How to Dry and Preserve Hydrangea Flowers

By
Marie Iannotti
Garden Writer Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.
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Updated on 08/07/24
Reviewed by
Barbara Gillette
Barbara Gillette
Reviewed by Barbara Gillette
Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 10 mins
  • Total Time: 2 - 3 wks
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

Hydrangeas blossom with large showy flowers, ranging in color from blue to red to purple to white to light green. If you grow hydrangeas and want to preserve their beauty long after they bloom, it is simple to dry the flowers.

Hydrangeas are one of those florals that take almost no effort to preserve—they dry in about two weeks' time and can last for up to a year. You can preserve hydrangeas in several ways, but the water-drying method is best for helping the flowers hold their shape and color.

Best way to dry hydrangea flowers

The Spruce

When to Dry Hydrangeas

hygrangeas hanging

The Spruce / Melina Hammer

The ideal time to cut hydrangea blooms to dry is toward the end of their growing season (August through October) when the larger petals are starting to change color and develop a papery feel and the tiny flowers are just beginning to open.

If you can't really see the tiny flowers on your hydrangea variety, you can rely on the changing color alone—just keep in mind that it can be a difficult way to judge readiness in varieties where the shade change is more nuanced—such as 'Annabelle', which has a mild transition from bright white to pale green.

The biggest challenge when it comes to drying hydrangeas is knowing the right time to cut the blossoms. If you snip the stems at peak bloom, they'll have too much moisture and won’t dry quickly enough to retain their beauty—but cut them too late and they’ll just turn brown.

Don't Worry About Brown Petals

It can be nearly impossible to find ready-to-cut flowers that have absolutely zero brown spots on them, so remember you can always remove any individual brown flowers either before or after drying.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Pruning shears
  • Vase with water

Materials

  • Hydrangea flowers

Instructions

  1. Dry the Flowers

    It might sound counterintuitive to dry flowers using water, but allowing hydrangeas to desiccate slowly helps them hold their color and shape (even the stems end up sturdier when dried this way).

    Preparing hydrangea flowers to be dried
    The Spruce/Melina Hammer

  2. Cut the Flowers

    To prepare your hydrangeas, cut each flower at an angle using a pair of pruning shears, leaving a stem length between 12 and 18 inches long. Remove all leaves from the stem. 

  3. Place the Cut Flowers in Water

    Next, put your fresh-cut flowers in a vase; fill it up about halfway with water and place it in a cool spot out of direct sunlight. Be mindful not to overstuff your vase with stems, as hydrangea dry best when given room to "breathe."

    Allow the water to evaporate completely from the vase. This process will usually take about two or three weeks—at the end, your hydrangeas should feel dry to the touch and the stems should snap off easily. At this point, they are ready to use.

    Hydrangea stems in water
    The Spruce/Melina Hammer

  4. Use Your Dried Hydrangeas

    There are many decorative ways to display your dried hydrangeas. They're beautiful by themselves in a vase, but you can also mix them into seasonal wreaths or add them to window boxes alongside other dried flowers. Getting married in the fall? You can even use them in your wedding floral arrangements.

    Dried hydrangea flowers being displayed in a vase
    The Spruce/Melina Hammer

Other Methods for Drying Hydrangeas

Air drying method for hydrangeas
The Spruce/Melina Hammer

There are several other ways you can preserve your hydrangeas:

  • Air dry your blooms: Hang the individual stems upside down in a cool, dry location. Air-dried hydrangeas tend to be a bit more brittle than their water-dried counterparts, but they still turn out beautiful.
  • Allow the blooms to dry out on the stem naturally: Wait until the petals feel papery. Do note that you may not get the most vibrant color this way, and they won’t last as long as they would using the water-dried method.
  • Dry with glycerin: Mix two parts water to one part glycerin and leave in a cool, dark place to dry out. This will cause the hydrangeas to turn brown and they will slowly darken over a week. If you'd like to color the flowers, add a drop of dye to the water/glycerin mixture.
  • Dry using silica or white sand: Place your hydrangea flowers in an airtight container and cover them completely with silica or white sand. After a few days, you can remove them and gently shake off any remaining silica/sand.

Be Weary of Rain

A word of caution regarding this hands-off approach: If you live in an area that experiences a lot of rain, there's a chance that your flowers may turn brown before successfully drying out.

Whichever method you choose, plan to replace your dried flowers every year or so—just in time for the next fresh batch to be snipped from the branch.

FAQ
  • What happens if you hairspray dried hydrangeas?

    Hairspraying dried hydrangeas is a great way to help keep their color vibrant as well as prevent wilting and shedding.

  • How can you keep dried hydrangeas in good condition?

    To keep your dried hydrangeas in good condition, store them in a cool and dry place, apply silica gel, apply hairspray, use a flower sealant, and clean them regularly.

  • What’s the best thing to spray on dried hydrangeas to preserve them?

    The best thing to spray on dried hydrangeas to preserve them is aerosol hairspray.

  • Can you dry hydrangeas and keep their color?

    Yes, you can dry hydrangeas and keep their color when air-drying, drying in water, or drying with silica/sand. If using a solution like glycerin that may change their color, you can add a drop of dye to the solution to add color.

  • How much water do you put in a vase to dry hydrangea?

    When drying hydrangeas, you will want to fill your vase with water about halfway up.