What Flowers Dry and Preserve Best in Resin & Frames
A gentle guide to choosing blooms that hold their beauty.
Elani Richardson - Owner
3 min read
When we hold onto flowers, we’re really holding onto moments — a wedding day, a final goodbye, a celebration, a quiet gesture of love. Preserving those blooms in resin or frames allows their meaning to live on, long after the petals would have faded.
Some flowers dry beautifully and keep their colour, shape, and softness. Others need a little extra care. And some, no matter how special, simply don’t behave well once preserved.
This guide is here to help you choose the blooms that will look their best in your keepsake or memorial piece — so your memories are held with the same care you gave them in life.
Flowers That Preserve Beautifully in Resin
These blooms tend to keep their shape and colour, making them perfect for resin jewellery, ornaments, and keepsakes.
- Roses – A classic choice. Small rosebuds and petals dry wonderfully and hold their romantic shape. They’re ideal for memorial pieces, wedding keepsakes, and anniversary flowers.
- Hydrangeas – Their delicate clusters look stunning in resin, especially when dried gently. Soft blues, pinks, and whites preserve best.
- Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) – Light, airy, and timeless. Baby’s Breath adds softness and texture to any piece and keeps its shape beautifully.
- Lavender – Naturally long‑lasting, lavender dries perfectly and keeps its calming colour. It’s a lovely choice for memorial keepsakes.
- Daisies & Chamomile – Simple, cheerful, and surprisingly resilient. They hold their shape well and bring a gentle, natural feel to resin pieces.
- Statice (Sea Lavender) – One of the best flowers for colour retention. Purples and yellows stay vibrant even after drying.
Flowers That Look Stunning in Frames
Pressed‑flower frames allow for more delicate blooms that may not suit resin. These flowers flatten beautifully and keep their detail:
- Poppies – Their paper‑thin petals press into soft, dreamy shapes.
- Anemones – Bold centres and delicate petals make them striking when framed.
- Cosmos – Light, airy petals that press into elegant, star‑like shapes.
- Sweet Peas – Soft, romantic, and perfect for sentimental pieces.
- Ferns & Greenery – Not flowers — but essential. Greenery adds structure, balance, and a natural softness to framed designs.
Flowers That Need Extra Care
Some blooms can be preserved, but they require careful drying or may change colour:
- Sunflowers – beautiful but bulky; best used as petals.
- Gerberas – can darken or warp.
- Lilies – press well but can bruise easily.
- Peonies – stunning but unpredictable; some dry perfectly, others fade.
These can still be used, but they may look different from their fresh form.
Flowers That Don’t Preserve Well
A few blooms simply don’t behave nicely once dried:
- Very soft, water‑heavy flowers (e.g., tulips).
- Thick, fleshy petals (e.g., orchids).
- Flowers with high moisture content that brown quickly
If these flowers hold deep meaning, I can often use petals, stamens, or small sections instead of the whole bloom — keeping the sentiment without compromising the final piece.
A Gentle Note on Colour Changes
Every flower is unique. Some may deepen in colour, some may soften, and some may shift slightly as they dry. This is part of their natural story — a quiet reminder that beauty changes, but it doesn’t disappear.
At Borderline Creative, I dry each bloom slowly and carefully, using techniques that protect as much of its natural colour and shape as possible. Your flowers are handled with the same tenderness you gave them.
Choosing the Right Flowers for Your Keepsake
Whether your flowers come from a wedding bouquet, a memorial arrangement, or a moment you want to hold close, I’m here to guide you gently through the process.
If you’re unsure which blooms will preserve best, you can always send me a photo of your arrangement — I’ll help you choose the pieces that will look beautiful for years to come.
Your memories deserve to be held with care. And I’m honoured to help you do just that.
Address
Yealmpton
Plymouth
United Kingdom
Contacts
0755 416 9451
hello@borderline-creative.uk