Sedum flowers, especially the tall, upright varieties, are excellent for drying. Their sturdy, dense flower heads and thick stems hold their shape well after preservation. When properly dried, sedum maintains an attractive texture and a muted, earthy color, adding a rustic quality to winter displays.
Selecting the Right Sedum and Timing the Harvest
The best candidates for drying are the upright, autumn-blooming sedums, such as ‘Autumn Joy’ or ‘Rosy Glow.’ These varieties feature robust stems and dense, structurally sound flower heads. Avoid low-growing, creeping sedum types, as their small blooms and thin stems do not preserve well.
Timing the harvest is the most important step for success. Cut the stems after the flowers have fully opened and the color has deepened (pink, red, or crimson), but before the blooms turn brown or shed seed. This stage is typically reached in the early to mid-fall, when the flowers have begun to dry naturally on the plant. Harvesting too early means the flower head is still full of moisture, increasing the risk of mold.
Immediately after cutting, use sharp shears to remove all leaves from the stem. Sedum leaves are succulent and contain high amounts of water, which can cause the flower head to rot or become slimy if left attached. Cutting long stems provides flexibility for arrangements, and stripping the foliage quickly ensures the plant’s energy focuses on drying the bloom.
The Primary Method: Air Drying Techniques
Air drying is the most straightforward and least expensive preservation method. Because of the moisture in the thick stems, the environment must be cool, dark, and exceptionally well-ventilated to prevent mold and encourage rapid dehydration.
Gather the prepared stems into small, loose bunches of three to five, ensuring adequate airflow. Use a rubber band instead of string to secure the bunch; as the stems shrink while drying, the rubber band will contract to keep the bundle tight. Hanging the stems upside down is crucial, as gravity helps them dry straight and prevents the flower head from drooping.
The ideal location is a dark attic, closet, or storage room, as darkness helps the flowers retain their color. Air circulation is paramount; consider using a fan if the space is humid or stagnant. Poor ventilation traps moisture, which is the primary cause of spoilage for moisture-rich plants like sedum.
The drying process typically takes two to four weeks, depending on humidity and stem thickness. Check for dryness by gently squeezing a stem; it should feel rigid and firm, not pliable or damp. Once completely dry, the preserved sedum flowers are ready for permanent arrangements.
Alternative Preservation Methods and Uses
For those seeking to preserve the most vibrant color, alternative methods offer superior results compared to air drying. Using a desiccant like silica gel crystals rapidly draws out moisture, helping the flowers maintain a color closer to their fresh state. The flower heads are gently buried in the crystals for several days; this process is faster but more labor-intensive than simple air drying.
Flower pressing is another method, best suited for creating flat, decorative elements for crafts or framed art. The individual flower heads are placed between absorbent paper, such as blotting paper, and pressed under a heavy weight for several weeks. This technique flattens the thick blooms, allowing them to be used when a three-dimensional shape is not desired.
Once preserved, dried sedum blooms provide durable, textural elements for decorative projects. They are frequently incorporated into autumn and winter wreaths, complementing other dried materials like grasses and seed pods. The sturdy stems make them excellent additions to dried floral arrangements, offering a bold, structural contrast. Dried sedum heads can also be used for smaller crafts, such as boutonnieres or adding natural texture to potpourri mixes.