The 13 Best Flowers for Pressing

There is an interesting historical and artistic tradition behind pressed flowers. For centuries, botanists have used pressed specimens in documenting and recording species. In the Victorian era, this was a favorite artistic pastime. People used pressed flowers to decorate letters and journals, as well as to create artwork with them. 

Modern artists use the same methods to preserve flowers and use them to create a wide range of artwork. From jewelry to framed art, pressed flowers create a beautiful bridge between creativity and nature. My personal favorite use for them is decorating cookies. They add a special and personal touch. 

Perhaps the best thing about pressing flowers is that it allows us to capture something fleeting. We can hold onto that beauty and create something lasting and personal from the garden. It’s also a wonderful way to remember a gift of flowers on a special occasion. 

You can press most flowers, but some simply work better than others. For instance, a rose is stunning in its full form, but makes a rather lumpy pressed flower. Flowers that are flat or collapse more easily tend to turn out nicer. Here are some of the best flowers for pressing.

Got the Blues Pansy

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Got the Blues Pansy Seeds

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Zinderella Pastels Zinnia

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Zinderella Pastels Blend Zinnia Seeds

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Victoria Blue Forget-Me-Not

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Pansies

	botanical name Viola x wittrockiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-9”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Pansies are at the top of my list of the best flowers for pressing. They have a soft form that opens flat, making them flatten out nicely. The colors are wonderful (most are bicolor), and they come in shades of red, yellow, purple, black, blue, pink, and orange. 

When you press pansies, they retain a lot of color, which is an important feature. They’re not as delicate as a lot of flowers after pressing, which makes them easy to handle. When pressing, I prefer to use unbleached parchment paper. The blooms don’t stick, so it’s easier to work with them without tearing them.

Cosmos

	botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cosmos are so delicate and beautiful. Their papery-thin petals make them one of the best flowers for pressing. Some varieties hold their color exceptionally well, particularly the orange and pink ones. The raised center can make this one tricky to press, so make sure you wait until they are fully open to pick them. 

Because cosmos are short-lived, their individual beauty is fleeting. Preserving them by pressing is a wonderful way to capture that beauty. Once dry, these are delicate, so handle them with care. Always store your flowers in a cool, dark spot until you’re ready to use them.

Coreopsis

	botanical name Coreopsis tinctoria
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-8’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Coreopsis flowers, often called tickseed, are one of the best for pressing. They hold their bright, sunny colors excellently. In vivid yellow, orange, and red, these are some of the loveliest little wildflowers in the garden. I always find it fulfilling to capture a bit of the summer garden for use in winter projects. 

Make sure to pick the best, most fully opened flowers that are dry and have no insect damage. Avoid using older blooms as they are more delicate and lose petals easily. Flatten the center by pressing it with your fingers before placing it between sheets of parchment and tucking them into the pages of a heavy book.

Queen Anne’s Lace

	botanical name Daucus carota
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-4’
	hardiness zones 4-11

Queen Anne’s lace is a favorite flower for pressing, and in my opinion, one of the best. The intricate flower heads are short-lived once you cut them, so it’s natural to preserve them by pressing. You can capture that lacey loveliness for far longer this way.

I enjoy the way these look when you flatten them out. They look like tiny fireworks or starbursts. Their umbels have a different visual texture that makes them contrast well with other, more rounded blooms. They take about two to three weeks to dry.

Geraniums

	botanical name Pelargonium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Geraniums are bold and one of the best blooms for pressing, especially if you want edible flowers. They have a sweet flavor and scent that works well on baked goods. Their bold colors and attractive, symmetrical shape make them stunning, and their velvety petals stand up well to drying. 

Wait for flowers to open before cutting them. Remove as much of the stem as possible without the flower falling apart. When dry, after two to three weeks, geraniums are crisp and colorful. They retain their rich colors well and are popular for creating artwork with. 

Zinnias

	botanical name Zinnia elegans
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-6’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Zinnias are one of my all-around favorite flowers to grow. They’re so easy-going and colorful, and an amazing addition to the pollinator garden. They’re also one of the best blooms for pressing. The single-petaled types and smaller blooms press the best, as larger, double-petaled varieties are hard to flatten. 

Zinnias retain their color well, another great quality for this type of project. Choose open, flat flowers for the best result if you want whole blooms. If you work with larger or double-petaled types, break them down and press only the petals, as the center will be too thick. 

Daisies

	botanical name Bellis perennis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-4’+
	hardiness zones 4-8

Sweet and simple, daisies are excellent for pressing to preserve their innocent beauty. Their flat structure and single ring of ray petals make these easy to work with, as they flatten out evenly. This creates a symmetrical bloom that is wonderful for use in crafts. 

Always choose the best dry blooms. You want them to be fully open, but not aging to the point that the petals are loose. Wait until the dew dries in the morning to cut your flowers, so they don’t get the paper wet and take an excessively long time to dry. 

Hydrangeas

	botanical name Hydrangea spp.
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 1’-6’+
	hardiness zones 3-9

Hydrangeas aren’t one of the easiest, but when it comes to the finished product, they are one of the best for pressing. It requires care and patience to make these work because their blooms are made up of many small florets. Each one is delicate and needs light handling, but once pressed, they are stunning. 

Pick mature flowers, but make sure not to let them go too long. You want them to be fresh, as this way they are more pliable. They hold their color well if you allow it to develop completely on the plant. Their clustered flowers add depth when paired with other dried blooms.

Buttercups

	botanical name Ranunculus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Buttercups are delicate, so they’re not the easiest, but in terms of their beauty, they are among the best flowers for pressing. The tricky part is working with their waxy petals and preventing them from sticking to your paper. Bruising them will lead to turning brown, so it’s important to handle them gently. 

Choose freshly opened blooms that are dry and unblemished. Buttercups are cup-shaped. To get the most symmetrical, flat flowers, flatten them with your fingers before you press them. Use an absorbent paper for these, and they will dry better. Coffee filters work well. 

Lavender

	botanical name Lavandula spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Lavender flowers not only retain their color well, but also their fragrance, so they are one of the best for pressing. The slender stems and small blossoms or buds flatten easily. They have a rustic, pastoral charm and are wonderful for use in crafts, as well as to decorate baked goods. 

I love lavender in all its forms. The smell is one of the most popular and recognizable in the world. You can pick them before or after the blossoms open, depending on the look you want. They will work both ways. Just be sure to pick them when they are dry. 

Forget-Me-Nots

	botanical name Myosotis sylvatica
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4”-12”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Forget-me-nots may be one of the absolute best flowers for pressing. Their thin, delicate petals dry quickly, so they retain a lot of their color. They also have a lovely form with small clusters of dainty blossoms. Their true blue petals with a pop of yellow in the center make a striking composition. 

In terms of symbolism, these are wonderful for creating artwork and gifts. They represent lasting friendship and remembrance. Choose fully opened flowers that are still fresh. You can press individual flowers or sprigs for a more natural appearance. 

Cornflowers

	botanical name Centaurea cyanus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Cornflowers, also called bachelor’s buttons, are wonderful for retaining their color after they dry. This boosts their rank among the best flowers for pressing. They have hardy, daisy-like blooms with slightly thicker petals than some, so they need more time and pressure to press and dry them properly. 

Choose fully opened flowers that are dry and free of blemishes. Younger flowers will hold their color better than older ones. Lay them face down and cover, then press down with your fingers to flatten them nicely. Ggive them that extra time and pressure, and you’ll have stunning results. 

Calendula

	botanical name Calendula officinalis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10”-36”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Calendula flowers are wonderful for pressing because of how well they retain their color when dried. These bright yellow and orange blooms seem just as bright dried as they were fresh. These are edible, so they’re nice for use on baked goods and as garnish.