Dried avena

The dried avena available in our shop are a versatile grain – they can be used as decoration in vases, dry bouquets, floral arrangements or wreaths. They are available in natural, bleached, yellow, orange, pink, green and mint colours.

Avena

Avena are an annual grain belonging to the Poaceae family. There are nearly 30 different species. Scientific research indicates that it originated in Central Europe, from where it spread almost all over the world, with the exception of equatorial and polar regions. Initially, it was known as a weed. It was only domesticated by humans around 6,000 years ago. Today, avena are a popular crop used in both the food industry and as animal feed. Dried avena are used in floristry - they perfectly complement compositions of dried and fresh flowers. They are also valued by handicraft enthusiasts.

What does avena look like?

Avena is a grain that grows to a height of approximately 110 cm. It has hollow stems and develops small lanceolate leaves, most often arching downwards. The most characteristic part of the plant is its panicle inflorescence. Avena flowers are bracteate. After pollination, usually with their own pollen, they develop fruits in the form of grains. Depending on the species, avena panicles differ from each other, taking on a more or less branched form.

Avena in natural conditions and cultivation

Depending on the species, avena can occur in wild or cultivated form. Among the former, the most common is wild avena, widely regarded as a very troublesome weed that colonises fields and meadows, and also appears as a so-called segetal weed, i.e. accompanying the cultivation of other cereal species and root crops.

However, the most popular are cultivated oat species, which can be found on almost all continents. It is worth noting, however, that avena are the easiest grain to grow. They do not have high requirements in terms of location or soil. It grows well on compact, water-retaining soil, although its extensive root system also allows it to survive on well-drained soils. The plant is characterised by its excellent ability to absorb nutrients from the soil and its resistance to temperature drops.

The use of avena

Avena have been widely used for centuries, mainly in the production of animal feed. They are also used in the food industry to produce flour, groats and oatmeal. Compared to other cereals, their energy value is quite high, as oats contain more fat and protein. It is worth noting that oat grains do not contain gluten.

Rich in fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, oat grains are now increasingly used in the cosmetics industry, mainly for the production of creams and lotions, shower gels and bath liquids. Research into the use of oats in the production of medicines is ongoing.

Dried avena in floristry

Avena panicles also have a wide range of decorative uses. And although the grain is not commonly found in gardens or flower beds, it has enormous floristic potential. Dried avena look beautiful on their own or in bouquets composed of colourful flowers such as acroclinium , limonium, achillea, ammobium, helichrysum, delphinium and other species. They can also be added to compositions of fresh flowers. This makes them an interesting decoration for spaces decorated in a rustic or traditional style. It fits in with boho arrangements and even modern interiors, both residential and those intended for various events. Dried avena are great for creating decorative wreaths, compositions under glass domes or Easter palms. They are also appreciated by handicraft enthusiasts. Pieces of panicles are perfect for decorating greeting cards or weaving into macramé. They can also be embedded in resin together with other plants. It is worth noting that dried oats come in natural colours, bleached and dyed in various shades, which provides even more floristic and artistic inspiration.

Dried avena at Blosmi 

Blosmi offers dried avena with shoots reaching approx. 50 cm in height. Each bunch contains approx. 50 ears, and the entire bunch weighs approx. 80 g. All dried plants are carefully packaged and secured for transport.