Flowers to Grow... Perfect for Pressing

You will receive 10 full-sized packets of seeds ideal for pressing:

• 💙 Pansy 'Ullswater Deep Blue': The classic pressing flower. Velvety, deep blue "faces" that dry perfectly flat and hold their rich colour.
• 🌸 Cosmos 'Sensation Mixed': Large, open, paper-thin petals in pinks and whites that dry quickly to a translucent, stained-glass finish.
• ❄️ Ammi Majus: Creates stunning, intricate white silhouettes that look like snowflakes or skeleton leaves on paper.
• 🍒 Achillea 'Cerise Queen': Flat-topped plates of tiny cherry-pink flowers that preserve their vibrant colour beautifully.
• 🌼 Calendula 'Oopsy Daisy': Dwarf plants with creamy petals tipped in orange. Press individual petals for a confetti effect or the whole head for a sunburst.
• ☁️ Gypsophila 'Covent Garden': The essential filler. Tiny white button flowers on fine stems that add delicate detail to pressed arrangements.
• 🌌 Nigella 'Blue' (Love-in-a-mist): Starry blue flowers nestled in fine, ferny foliage. Both the flowers and the delicate leaves press into exquisite shapes.
• 🧊 Osteospermum 'Sky and Ice': Crisp, clean white daisies with a striking blue eye. Their flat shape makes them easy to press successfully.
• ☀️ Californian Poppy 'Golden West': Silky, satin-textured petals that press to a vibrant, translucent golden-orange.
• 🦋 Forget-me-not 'Blue': The miniature classic. Sprigs of tiny blue flowers are the ideal scale for pressing, perfect for making greeting cards.

Creating botanical art is simple if you follow the rules:

1. Pick when Dry: Never pick flowers in the rain or morning dew. Moisture causes mould inside the press. Pick on a sunny afternoon when the petals are crisp.

2. Prepare the Flower: For bulky flowers (like Calendula), you may need to snip off the green base (calyx) at the back so they lie flat. For simpler flowers like Cosmos, just place them face down.

3. The Wait: Place them between blotting paper in a flower press (or a heavy book). Tighten it up and leave them for 2-4 weeks. Do not peek! Patience guarantees the best colour retention.

This collection is designed to be easy to grow.

Spring Sowing: Most of these varieties (Cosmos, Ammi, Nigella, Calendula, Gypsophila, Californian Poppy) can be sown directly outdoors in spring (March-May) for flowers the same summer.

Biennials: The Forget-me-nots and Pansies are best sown in summer to flower the following spring, giving you pressing material early in the year.

Full sowing instructions are printed on each individual packet.