How to Pick, Dry and Enjoy Paper Daisy Flowers

In some parts of Australia, paper daisies are beginning to flower and it's finally time to enjoy those bright, joyful flowers. 

One of the best things about paper daisies is the abundance of flowers they produce. You can leave them dancing in the garden, pick fresh bunches for the vase, hang them to dry or leave some flowers on the plant to naturally set seed. 

1. Enjoy your Paper Daisies in the Garden

Sometimes the best thing to do is simply leave them where they are and enjoy the display. 

Once established and flowering, paper daisies require very little attention. Avoid unnecessary over head watering once the flowers are open, as repeated overhead watering can cause the colour of the flowers to fade more quickly. 

Over time you will notice that the older flowers will gradually begin to fade. This is completely natural and is part of the plants transition from flowering to producing seed. 

2. Pick Paper Daisies for Fresh Flowers

Paper daisies make beautiful fresh-cut flowers and can be enjoyed for weeks when they're picked and cared for correctly. 

Pick your flowers when the flowers have opened, preferably during the cooler part of the morning once the dew has dried. 

Tips to help your paper daisies have an extended vase life. 

• Remove all the leave that will sit below the waterline. 
• Cut the stems on a 45 degree angle to increase surface area available for water uptake.
• Refresh the vase water every couple of days. 
• Re-trim the stems when you change the water. 
• Keep your arrangements away from heaters, fireplaces and direct sunlight. 
• Display them somewhere with plenty of natural light. 

With a little care, you will have beautiful vases of paper daisies to enjoy for weeks. 

3. Dry your Paper Daisies to keep

Paper Daisies are called everlastings for a good reason. Their beautiful papery flowers retain their shape and colour remarkably well when dried. 

Pick a bunch about 25 - 30 stems and remove the leaves from the lower section of each stem. 

Tie all the stems together and hang them upside down in a dry area with good airflow. 

Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight while they are drying. This helps preserve their pink and white colours rather than allowing the blooms to fade. 

Depending on your climate, humidity and temperature, your paper daisies may take approximately 4-8 weeks to dry completely. 

Once the paper daisies are dried they can be used in arrangements, wreaths and other dried-flower projects or simply displayed in a vase and enjoyed for years. 

All of the paper daisies that we dry are done so naturally with-out bleaching, dying or preserving them. Good airflow and keeping flowers away from direct sunlight are two of the most important things we've learnt from maintaining beautiful colour. 

4. Leave some Flowers to Set Seed 

If you decide to leave some flowers in the garden, you'll gradually notice some blooms begin to fade. Rather than being the end of the display, this is the beginning of the next stage.  The flowers are starting to produce seed. 

The once bright pink petals will gradually fade, often turning almost white. The petals begin to fold backwards, the yellow centres become fluffy, and the stems start to brown and die back. 

This is exactly what you want to see if you're hoping to collect seed or allow your paper daisies to naturally self seed. 

How do you know when Paper Daisy Seeds are ready? 

As the seed begins to develop, the centres of the flowers become increasingly fluffy. Mature paper daisy seeds are white and fluffy with small dark centres. 

Once they are fully mature, the light weight seeds become easily airborne. A breeze is after all it takes to lift them from the dried flower head and scatter them around the garden. 

If you'd like to collect your own seed, harvest the dried flower heads once the seed is mature but before too much has blown away. Keep the seed somewhere cool and dry until you're ready to sow again. 

Let nature do the work

If you decide to leave all the mature flower heads in the garden, the seeds will naturally fall and scatter onto the surrounding soil. The seeds will then remain dormant until the seasonal conditions are right for germination.

The following year when they seasonal conditions become favourable you will start to notice tiny little paper daisies beginning to appear. This is one of our favourite things about growing paper daisies. What started as a packet of seeds can become a garden that continues to surprise you season after season. 

If you wonder weather they will return in your garden the following year? Read our guide: So Paper Daisies come back Every Year?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put paper daisies in a vase? 

Yes. Paper daisies make beautiful cut flowers and can last for weeks in a vase when cared for properly. Remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline, trim the stems regularly and refresh the water every 2–3 days to help your flowers last as long as possible.

How long do paper daisies last as cut flowers?

Paper daisies can last approximately 2–4 weeks as cut flowers, making them a beautiful, long-lasting flower to bring inside and enjoy.

When should I pick paper daisies for drying?

For the brightest dried flowers, pick your paper daisies soon after the blooms have fully opened. Flowers left on the plant for longer will naturally begin to fade as they mature and set seed, so picking them earlier helps preserve their vibrant pink and white colours as they dry.

How long do paper daisies take to dry?

Paper daisies generally take around 4–8 weeks to dry completely, depending on your climate, temperature and humidity. Hang them upside down somewhere dry with good airflow and away from direct sunlight to help preserve their colour.

Should I water paper daisies while they're flowering?

Once established and flowering, paper daisies generally require very little additional water. Avoid unnecessary overhead watering during flowering, as repeatedly wetting the blooms can cause their beautiful colours to fade more quickly.

One Bag of seed can become fresh flowers year after year. 

Paper Daisy Seed Bundles