How to press flowers

Turn delicate blooms into lasting artworks! Pressing flowers is an easy and fun way to capture the colours of the seasons, celebrate your garden’s best blooms and create meaningful keepsakes that your loved ones will treasure.  

You don’t need to be an expert, and you most likely have all the materials you need dotted about the house. Read on to discover our guide to picking flowers, simple instructions for how to press them, as well as family-friendly activities for budding scientists, keen artists and nature lovers alike. 

Getting started: picking your flowers 

Which flowers should I press? 

Where possible, opt for blooms with a single row of petals – thin flowers are much easier to press, while chunkier options with many layers can prove difficult to flatten. Here are some ideas for native flowers to press: 

• oxeye daisy 
• common poppy 
• dog violet 
• Queen Anne’s lace 
• primrose.   

When is the best time to pick flowers? 

The best time to pick flowers is in the morning, when the air is cool and the dew has disappeared. If your flowers are damp with rain or dew, be sure to air dry them before pressing, as moisture encourages mould.  

Seek out fresh, young blooms which are just before their best. To preserve the vibrant colour of your flowers, time is of the essence! Press them as quickly after picking as possible.  

Responsible flower picking 

Many pollinators and other kinds of wildlife depend on flowers, so be mindful of minimising your impact on nature. Here are some top tips for picking flowers in the most responsible way.

• Try growing your own flowers in a garden, green space or windowsill and harvest these for your pressing projects. 
• Only pick flowers in places where you have permission.  
• Check the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland’s Code of Conduct to see which plant species are protected by law – it is illegal to damage or disturb some flowers. 
• Be sure to leave plenty of flowers for pollinators and other wildlife to enjoy. Make a quick assessment: can you spot 20 other blooms of the same species growing in the area? If so, it should be fine to pick one.  
• Read our foraging guides to discover wild plants that are abundant each season. 

The pressing process

What materials do I need to press flowers? 

Good news - you can press flowers using materials you likely already have at home! The simplest method only requires: 

• a heavy book
• newspaper
• freshly picked flowers.

How do I press flowers? 

1. Open a heavy book and line it with a layer of newspaper. 
2. Arrange your flowers on the newspaper, ensuring they don’t overlap. Try to keep the plants as flat as possible. 
3. Carefully cover the flowers with more newspaper, then close the book.  
4. Adding some extra weight on top of the book (such as more heavy books or a brick) will help to flatten the petals properly and prevent wrinkles. 
5. Patience is key! It usually takes between two to three weeks for flowers to dry fully. Check your specimens regularly. You will know your pressed plant is ready once it feels completely paper-dry and stiff. 

How long does it take to press flowers? 

The size of the plant will influence how long it takes to press. Smaller, thinner plants may be dry within a week, whereas larger specimens can take up to a month.  

What can I do with pressed flowers? 

With their unique shapes and vibrant colours, pressed flowers offer a world of possibilities for creative projects. Discover some ideas for how to use your pressed plants to create keepsakes, gifts and more. 

Get creative with pressed flower collages 

Collages of pressed flowers are simple to make and utterly charming! Arrange your flowers on some sturdy card. Once you have settled on your design, glue the flowers in place. You might like to add some illustrations to your artwork – could the flowers become a bird’s feathered tail, a woodland fairy’s dress or a fire from a dragon’s mouth? 

Make your own herbarium sheets 

Try your hand at creating a herbarium sheet. These physical records of botanical specimens are valuable for science and a great way to celebrate the plants in your area.  Carefully glue your pressed plant onto a sturdy piece of card in a natural position. Make sure both sides of the leaves are visible, as this can help to identify the species. Now comes the important part: the data label. In a corner of the sheet, list the scientific name of the plant, the location you collected it in, the date of collection and your own name.  

Mark special occasions 

Pressing flowers is a wonderful way to mark a moment in time. Why not preserve a plant on the first day you meet someone, or create a collage of pressed flowers from a wedding bouquet to keep forever? Whether you are celebrating a graduation, birthday, anniversary, new home or retirement, pressing flowers can pay tribute to momentous and joyful occasions.  

Create framed flower wall decorations  

Bring the outdoors in with elegant displays of framed pressed flowers. By arranging vibrant blooms inside a double-sided glass frame, you create a unique piece of art for your home. Thanks to their transparent backdrop, these floating frames also look beautiful suspended in mid air – why not try hanging them from a sturdy branch for a festive tree display? 

Design a floral bookmark 

Create the perfect gift for bookworms and green-fingered friends! Mount your flowers on a long, thin rectangle of card in a decorative design. If you like, you can cover the card in a protective layer of clear tape, snipping the edges off and smoothing out any wrinkles. Punch a hole at the top and loop through a ribbon to finish.