A Guide to Flower Pounding

A Guide to Flower Pounding

Ever heard of flower pounding? It might not sound like the most gardening-friendly activity at first, but it’s actually a beautiful craft that turns plants into natural prints. This surprisingly simple technique uses the natural dyes inside petals and leaves to create art on fabric or paper, and the results are absolutely stunning.

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just looking for a new way to appreciate your garden, flower pounding is a joyful, eco-friendly activity that brings colour and creativity to the great outdoors.

What Is Flower Pounding?

Also known as "hapa-zome" or "tataki-zome" (a Japanese term meaning "leaf dye"), flower pounding is a way of transferring the natural pigments from flowers and leaves onto fabric or paper using pressure. Consider it nature’s printing press!

You simply place petals or foliage onto a surface like cotton or watercolour paper, cover with a thin layer of plastic to keep things in place, and gently (or enthusiastically!) hammer the plant material to release its colourful dyes. The result? Hopefully a soft, dreamy botanical print!

What You’ll Need:

  • Fresh flowers and leaves (see below for the best picks)

  • Cotton fabric, canvas, watercolour paper or card

  • A hammer or mallet 

  • Parchment paper or a thin piece of plastic (to hold the design in place and prevent flowers from sticking to your tools)

  • A hard surface like a wooden board or sturdy table

  • Masking tape (optional extra for holding your design in place)

How to Do Flower Pounding:

  1. Pick your plants: Choose fresh, vibrant flowers and leaves. The juicier the better!

  2. Prepare your surface: Use a sturdy, hard surface to lay your material onto to ensure you get an even transfer of colour.

  3. Position your design: Lay out your chosen petals or foliage on the fabric or paper in whatever design you like. You could even try layering them for a textured look.

  4. Secure everything: Cover the design with a piece of thin plastic or parchment paper and either hold or tape it down to keep things steady and prevent petals from shifting.

  5. Start pounding: Gently tap with your hammer to release the pigment. We advise working from the centre of the plant outwards to prevent it shifting. Try not to tear the fabric or paper too!

  6. Peel and reveal: Once you’re happy with the colour transfer, peel off the cover and plant material to see your print. Don’t worry if some of them look a bit messy - it’s all about experimenting.

Optional Extra: For fabric, you can heat - set your design with an iron, or soak it in a vinegar - water mix to help it last longer.

The Best Plants for Flower Pounding

Some plants work better than others - you want ones with lots of natural pigment. Here are a few favourites:

  • Pansies & Violas - Small but mighty with intense colour

  • Roses - Petals give soft pinks and reds

  • Coreopsis - Bold yellow prints

  • Petunias - Great for purples and pinks

  • Geraniums - Bright, juicy colours

  • Ferns & Leaves - Gorgeous textures and outlines

  • Cosmos, Rudbeckia, Marigolds - All work wonderfully

Top tip: Experiment with leaves as well as petals. The chlorophyll gives beautiful greens and silhouettes!

What Can You Make?

The possibilities are endless! Some fun ideas include:

  • Fabric bookmarks or gift tags

  • Tote bags, tea towels, or cushion covers

  • Cards and nature-inspired stationery

  • Wall art – mount your prints in a frame or embroidery hoop

  • Handmade wrapping paper for extra special gifts

Just make sure if you're using fabric, it's natural and uncoated (like cotton, muslin or linen) to help the plant pigments stick.

Flower pounding is one of those crafts that feels a little bit magical, and is always popular at The Gardeners Co. arts and crafts sessions. There’s something very satisfying about turning petals into prints, like bottling a bit of summer to keep. It’s a fun activity for young gardeners and adults alike, a lovely way to honour blooms before they fade, and a beautiful reminder of the colours hiding in plain sight.

So next time you’re looking for the perfect card for your gardening buddy, don’t buy it, make it!

We’d love to see your botanical masterpieces. Tag @thegardenersco and show us how your garden blooms have been captured.



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