How to Harvest Herbs and Flowers for Drying
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Flower Name
Bud Stage
Early Flower
Full Bloom
Late Flower
Seedpod Stage
African Daisy
 
 
X
 
 
Agastache
 
 
X
 
 
Artichoke
 
X
   
 
Baby’s Breath
 
 
X
 
 
Cardoon
X
 
   
 
Carline Thistle
 
X
   
 
Chinese Lantern or
Cape Gooseberry
 
 
   
X
Cornflower
 
X
   
 
Delphihnium
 
X
   
 
Drumstick
 
 
X
 
 
Gay Feathers
 
X
   
 
Giant Knapweed
 
 
X
 
 
Globe Thistle
X
 
   
 
Golden Rod
 
X
   
 
Golden Yarrow
 
 
X
 
 
Hen and Chickens
 
 
   
X
Honesty
 
 
   
X
Hops
 
 
  X
 
Immortelle
 
 
X
 
 
Lady's Mantle
 
 
X
 
 
Larkspur
 
X
   
 
Lavender
X
 
   
 
Leeks and Ornamental
Onions
 
 
   
X
Linseed or Flax
 
 
   
X
Love-In-A-Mist
 
 
   
X
Love-Lies-Bleeding
 
 
X
 
 
Mop Head Hydrangia
 
 
  X
 
Opium Poppy
 
 
   
X
Orach, Mountain
Spinach
 
 
   
X
Pearl Everlasting
 
X
   
 
Peony
 
X
   
 
Poker Statice
 
X
   
 
Rose
 
X
   
 
Safflower/False Saffron
 
 
X
 
 
Sea Holly
 
 
X
 
 
Sea Lavender or
Dumosa
 
 
X
 
 
Sneezewort
 
 
X
 
 
Statice
 
 
X
 
 
Strawflower
 
X
   
 
Sunflower / Sun Flower
 
X
   
 
Sweet or Knotted
Marjoram, Oregano
X
 
   
 
Sweet William
 
X
   
 
Teasel
 
 
X
 
 
Thyme
X
 
   
 
Transformer
 
 
   
X
Wild Marjoram
X
 
   
 
Winged Everlasting
 
X
   
 
Yarrow
   
X
   
 
 
 
   
 
There is both a science and art to selecting the perfect harvest time.  You may need to do some
experimentation to learn what works best for your plants and drying conditions.

Select only flowers or seed pods in perfect condition since blemishes or fading will only be emphasized
when dried.

Harvest plants with long stems at least two to four inches so you have plenty of room for bundling.

Harvest flowers when they are dry.  Usually late morning time is best when the dew has had time to
evaporate, but it has not become so hot that the flowers are looking wilted.

Click here for complete guides on
How To Dry Flowers and also How To Dry Herbs
Just published! How to Dry Herbs to make Tea
herb and flower drying rack