How can I dry funeral flowers to keep as a keepsake?
The Short Answer
Air-drying is the simplest way to preserve funeral flowers. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated spot for two to three weeks, and roses, statice, hydrangea, and lavender hold their shape and color beautifully.
Ready to order? Explore fresh, professionally designed arrangements available for local delivery through Bentley Florist.
Choosing the right flowers to dry
Not every bloom dries gracefully, so start with the ones that do. Roses, especially fuller varieties, dry into rich, sculptural keepsakes. Statice, lavender, gypsophila, and celosia hold color and form well, and hydrangea can dry beautifully if picked at the right moment. Very fleshy or high-water flowers like lilies and tulips tend to shrivel or turn to mush. When you receive funeral flowers you want to keep, pull the best candidates while they are still fresh, before they begin to fade, for the best final result.
The air-drying method step by step
Strip excess leaves, gather the stems into small bunches of five or six, and secure them with a rubber band, since stems shrink as they dry and string can slip. Hang the bunches upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space, a closet or spare room works, away from direct sun that would bleach the color. Give them two to three weeks to dry fully. Rushing leads to drooping or mold. Once crisp, a light mist of unscented hairspray helps hold delicate petals in place for display.
Displaying and caring for dried flowers
Dried flowers are fragile and dust-sensitive, so they last longest under glass, in a shadow box, a bell jar, or a framed display, which many families create with a card or ribbon from the service. Kept out of direct sun and humidity, they can last for years. If you would rather not do it yourself during a hard time, save the flowers and bring them in, and we can point you toward preservation options. Some families dry a few blooms and press others so they have keepsakes in more than one form.
Planning Tips From Our Designers
- Pull the best blooms to dry while they're still fresh.
- Roses, statice, lavender, and hydrangea dry especially well.
- Hang small bunches upside down in a dark, dry, airy spot.
- Allow two to three weeks and don't rush the process.
- Display dried flowers under glass, away from sun and humidity.
Still have a question?
Ask a real floral designer. We answer every question personally, usually within one business day.
Ask A Floral DesignerPrefer to order flowers now? Shop the Bentley Florist collection — same-day delivery across Burton and Flint.
Keep Exploring