Christmas Wreath with Florida Plants

There is something welcoming about a wreath on the front door. It doesn’t matter where you live, if you have a front door, a wreath is welcoming. This year I created a Christmas wreath with Florida plants that thrive near the ocean. My goal was to use a combination of plants native to Florida along with traditional Balsam Fir. If you can’t find exactly what I used, improvise!

Supplies Needed

Here is a list of the supplies that I used to create this wreath:

• Grapevine wreath
• Green floral wire
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Gloves
• Rosehips from the floral store
• Plant material (Sea Grapes, Pigmy Date Palm, Balsam Fir)

Let’s get started

Step 1

We will start by attaching the Pigmy Date Palm leaves to the grapevine wreath. The Pigmy Date Palm has long leaf stems. Because of the length, only two stems were needed. Each stem should cover half the wreath with room to overlap.  I love this palm because it gives a ‘spiky’ feel to the wreath. Start by positioning one of the branches on the wreath. Next, use the green wire to secure the palm in place. I secured in 4 places using the wire. Take the second stem and similarly secure it in place. The result is the picture below.

The Pigmy Date Palm is a beautiful plant that grows to about 12 feet tall. These palms are especially great in tight spaces being both shade and sun tolerant. While native to Asia, it has a second home in South Florida and the coastal areas of Central Florida.

Step 2

Next, add the Sea Grapes to the wreath. I formed a small bundle of the Sea Grape leaves and the Balsam Fir. The idea is that these bundles anchor the bottom of the wreath. Take 2-3 small stems of Balsam Fir (5-6 inches) and add a stem of Sea Grapes. Then secure the bundle together. To balance the wreath, add a single stem of Sea Grapes to the top of the wreath. Secure in place with green floral wire.

The Sea Grape plant is considered a shrub. It is both salt and wind tolerant making it a good addition to beach homes. In late summer the female plant bears clusters of fruit that resemble grapes.

Step 3

Next, fill in around the wreath with Balsam Fir. Cut stems of Balsam Fir approximately 8-10 inches long. Using these stems, fill in the right and left sides of the wreath. The cut side of the stems should be tucked down towards the bottom of the wreath on both sides. Secure in place with green floral wire. Take a step back and look at your wreath. If there are any gaps, fill with additional Balsam Fir. Trim the Pigmy Date Palm if necessary.

While there are several Christmas trees that can be grown in Florida (Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Leland Cypress), the Balsam Fir is not one of them. The Balsam Fir is more suitable for northern climates because it requires a long cold period of dormancy. However, large box stores receive shipments of the more traditional Christmas trees and can be easily found in Florida.

Step 4

To finish, add the embellishments including the bow and rosehip stems. Position the bow on one side of the wreath and the rosehips on the other side. Secure both with wire. Lastly, create a hanger from the green wire and attach it at the top of the wreath for hanging.

Step 5

Hang and enjoy your Christmas wreath with Florida plants!

For more ideas on how to use holiday decorations from nature, see below.

Holiday Decorations from Nature