Want to dry scabious to create a pretty dried flower bouquet? Great idea! With its light, rounded flowers and natural charm, scabious retains all its elegance once dried. In this tutorial, we explain how to successfully dry scabious, from time of harvest to storage, so you can enjoy its beauty for many months.
Why dry scabious?
Scabious is highly valued for dried flower arrangements. Its slender stems and delicate flowers bring a rustic, natural touch to any interior. Once dried, it retains much of its volume and character, making it an excellent choice for creating a dried flower bouquet or a long-lasting floral decoration such as wreaths.
When and how to harvest scabious for drying?
To succeed in drying scabious, choose flowers that are fully open but still fresh. Ideally cut them on a dry day once morning dew has evaporated. Avoid harvesting wet flowers or cutting after rain, as they may rot during drying.
Cut stems to desired length with a clean pruning shear, then remove leaves from the lower part of the stems.
How to dry scabious?
Steps
Drying scabious flowers is fairly simple but requires a little patience.
1- Start by forming small bunches of five to ten stems. Tie them gently with string or an elastic band, without tightening too much.
2- Then hang the bunches upside down in a dry, dark and well-ventilated room. This position keeps stems straight while preserving flower shape. An attic, a cellar or a cool, lightly heated room are ideal.
3- Leave the bunches to dry for two to three weeks. When stems become stiff and flowers feel dry to the touch, scabious is ready to use.
Mistakes to avoid
A few precautions will ensure impeccable results:
- Avoid exposing flowers to sunlight while drying, as their colours may fade quickly.
- Also avoid making bunches that are too large: air must be able to circulate freely between stems.
- Finally, do not handle flowers before drying is complete. A still-damp scabious is particularly fragile.
How to store dried scabious?
Dried scabious requires little maintenance. Place bouquet away from moisture and direct sunlight.
To remove dust, simply use a duster or a gentle blast of air. In good conditions, bouquet can retain its charm for several months, even several years.
Which flowers pair with dried scabious?
Scabious pairs easily with other dried flowers to create natural, elegant bouquets. It works particularly well with strawflowers, statice, gypsophila, lagurus, ornamental oats or a few sprigs of eucalyptus.
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