28 July 2020

How To Style Dried Grasses

If you thought faux flowers belonged solely in the confetti and potpourri camp then you’d be mistaken. Dried grasses are equal parts modern and chic – something you may have noticed if you have a keen eye for interiors on Instagram, thanks to their pretty rustic feel and affordable price point. Here’s where to buy and how to style them…

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The Country Garden Florist

THE TREND

Dried flowers have long had a bad rap, but experts agree that’s no longer the case. “My memories of dried flowers tend to be super twee with a lot of dough plaits,” says florist Donna Willingham of The Country Garden Florist. “Nowadays, it’s much more about appreciating the beauty of what you’d find in nature and bringing the outside in to complement your home. It’s all about tone and texture.”

With tone and texture taking centre stage, it’s easy to understand why dried grasses are in high demand. Fiona Fleur, who has a floral studio in Covent Garden, has also noticed the growing trend. “After opening my studio in June, 90% of the requests were for dried grasses, whether that was smaller bouquets or the large house arrangements – even single stems of pampas grass – we sent them out nationwide and they've been incredibly popular.”

Part of the reason for this is how easy they are to maintain. “For those who are time poor and leading busy lifestyles, dried grasses offer a solution that requires minimal upkeep,”says Fiona. “They'll be there to greet you when you get home, looking as beautiful as the day you bought them.”

It’s the delicate, ethereal look with their floaty, fluffy features that appeals, says Donna. “Pampas grass is my favourite and very much on trend, but I love the airy feel all types of grass can give to a bouquet. The fluffier and featherier the better.”

HOW TO STYLE THEM

A few stems in a tinted glass vase can be both stunning and simple, but there’s no reason to shy away from bolder arrangements. “I love to use them in large arrangements, especially pampas grass with it’s incredible height and dreamy rice-pudding colour,” Fiona explains. “Combining various tones and textures gives better depth and volume to the arrangement, and they’re also incredibly chic and contemporary when styled on their own. At our studio we have the Pick & Mix Flower Bar where you can pick from a range of 25 different grasses.”

For a smaller, more contained take on the trend, try bunny tail. “This grass is just brilliant – think of it as thin, delicate stems with a soft rabbit tail bobbing on top,” Fiona continues. “It’s all about the movement of the stem, creating a magical yet natural motion that has made its way from the countryside into a more urban setting.”

As well as looking beautiful, any kind of dried flowers also win when it comes to sustainability. “People are thinking about the lasting effect of what they buy more than ever,” says Donna. “If they can spend money on a bouquet that lasts for a year rather than a couple of weeks, it’s better all round.”