January Spotlight: Lunaria

Credit: Our Food Stories

In the depths of winter here in the UK we’re hard pressed to find fresh flowers meaning that January is a fantastic month in which to experiment with dried produce. A wonderful multitude of British flowers can be picked throughout the year, stored carefully so that they dry completely (rather than go mouldy!) and then used in abundance when we’re short on fresh produce.

One particularly intriguing dried material to work with is Lunaria, commonly known as Honesty.

Lunaria naturally flowers in Spring, its delicate purple flowers are a beautiful splash of colour in hedgerows. By autumn the flowers are long gone, replaced instead by delicate, papery, oval seed pods. When picked, dried, and peeled these fascinating stems covered with translucent seed pods create a textural delight for any floral arrangement. Nothing quite matches their fantastical structure.

To truly highlight the delicate and unusual seed pods, Lunaria pairs well with grasses that contrast in their linear form.

Wedding tip: to gain a vivid and fresh white colour, a lot of dried flowers are in fact bleached or dyed, however, Lunaria has a natural trick in that each seed pod is actually covered. Once the seed pod sides are carefully peeled away the result is a gorgeous white, papery oval. A smell of bleached or chemicals can be avoided on your big day if you opt for dried stems that remain in their natural colour rather than being artificially enhanced.

If you’re thinking about flowers for a January wedding or event and you would like to discuss seasonal availability then get in touch and keep an eye on the Bouquets for Days Instagram for more Lunaria making an appearance throughout the month.