Whether they’re pink, purple, white, or blue, hydrangeas make for beautiful landscaping and bouquets. When choosing hydrangeas to dry, the colourful varieties often preserve better, as white flowers have a tendency to turn brown when dried. For the best results, pluck the little individual flowers from the main hydrangea and press them between the pages of a thick book.

Pansies and violets are members of the same family, and are both great options for drying. Cutting the freshest, most vibrantly coloured blooms increases the odds that they’ll retain their colour once dried. With a single layer of petals, pansies and violets preserve best when pressed as they’re not especially bulky flowers.

Pretty pink cosmos look sweet and whimsical in a vase, and are easy to press when you’re ready to dry them because the centers are not too firm. Snip the stems off and lay the head of the flower face down in your book or flower press.

Although poppies are often thought of as a vibrant red hue, they actually come in a veritable rainbow of other colours. When dried, their delicately ruffled leaves add beautiful texture to a craft project or display. You can press or hang poppies to dry, and with their thin petals, they won’t take as long to dry as some more robust flowers.

Clematis are a flowering vine, and they come in many different colours with slightly differently-shaped flowers. You can find clematis with lots of variety. This plant looks gorgeous climbing up a trellis or wall, and its flat flowers are easy to press and dry.

In interior design, pampas grass is having a bit of a moment – but did you know that it’s an actual grass? Commonly found in fields and on roadsides, dried pampas grass is a pricey product that you can cut and dry yourself. Cut long stalks of pampas, tie them together in small bunches, and hang upside down in a cool, well-ventilated spot to dry. Once dry, a little hairspray will keep them from shedding all over your home. For ideas on styling pampas grass, check out this boho chic bungalow.

Wildflowers are an integral part of our ecosystems and are especially important in creating a pollinator-friendly garden. They are also often vibrantly-coloured, readily available, and deeply underrated! Wildflowers in a vase can add a touch of wild whimsy to your space. You can hang them to dry to enjoy them forever, or press and frame them to decorate your walls.

With their swirls and folds of petals, cultivated ranunculus are well loved in floral arrangements for their texture and variety of colours. Because of its densely-packed petals and firm center, it’s best to hang a ranunculus upsidedown to let it dry. For colourful dry flowers, choose vibrant shades as they will mute slightly as they dry. For a monochrome, vintage vibe, try drying white ranunculus, which will turn a light beige as once dried.

Outdoors, the lavender plant is known to grow like a weed, but it’s also one of many easy herb to grow indoors. You can the flowers as well as the leaves by cutting small bundles and hanging them upsidedown to dry, or by pressing them in a flower press or between the pages of a large book. Want to use lavender in your kitchen? Try this lemon lavender spritzer from Food Network Canada.

Roses are a staple in gardens and flower shops alike. To preserve your roses, first select a bloom. To press a rose, more open, fully bloomed flowers are best; for tighter buds, it’s best to hang them to dry. Although yellow and orange roses keep their colour best, hang your rose to dry in a dark spot to encourage colour retention.