How to Dry Blue Thistle Flowers?

The blue thistle, also known as sea holly or Eryngium, is a beautiful plant that can be found by the sea in dunes, in the mountains, as well as in the countryside or in a garden. Very graphic, its striking blue hues make it impossible to ignore. Easy to grow or even find in the wild, it adds a stylish blue touch to dried flower arrangements. Discover all our tips for successfully drying thistle flowers.

When to pick thistles for drying?

It is best to pick thistles on dry, sunny days when the flowers are at their bluest
Choose the most beautiful flowers with firm stems. Flowers with soft stems will dry less effectively
Consider wearing gloves to avoid getting pricked
Use clean, disinfected secateurs to harvest the thistles
Remove leaves and any damaged parts
Leave the stem length you desire for your bouquet

harvesting dried flowers, dried eryngium thistle

How to air-dry thistles?

Air-drying is the simplest and most natural method.

Steps:

Tie each thistle or your thistle bouquet with string or raffia, taking care not to get pricked.
You can also wrap the flowers in kraft paper or newspaper to protect them from light during drying. Keeping them in darkness helps preserve the thistles' colours.
Then, hang the flowers upside down to dry in a room with dry air, away from light but well-ventilated, such as an attic.
Wait one week to one month for the flowers to dry completely.

How to dry thistles using silica gel?

Drying flowers in silica gel has two advantages.
First, the plant's original colours are better preserved. This makes it the best method for maintaining the blue hue of thistles despite drying.
The second advantage is the speed of drying, which takes just a few days.
However, this method is more expensive than natural drying as it requires purchasing silica gel.

Steps:

Use an airtight container large enough to hold your thistles. Thistles can grow up to 80 cm tall.
Pour a layer of silica gel at the bottom
Place your thistles on top
Cover with more silica gel
Seal the container tightly
Flowers typically take 2-3 days to dry completely.
After this time, open the container and check if the flowers are dry
If dry, remove them from the silica gel using gloves
If not, leave to dry for a few more days

drying eryngiums

How to store dried thistle flowers?

Once your thistles are completely dry, you can spray them with hairspray for protection.
You can later dust your dried flowers using a hairdryer.
Choose a dry location away from sunlight to prevent colours from fading too quickly.
Display your dried thistles in a vase, basket or any container that inspires you to create a beautiful dried flower arrangement.
You can also add other dried flowers like white roses, baby's breath and lavender to create a lovely floral composition.