Wreath-making tips from Threave’s gardeners 

How to make your wreath

Step 1: Collect flowers to dry from the end of summer to early winter

Flowers and seed pods make excellent additions to a festive wreath, but need to be harvested and dried before winter.

The ideal time to harvest flowers is in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the blossoms have fully opened. They will continue to open as they dry.

Look for good quality, well-formed blooms, as these will hold their structure better when dried. And watch out for any bugs or insects, so you don’t take them inside with you.

Step 2: Choose ‘everlasting’ flowers for a showstopping wreath

Plants that hold their shape and colour especially well when dried are known as ‘everlastings’. Here are a few of our favourites to include in a festive wreath:

• Statice (Limonium sinuatum) – sprays of papery-petalled flowers that bring colour to your wreath
• Yarrow (Achillea) – clusters of snowy white blooms that inject winteriness to a festive arrangement
• Hydrangea – found in a variety of colours, these dramatic blooms will add brightness
• Teasels (Dipsacus fullonum) – these spiny flower heads, a staple of flower arrangements, add interest
• Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria) seed pods – these stunning lilies can add value long after flowering, as the dried seed pods bring rustic charm to flower arrangements
• Bay (Laurus nobilis) sprigs – bouquets of this aromatic herb bring structure and interest to your wreath

Step 3: Consider where you cut

When you harvest your plants, cut close to the base to keep the stem as long as possible. However, make sure you leave the stem below the last node to ensure your flowers will return year-on-year. Cut the stem at an angle so the end is pointy – this will help secure the stem in the moss ring of the wreath.

Always take a larger selection than you think you need to make sure you have plenty of material to complete your wreath.

Step 4: Hang dry your flowers in a cool, well-ventilated space

There are many ways to dry flowers, but the traditional hanging method is easiest and least expensive. You can achieve excellent results if the flowers hang in a suitable location.

To hang dry plants, remove the lower leaves from the stems, tie the stems together with some string and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated space. The flowers don’t require any preservatives or sealing. They just need to be kept cool and out of direct sunlight, to prevent mould growth and to preserve colour.

Step 5: Collect fresh plants as late as possible

The fresher the materials, the better. We like to collect plants from herbaceous borders a day or two before compiling a festive wreath. Not only does this ensure the plants stay fresh for as long as possible, but it also provides maximum benefit to the garden’s wildlife.

These are some of our favourite plants to harvest from herbaceous borders for a winter wreath:

• Honesty (Lunaria) – their silvery, papery seed pods add texture and interest
• Silvergrass (Miscanthus) – fountains of feathery foliage bring impact
• Seed heads

These are a few essential foliage pieces we recommend:

• Holly (Ilex) or sea holly (Eryngium)
• Berries (Skimmia, Photinia)
• Ivy (Hedera helix)
• Silverberry (Elaeagnus)
• Spotted laurel (Aucuba)

At this point, also collect your base material, which should include conifers such as:

• Cypress
• Fir
• Spruce

Step 6: Avoid over-pruning

Some plants, conifers included, don’t like to be over-pruned, so take care to harvest them every other year. You can avoid over-pruning by working from the back of your herbaceous border, or at points where plants cross-over each other.

Step 7: Choose sustainable material options to build your wreath

A pre-made copper ring can be a great base to begin your wreath and helps to hold its structure.

Floral foam has traditionally been used in floral arrangements, but it’s made of plastic, is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable, and has been banned by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Responsibly picked moss is an excellent, sustainable alternative to floral foam. It can be harvested from your own garden or bought from your local garden centre.

It can be useful to have string or floristry wire to hand for pinning. Raffia, string and willow are all great sustainable options for this.

Step 8: Build up your base material

To ensure the structural integrity of your wreath, you’ll need plenty of base material and foliage. For base materials, we recommend a conifer, such as cypress, fir or spruce. Not only do these support a robust structure, but they also smell wonderful.

Start with a moss ring bedded with your conifer, then build upwards. Plug the stems deep into the moss and use string, or floristry wire, for extra support.

Step 9: Get fun and festive

Get creative to build your unique wreath. For a traditional wreath style, these beautiful additions create instant festive impact:

• Dried fruit, such as orange slices
• Pinecones
• Cinnamon sticks
• Eucalyptus bark – if you put this somewhere warm, it’ll curl up like a cinnamon stick
• Dogwood (Cornus)
• Silk-tassel bush (Garrya elliptica)

Get hands-on at one of our wreath-making workshops

Whether you’d like to pick up some more tips, get access to a fantastic selection of plants or enjoy a joyful outing with friends or family, our wreath-making workshops are the ideal way to celebrate the season.

You can get hands-on and creative, under the guidance of our expert gardeners, to build your own stunning wreath to take home. All materials will be provided, including seasonal foliage gathered on-site.

Wreath-making workshops are taking place at a range of Trust places in 2025, including Culloden, Threave Garden & Nature Reserve, Branklyn Garden, Culzean Castle & Country Park, Kellie Castle & Garden, with more to be confirmed. 

For more details, check the Events tab on individual property pages