Which flowers are commonly used in dried winter bouquets?

In the context of floral decoration, dried plant materials are traditionally used to create winter bouquets. The most suitable cultivated flowers for this purpose are those that possess a naturally dry, stiff surface quality, such as strawflowers (Helichrysum bracteatum), globe amaranth, and statice.1

Additionally, various wildings from the North temperate zone are commonly picked and preserved for these arrangements, including:

• Pearly everlasting
• Heather
• Sea lavender
• Goldenrod
• Orange bittersweet berries
• Cattails, dock, teasel, and sumac1

Beyond these, many types of grasses—such as pampas, sea oats, millet, and sorghum—are frequently dried. Other popular additions include seed-bearing capsules like the flat paper disks of honesty (Lunaria) and orange Chinese lanterns (Physalis), as well as wood roses from the Hawaiian morning glory.1

Garden flowers like celosia, blue salvia, globe thistle, alliums, and hydrangeas can also be dried by hanging them upside down at their peak of bloom.1