Dried & Fresh Flower FAQs: Care, Delivery & Wedding Questions Answered

Not here, but our sister florist The Petal Boutique does. They make fresh bouquets for delivery across Winchester, Andover, Salisbury, Basingstoke and the surrounding villages, with collection from the shop at Weyhill. Bouquet Cards is all dried arrangements, which ship across mainland UK and last for years.

Dried flowers are real, natural flowers that have been carefully preserved through air drying, pressing, or other natural preservation methods. Unlike fresh flowers that wilt after a week, dried flowers retain their beauty for months or even years. Each of our arrangements is handcrafted in our Hampshire studio using sustainably sourced blooms.

With proper care, our dried flower arrangements typically last between 1–3 years. Some stems, like pampas grass and lavender, can last even longer. The longevity depends on the environment — keeping them away from direct sunlight, moisture, and high humidity will help them stay beautiful for as long as possible.

Yes, dried flowers are significantly more sustainable than fresh cut flowers. They don’t require refrigeration during transport or storage, eliminating substantial energy consumption. There’s no floral foam waste, no need for preservative chemicals in water, and they last months or years rather than days—meaning far fewer flowers need to be grown and transported overall. Many of our dried flowers are British-grown, further reducing food miles. Additionally, at the end of their life, dried flowers are completely biodegradable and can be composted. Whilst there are some tradeoffs (water usage during growing, potential use of dyes), the overall environmental impact is considerably lower than the fresh flower industry.

Yes! Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We work with UK-based growers who share our commitment to the environment. Our flowers are dried using natural methods (no harsh chemicals), and all of our packaging is 100% recyclable and plastic-free.

Because our arrangements are handmade using natural flowers, each one is unique. While we always aim to match the style, colour palette, and feel of the product photos as closely as possible, there may be slight natural variations in shape, colour, or bloom size.

We do! Whether it's a custom colour palette for a wedding, a bespoke centrepiece for an event, or a personalised gift, we'd love to help. Please get in touch with your ideas and we'll work with you to create something truly special. Bespoke orders typically require 2–3 weeks lead time.

While dried flowers are generally non-toxic, we recommend keeping arrangements out of reach of pets who like to chew or play with plants. If you have concerns about specific flowers, feel free to contact us and we can advise on pet-friendly options.

Keep them away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading. Avoid humid areas like bathrooms. Don't water them — they're preserved and don't need moisture. To remove dust, gently use a soft brush or a hairdryer on a cool, low setting from a distance.

With proper care, dried flowers can last anywhere from 6 months to several years. The longevity depends on the variety of flower, how they’re displayed, and the environmental conditions. Hardy botanicals like eucalyptus, wheat, and pampas grass can last 2-3 years or more, whilst more delicate blooms like statice and limonium typically last 12-18 months. To maximise their lifespan, keep them out of direct sunlight, away from moisture, and dust them gently every few weeks. Many of our customers enjoy their arrangements for well over a year with minimal maintenance.

Keep them dry: Moisture is the enemy of dried flowers. Avoid bathrooms, kitchens, or anywhere with high humidity. Avoid direct sunlight: UV rays will fade colours over time—display in indirect light for best results. Dust gently: Use a soft brush, feather duster, or cool hairdryer on the lowest setting every few weeks. Handle with care: Dried flowers are more fragile than fresh, so avoid moving them frequently. No water needed: Never place dried flowers in water—this will cause them to rot. For more detailed guidance, visit our Dried Flower Care Guide.

Yes—and they must be! Dried flowers should never be placed in water as this will cause them to deteriorate and rot. Display them in a dry vase, jug, or other vessel. You can use decorative sand, dried rice, or floral foam (for more complex arrangements) to help support stems if needed. Many customers simply arrange them in a tall vase where the stems naturally support each other. The beauty of dried flowers is their no-maintenance nature—no water changes, no wilting, no mess.

We'd recommend avoiding direct sunlight where possible. While dried flowers are much more forgiving than fresh ones, prolonged exposure to strong sunlight can cause the colours to fade over time. A bright room with indirect light is ideal.

Wrap them gently in tissue paper and place them in a dry, cool, dark place — a cardboard box works perfectly. Avoid plastic bags as they can trap moisture and cause mould. Store them upright if possible to prevent stems from bending or breaking.

Some of our favourites include: placing a statement bouquet on a dining table or console, displaying bud vases with single stems on shelves, hanging a wreath on your front door or above a mantelpiece, and creating a cluster of different sized vases for a curated look. Check out our blog for more styling inspiration.

Absolutely! Dried flowers are increasingly popular for weddings and offer several advantages over fresh blooms. They can be prepared weeks or months in advance, eliminating last-minute stress and reducing costs. Bridal bouquets, buttonholes, table centrepieces, and ceremony arrangements all work beautifully with dried flowers. They won’t wilt during a long ceremony or photo session, and the bride can keep her bouquet as a lasting memento without preservation costs. Dried flowers suit rustic, bohemian, and vintage wedding themes particularly well, and offer stunning texture and earthy tones. Browse our dried flower bouquets or contact us for bespoke wedding arrangements.

Simply browse our shop, add items to your cart, and proceed to checkout. We accept all major credit and debit cards via Stripe, as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Absolutely! During checkout, you'll find a gift message field where you can add a personal note. We'll hand-write your message on a beautiful kraft card and include it with the order.

We start preparing orders quickly, so please contact us as soon as possible if you need to make changes. If your order hasn't been dispatched yet, we'll do our best to accommodate modifications or cancellations.

Yes, we work with interior designers, event planners, wedding venues, and retailers. If you're interested in wholesale or trade orders, please get in touch and we'll send over our trade catalogue and pricing.

Yes, we deliver dried flowers throughout the UK. Orders are carefully packaged to protect delicate stems and blooms during transit. Delivery times and costs vary depending on your location and chosen service—standard delivery typically takes 2-5 working days. We’re based in Hampshire and can offer local collection by arrangement. For full details, please see our Shipping Policy.

We offer free standard delivery on all UK orders — no minimum spend required. Standard delivery takes 3–5 working days. We also offer express delivery (1–2 working days) for £8.95.

We currently deliver to mainland UK only. We're exploring international shipping options and hope to offer this in the future. If you're based outside the UK, please contact us and we'll see what we can do.

Each order is wrapped in tissue paper, secured with eco-friendly materials, and placed in a custom-designed box that protects the flowers during transit. All of our packaging is recyclable and plastic-free.

If your order arrives damaged, please take a photo and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. We'll arrange a replacement or full refund — no fuss.

We accept returns within 14 days of delivery, provided the product is undamaged and in its original packaging. To start a return, please contact us with your order number.

Yes! Once dispatched, you'll receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number.

Our sister florist The Petal Boutique arranges every fresh bouquet at the shop in Weyhill, near Andover. The team is led by florists with decades of experience across fresh and dried work.

Across Winchester, Andover, Salisbury, Basingstoke and the surrounding villages. Fresh flowers do not travel by courier the way dried arrangements do, so we keep delivery local and handle it ourselves. If you are outside the area, our dried flowers ship across mainland UK.

Checkout runs on The Petal Boutique's own site, with secure card payment. Your order comes straight through to the shop at Weyhill and the team takes it from there.

Yes, on selected bouquets. Order by 2pm Monday to Saturday, or 1pm on a Sunday, and we can usually deliver the same day. If it is urgent, call the shop on 01264 771382 and we will tell you honestly what is possible.

Of course. Collection is from The Petal Boutique, 6 The Fairground, Weyhill, Andover SP11 0QN, during opening hours.

Usually, yes. Some hospital wards do not allow fresh flowers, so it is worth checking with the ward first. If flowers are not practical, a dried arrangement makes a lovely alternative that needs no water or vase.

Yes. A regular fresh bouquet, made up from the best of that week's flowers and delivered on a schedule that suits you. You'll find it in our fresh flower range.

A florist's choice design built from the best stems of that morning's delivery. The flowers vary with the day and the season, which is exactly why it is the best value way to buy fresh.

Please allow three days' notice to order. Need something sooner? Call us on 01264 771382 and we'll do our best to help.

Two weeks' notice is comfortable for bouquets and buttonholes. For installations, arches or specific flowers that need ordering in specially, talk to us a month or more ahead. Our fresh wedding flowers guide covers the details.

Yes. Tell us the occasion, the colours you love and your budget, and the florists will build something for you. Call 01264 771382 or get in touch.

Most fresh bouquets give you five to seven days of enjoyment, and often more with a little care. Some stems naturally outlast others, so a bouquet evolves rather than fading all at once.

Trim a couple of centimetres off the stems at an angle, use clean water and the flower food provided, refresh the water every two days, and keep the vase away from direct sun, radiators and the fruit bowl.