How to Press and Dry Flowers for Long-Lasting Beauty

Why Preserve Flowers?

Sentimental Value

We’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be to preserve flowers from meaningful events. One bride from Ouray brought in her bouquet a day after her wedding, wanting to keep a piece of her celebration forever. We walked her through pressing and framing her florals, and now she has a shadowbox hanging in her entryway that brings her joy every day.

Creative DIY Projects

Pressed and dried flowers aren’t just for memories—they’re great for crafting! Some of our Gunnison customers use them for handmade greeting cards, bookmarks, or even to decorate candles and glass jars. A few regulars even frame them to create wall art, especially in rustic-style homes around Crested Butte.

The Best Flowers to Press and Dry

Best Flowers for Pressing

Not all flowers press equally. Here are a few of our go-to suggestions:

• Pansies and violets: Flat, colorful, and easy to preserve.
• Cosmos and daisies: Great structure and hold color well.
• Roses (flattened petals): A classic choice, especially from wedding bouquets.
• Lisianthus: Soft and romantic, common in our wedding arrangements.

A Telluride bride once saved lisianthus petals from her bouquet, and her mother turned them into a set of handmade thank-you cards. It made the wedding even more memorable for the whole family.

Best Flowers for Drying

Some flowers dry better than they press, holding their shape and texture:

• Lavender: Fragrant and perfect for decor.
• Statice: Sturdy and colorful.
• Strawflower: Keeps its shape and vibrant tones.
• Baby’s Breath: Delicate and beautiful in dried bouquets.

How to Press Flowers

What You’ll Need

• Heavy books or a flower press
• Blotting paper or parchment paper
• Scissors or pruning shears

Step-by-Step

1. Choose fresh flowers and pat them dry.
2. Trim stems and remove bulky parts.
3. Sandwich flowers between parchment paper and place them in a heavy book.
4. Stack additional books or a weight on top.
5. Leave for 2–4 weeks in a cool, dry place.

At Hosanna Floral, we often suggest this method to customers who want to preserve their arrangements at home. We even carry flower presses in-store from time to time!

How to Dry Flowers

Air Drying

Air drying is the easiest method and perfect for creating rustic, country-style arrangements.

1. Gather flowers into small bundles.
2. Remove excess foliage.
3. Tie with string and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space.

A client in Montrose recently dried a mix of lavender, strawflower, and statice from one of our seasonal bouquets and arranged them in mason jars for her kitchen table. It turned out beautifully!

Microwave Drying

This method is great if you're short on time:

1. Place flower between two ceramic tiles or plates.
2. Add parchment and a paper towel to prevent burning.
3. Microwave in 30-second intervals.
4. Let cool and check for dryness.

Silica Gel Drying

Silica gel helps preserve the shape of fuller flowers like roses and dahlias:

1. Fill a container with silica gel.
2. Gently place flowers inside and cover completely.
3. Let sit for 1 week.

We helped a Gunnison bride use this technique to preserve her entire bouquet. She displayed it in a shadowbox alongside her wedding invitation—a stunning keepsake.

Displaying and Using Pressed Flowers

Creative Uses

• Frame them in glass for botanical wall art.
• Make bookmarks or greeting cards.
• Add to photo albums or wedding guestbooks.

Tips for Long-Term Storage

• Use acid-free paper
• Store away from direct sunlight
• Keep in a dry, cool area to prevent mold or fading

One Ridgway customer framed pressed violets and hung them above her fireplace. They’ve stayed vibrant for over a year with no signs of fading.

Tips from Hosanna Floral

• Start with the freshest flowers. The better they look now, the better they’ll press or dry.
• Be patient. Rushing the process can ruin your flowers.
• Ask for help! We’re always happy to offer advice, especially if your flowers came from our shop.



Our team has helped countless customers preserve their favorite arrangements. Whether you’re remembering a wedding, a birthday, or just a random Tuesday with beautiful blooms, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Keep the Beauty Alive

Pressed flowers and dry flowers are timeless and personal. They let you hold onto the beauty of a single day or memory forever. Whether you're preserving a bridal bouquet, a surprise delivery, or a just-because bunch of daisies, it all starts with choosing the right blooms.

Visit Hosanna Floral in Montrose or give us a call. We’d love to help you find the perfect flowers to preserve—and show you how to make the memory last.