How to Arrange Dried Hydrangea

Drying cut hydrangeas gives them a second life as a dried arrangement.

Allowing hydrangeas to dry on the shrub in the fall offers the best method for drying them, according to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Dried hydrangeas create lasting arrangements that suit a variety of decorating schemes. A basket of hydrangeas in the kitchen or a vase of hydrangeas in the foyer, living room or bedroom can enhance your home as a floral display. Choosing a shape that suits the container and adding accents results in a personalized dried flower arrangement.

Things You'll Need

• Container, such as a basket, pot or vase
• Garden shears
• Knife
• Floral foam
• Cord or raffia (optional)
• Dried accent flowers, such as statice or straw flowers

Instructions

1. Remove leaves from the hydrangeas by clipping them off near the stem. Cut floral foam to fit in the bottom of a vase or other container for the arrangement. Push the floral foam into the bottom of the vase so it fits tightly. This will hold the flowers in place.

2. Create a dome arrangement by cutting three hydrangea stems the same length, twice the height of the container or less. Place those hydrangeas at the center of the container, inserting each stem gently 2 inches into the foam. Cut the stems of the next group of hydrangeas 2 to 3 inches shorter than the central hydrangeas, and insert them in a circle around the central hydrangeas. The number you need depends on the size of the hydrangea blooms. Use enough to surround the first three hydrangeas without crowding the blooms. For a larger display, cut another group of hydrangeas 2 to 3 inches shorter than the last group, and insert them in a ring all the way around.

3. Form an unstructured bouquet of hydrangeas by grouping them in your non-dominant hand the same way you'd carry a bouquet. Adjust the blooms so that the flowers don't crowd each other by shifting the stems with your dominant hand so that some flowers extend higher than others in the bouquet. Tie a cord or raffia -- a decorative natural plant material -- around the stems within six inches of the bloom to keep the flowers in position. Clip each stem off straight across so they're even on the bottom.

4. Arrange hydrangeas with accent flowers. For example, cut dried hydrangeas to fit in a basket for a low mound of color or lacy white background. Add purple statice or rose straw flowers between the hydrangeas to add color and dimension to the arrangement. Cut the stems of the accent flowers 1/2-inch to 1-inch longer than the hydrangea stems to have them hover just above the cloud of hydrangeas.

Tips & Warnings

• Hydrangeas with round blooms, such as French hydrangeas, work especially well in a dome arrangement -- a floral display with a round top -- although you can use any kind.

• Dry hydrangeas and other plant material by hanging them upside down in a dark, dry place, such as a closet.

• Display dried hydrangeas away from bright sunlight if possible. Direct sun will cause them to fade.

• Craft stores sell raffia.

• Keep garden shears out of the reach of children.

• Keep hydrangeas and all dried flowers and foliage away from open flame and other possible sources of combustion, such as electrical wires, lit cigarettes, pilot lights and fireplaces to reduce the risk of fire.

References

• University of Nebraska at Lincoln; Dried Flowers Ideal for Winter Crafts; November 2010
• Alabama Cooperative Extension; Drying and Preserving Flowers and Plant Materials for Decorative Use; Mary Beth Musgrove

Resources

• University of Washington Extension: 4-H Plant Crafts