flame-shaped plumes or brain-like crests in fiery reds, oranges, and golds. These striking blooms maintain their bold colors beautifully when dried.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Harvest when flowers reach full size but before seed formation begins for best drying quality.
6. Yarrow’s Delicate Clusters
Yarrow produces flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in white, yellow, pink or red that dry exceptionally well. This hardy perennial thrives in Ohio’s climate and returns year after year.
Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Yarrow tolerates poor soil conditions better than many other garden flowers.
Cut stems when flowers are fully open but before they begin to fade for optimal drying results.
7. Hydrangea’s Antique Appeal
Nothing says garden elegance like hydrangeas, and their large flower heads dry beautifully for long-lasting arrangements. Ohio’s slightly acidic soil naturally encourages blue tones in many hydrangea varieties.
Allow blooms to partially dry on the plant before cutting. The perfect time is when petals feel papery but still show color.
Mophead varieties like ‘Endless Summer’ perform particularly well in Ohio gardens.
8. Coneflower’s Rustic Beauty
Purple coneflowers (Echinacea) create a prairie-inspired look in Ohio gardens while offering exceptional drying potential. Their distinctive raised centers surrounded by drooping petals maintain their structure when dried.
These native perennials thrive in full sun with average soil. Plant coneflowers in spring or fall, spacing plants 18-24 inches apart.
Harvest when flowers are fully open for best dried specimens.
9. Baby’s Breath’s Airy Elegance
The cloud-like appearance of baby’s breath adds delicate texture to Ohio gardens and dried arrangements. The tiny white or pink flowers dry naturally on their stems, requiring minimal effort to preserve.
Plant in full sun in well-drained, alkaline soil. Baby’s breath dislikes humid conditions, so provide good air circulation.
Cut stems when most flowers are open but still fresh for the most attractive dried results.
10. Ornamental Grasses’ Textural Contrast
Ornamental grasses like northern sea oats and feather reed grass add movement, height and textural interest to Ohio gardens. Their seed heads and plumes dry naturally and look stunning throughout winter.
Plant in spring in full to part sun. Most ornamental grasses prefer well-drained soil and establish quickly in Ohio’s climate.
Allow seed heads to develop fully before cutting for drying.
11. Nigella’s Starry Seedpods
Also called love-in-a-mist, nigella enchants with delicate blue flowers that transform into star-shaped seedpods perfect for drying. These architectural pods add unique structure to dried arrangements.
Direct sow seeds in early spring as nigella prefers cool weather. Plants reseed readily in Ohio gardens.
Allow seedpods to fully form on the plant before harvesting for dried arrangements.