What Is a Good Dried Flower for Decoration?

Roses and Lavender

• You don't have to be a bride to want to preserve a symbolic group of flowers such as roses. These flowers dry well, with the red, pink and purple varieties holding their color better than white and yellow. Lavender is a very commonly used dried flower. Technically an herb, stalks of lavender can be added to vases or made into wreaths. You can also strip off the dried blossoms and mass them in a pretty crystal bowl. Their scent extends if you crush a few with your fingers.

Wild and Other Flowers

• Wander the hillsides in springtime, or check your own backyard for wildflowers. Dozens of flower types are available -- just don't pick any that might be on an endangered or state flower list. Yarrow, artemisia, safflower, flax, broom corn, blue cornflower, thistle, daisies and anything with a firm look to it can be dried. Other flowers to use are delphinium, globe amaranth, hydrangeas, pearly everlasting, larkspur, celosia coxcomb and straw-flower.

Dried Bouquets

• Mix and match flowers of different heights, sizes and colors to create bouquets and arrangements for your home. One way to provide contrast and visual interest is to add grain stalks, such as oats, millet and wheat, or eucalyptus and curly willow branches. Seed pods, pussy willows, cattails and teasel are other excellent choices. Herbs make an ideal addition, too. Add sprigs of rosemary, thyme, mint or lemon balm to the bouquets. They can be in flower, or just use the greenery. Picked fresh, these can be hung to dry much like the flowers.

Additional Thoughts

• Many dried flowers last a long time. One of the issues you'll be faced with is dust collecting. If your flowers aren't encased or kept in a cabinet unexposed to dirt and dust, you can take the decorations outside and just blow them. Or use a blow dryer set on gentle and cold and hold it several inches from the flowers to remove much of the accumulated dust. Alternatively, cut and dry new flowers periodically for a more fresh appeal. If you don't grow your own flowers to hang and dry, you can find many at farmers' markets, floral shops and some grocery and home stores.