Dried eucalyptus is increasingly popular and is known for its versatility. Eucalyptus can be found in multiple forms and has multiple uses. Whilst there are some great benefits of eucalyptus, we are focusing on how to dry eucalyptus and styling dried eucalyptus leaves in your home.
Eucalyptus has over 700 species and is part of the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Almost all eucalyptus species are native to Australia. Eucalyptus is known for its rapid growth with many of its species soaring to great heights. The giant gum tree or mountain ash is one of the largest of its species, sitting at around 90 metres tall, with a circumference of 7.5 metres and is native to Victoria and Tasmania.
In Australia, eucalypts are commonly known as gum trees. Whilst eucalyptus may not strictly be a flower, this foliage is easy to dry and looks amazing in dried wedding flower arrangements.
There are many flowers that look amazing with dried eucalyptus such as billy buttons and dried hydrangea. Why not have a go getting crafty and learning how to dry flowers yourself these holidays!
The eucalyptus leaves tend to hold their luscious green colour and shape whilst drying, it even maintains part of its fresh scent too! You can either dry it upright in a tall vase or hang it upside to dry in a cool, dark and dry room.
We love using eucalyptus in our dried native flower arrangements. It is a great filler and feature of an arrangement.
Our native Banksia arrangement features gorgeous eucalyptus stems that we have dried in our Melbourne flower studio.
How to Air Dry Eucalyptus
Things you’ll need:
- Fresh Eucalyptus Stems
- Floral Scissors
- String or Rubber Band
- Stick or a Hanger
Method:
- Remove any excess foliage from the bottom inch of the eucalyptus stems - usually the leaves that have been fully submerged in water. Then, cut the stems to your desired length or leave as is.
- Tie the eucalyptus stems together with a string or rubber band. Then, find a dark and dry room or closet that has good circulation. Secure the stems upside down to a hanger, hook or stick, and leave the foliage to dry for 2 weeks or so.
- Once dried, remove the foliage from the hanger and you can lightly spray them with hairspray to protect the delicate leaves if you wish.
- Then, find a gorgeous vase to display the dried eucalyptus in, or add the stems to other dried flowers for your own gorgeous, native dried flower arrangement.
How to Preserve Eucalyptus
Things you’ll need:
– Fresh Eucalyptus Stems
– Scissors
– Vase or Large Jar
– Boiling Water
Method:
1. Similar to air drying, strip the eucalyptus leaves off the bottom of the stems. Then, cut a few centimetres off the bottom of the branches that have been submerged in water.
2. Boil enough water to fill your large vase/jar. You will need 2 parts boiling water, to 1 part glycerin. Pour the boiling water into your jar, add the glycerin and stir until it has dissolved. Allow the solution to cool slightly, then, add in your eucalyptus leaves - arranging them so that each branch end is submerged in the water solution.
3. Store the eucalyptus in the vase, in a cool, dark room. Check on the eucalyptus in a few weeks. It can take anywhere between 2-6 weeks! If the solution is looking a little empty, you can add more during the preserving process.
4. To tell if the eucalyptus is ready and preserved - the leaves will feel rather soft and smooth, as opposed to the brittle feeling of the air dried eucalyptus leaves. The eucalyptus may be darker in colour as well - this is a good indication that they have been preserved properly.
5. Once preserved, remove the stems from the solution and trim a few centimetres off each end that has been submerged in the water. Style your preserved eucalyptus in a trendy vase, hang it on display in your home or add some stems to your own preserved flower arrangement!
We love native flowers and drying our own eucalyptus! Every week or two, we pick up some fresh bunches of eucalyptus and other native flowers and hang them up to dry in our studio. These are then sold by the bunch or used in our own dried flower arrangements. One bunch of dried eucalyptus really goes a long way.
Our favourite ways to use Dried Eucalyptus leaves:
1. Eucalyptus Wreath
If Christmas is near, we love using eucalyptus leaves and branches in dried flower wreaths. Especially if you have preserved eucalyptus, it is rather mailable and works great with a hot glue gun, florist glue or floral wire to attach to a wreath. These dried eucalyptus wreaths look great on the front door, as a gift or even as a table decoration come Christmas time.
2. In a vase
Such a simple yet effective home decor item would have to be dried (or fresh) eucalyptus in a striking vase. Eucalyptus looks great in almost any interior and is sure to leave your home smelling lovely and looking even better.
3. In the shower
Yes, in the shower. A little trick we saw over a year ago was putting a fresh bunch of eucalyptus in the shower. This will leave your bathroom smelling super fresh and it will also add a gorgeous pop of colour to the space.
4. Dried flower arrangements
Of course we love dried flower arrangements and clearly - our customers do too! Our native flower arrangements consisting of luscious eucalyptus leaves and gorgeous other blooms, have to be some of our most popular arrangements. It is quite special being able to have a gorgeous display of dried native flowers in your home that won’t wilt after just one week like fresh flowers do.
5. Bath Soak
Eucalyptus is known for its amazing health benefits and whilst we aren’t an expert in that field, what we do know for sure is that our friends have created a rejuvenating eucalyptus bath soak that features gorgeous eucalyptus leaves. It is both relaxing and it smells great!
So there you have the best uses for dried eucalyptus and how exactly to dry or preserve it yourself.
If you don’t have the patience to wait weeks for eucalyptus to dry or preserve - leave it to the experts who always have eucalyptus flower arrangements and an array of bunches, already dried!
