The Art of Pressed Botanicals

Styled and Written by MARÉ BRENNAN
Photograph by KELLY MOORE CLARK

Long after the joy of fresh flowers fade, you can hold onto those memories by pressing flowers just like the Victorians did. I recently made a move from Texas back to Louisiana. As I was moving books onto a shelf, a little pressed oxalis leaf, still purple but now flattened and stiff, fell out into my hand. That pressed leaf reminded me of an Austin friend who had gifted me a little tuber of oxalis, a fun little plant whose triangular leaves remind me of a living solar panel. I was immediately transported back to the chaos (and fun) of working in a florist on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. 

Always choose flowers that are close to full bloom and avoid ones with blemishes or dark spots.

Make sure flowers are completely dry, as wet or damp flowers can become moldy.

If using flowers from a bouquet, keep stems in water until ready to press. 

For large flowers with layered petals, consider separating the petals before pressing and then “reconstructing” the flower later, if desired.

Before you begin, separate any petals if needed. Then, arrange your flowers on one sheet of parchment paper with at least 3/4-inch of space in between. Try to press flowers of similar varieties or thicknesses together.

There are many ways to press leaves and flowers, the easiest is to simply press them between the pages of a heavy book. Wooden presses are easy to make and can be bought online or at craft stores. These usually involve 2 equally sized pieces of wood drilled with holes in the four corners through which you use a screw and nut to clamp down and press flowers between stacked layers of foam and paper. These methods usually take two to four weeks to achieve a good pressed botanical specimen. The thicker the flower the longer it will take to completely dry. 

A quick method to press flowers is to place your flower or leave on a piece of parchment paper. Fold the paper to cover your flower. Place an iron on low heat on top of the parchment paper and press down for 10 to 15 seconds. Slowly make small circles with the iron on the parchment paper for an additional 10 to 15 seconds. Check your pressed flower. You can transfer to a book or traditional press for 1 to 2 weeks to completely finish the drying process.

Once your botanicals are dry, you can add your pressed flowers to all kinds of craft projects, like embellishing handmade cards, or placed between two pieces of framed glass for a one of a kind piece of botanical art that transports you back to a place and time or reminds you of a special friend.