Preserving and Drying Flowers and Foliage
DESICCANTS

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Below is a list of plants suitable for drying with desiccants. It is by no means exhaustive, and there may well be flowers which you have tried which don't appear on here! The thing to do if in doubt, and the flower doesn't appear in this list, is to experiment to see if it dries successfully. It is possible to dry practically every type of flower with desiccants. The most suitable types, however, are those with fairly simple flowers, as more complex flowers make it difficult to get the desiccant in between the petals, and this can result in uneven drying. Also, fleshy leaved plants, such as succulents, are not really suitable, as they tend to rot before they dry. Both the flowers and foliage of plants can be dried using desiccants.

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   A
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Alstroemeria
Amaryllis
Anemone
Peruvian Lily
Hippeastrum
-
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   B
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Betula pendula
Briza
Bromus
Birch
Quaking Grass
Brome Grass
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   C
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Calendula
Callistemon
Carlina acaulis
Carthamus tinctorius
Catananche caeroleum
Celosia
Centauria
Chrysanthemum vulgare
Cladonia
Clematis
Cortaderia selloana
Corylus avellana 'Contorta'
Craspedia globosa
Cynara scolymus/cardunculus
Cytissus
Pot Marigold
Bottle Brush
Carline Thistle
Safflower
Cupid's Dart
Cockscomb or Prince's Feather
Cornflower
Tansy
Reindeer Moss
-
Pampas Grass
Contorted Hazel
Globe Flower
Artichoke/Cardoon
Broom
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   D
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Dahlia
Delphinium ajacis
Digitalis
Dipsacus fullonum
-
Larkspur
Foxglove
Teasel
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   E
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Echinops ritro
Eleagnus pungens
Erica
Eryngium
Globe Thistle
-
Heather
Sea Holly
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   F
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Foeniculum vulgare
Fennel
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   G
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Gnaphallium
Gomphrena globosa
Gypsophila paniculata
-
Globe amaranth
Baby's Breath
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   H
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Helichrysum bracteatum
Helipterum humboldtianum
Helipterum manglesii
Hordeum jubatum
Humulus lupulus
Hydrangea
Straw Flower
-
-
Squirrel Tail Grass
Hop
-
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   I
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Iris foetidissima
Iris orientalis
Stinking Gladwyn
-
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   J
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   K
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Kochia
Silver Cypress
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   L
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Lagurus
Lapsana communis
Lavandula
Liatris
Limonium
Lonas inodora
Lunaria annua
Hare's Tail Grass
Nipplewort
Lavender
Gay Feather, Blazing Star
Sea Lavender
-
Honesty
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   M
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Miscanthus
Morina longiflora
Muscari
Grass
Whorl Flower
Grape Hyacinth
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   N
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Nicandra physaloides
Nigella damascena
Nigella orientalis
Shoo Fly Plant
Love-in-a-Mist
-
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   O
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Origanum dictamnus
Onopordon acanthium
Ditany
Scotch Thistle
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   P
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Paeonia lactiflora
Papaver
Phlomis fruticosa
Phlomis samia/russelliana
Phormium tenax
Physalis alkengii
Protea
Peony
Poppy
Jerusalem Sage
-
New Zealand Flax
Chinese Lanterns
-
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   Q
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   R
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Reseda lutea
Rhodanthe - See Helipterum
Rosa - Hybrid Tea Types
Rumex
Mignonette
-
Rose
Dock
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   S
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Salvia
Santolina
Scabiosa stellata
Sedum spectabile
Senecio cineraria
Senecio greyii
Silene pendula
Silybum marianum
Sisyrinchium striatum
Solidago canadensis
Stachys lanata
-
Cotton Lavender
Drumstick Scabious
-
Silver Leaf
-
-
Milk Thistle
Satin Flower
Golden Rod
Lambs' Lugs
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   T
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Typha angustifolia
Reed Mace ( incorrectly, Bull Rush)
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   U
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   V
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Verbascum bombyciferum
Mullein
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   W
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   X
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Xeranthemum annuum
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   Y
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   Z
BOTANICAL NAME ENGLISH COMMON NAME
Zea mays
Zinnia
Sweet Corn, Corn on the Cob
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