How to Harvest & Dry Rose Petals

Preserve your beautiful roses for future use with this simple hravesting & drying process.

Cook Time 10

Additional Time 3

Total Time 3 10

Servings batch

Start mid-morning to make sure the buds are already releasing their essential oils but the heat of the day has not yet kicked in.
Pick which flowers you will harvest. I generally start with the ones that already look too heavy for my rose bush or that are growing in sub-optimal spots.
Carefully cut the flowers off the bush, avoiding thorns as you do so. Place them in your basket.
When you've harvested all the flowers you want, take them to a sunny spot and lay them out on your cookie sheet.
Turn them several times per day to make sure they get sun exposure evenly on all sides.
When they are dry enough, pick the petals off the flower. Leave it out to dry for longer if needed.
Store in an airtight container for later use in a delicious recipe or DIY!

Tips for how to Harvest and Dry Rose Petals

Make sure your roses are in full bloom before harvesting
Harvest roses mid-morning. This will ensure that the essential oils are being released but the heat of the day has not yet made them evaporate.
Make sure you have sunny weather for a few days after harvest to make air drying easier (you can also use a dehydrator or a conventional oven)
Use a flat basket or a cookie sheet for easy manipulation. You will want to keep your container of rose flowers in the sun for as many hours as possible.