An Easy DIY Lemon Cypress Wreath

The Main Attraction

We have a large  lemon cypress (or goldcrest) shrub in our yard. It started out as a little accent plant in a pot on our patio, and I originally chose it for its lovely, groomed shape, its lemony fragrance, and for its fresh, vibrant shade of green. I always make sure to have a couple of these beauties in pots on our porch.

Fresh colors really pop against our charcoal-colored door, and this plant needed trimming anyway. So I saved a small branch for this project.

I cut sprigs of the lemon cypress to the length I wanted and then, starting at the top of the wreath and working my way down one side, I just wedged the ends between the grapevines until they seemed secure. No wires were needed.

If a sprig failed to secure, or if it didn’t look right, I just used a different one. When I had that side done, I started at the top of the other side and worked my way down.

The lemon cypress draped nicely and was easy to work with. Soon I had the wreath form filled. I gave it a few shakes to make sure everything was secure.

But it still needed a little something.

Accent Pieces

I’ve learned from experience that natural winter berries, at least the ones that I grow in my garden, don’t look good for long. So I did add one man-made element, which I already had on hand: Faux berries.

The faux berries are on wired sprigs, but I just covered the wires as best I could with the cypress greenery.

I tried adding a bow and a few other decor pieces, but they just didn’t look right. Sometimes simpler is better and, since the berries are slightly over-sized for the wreath, they make enough of an impact on their own.

Some of the grapevine foundation is still showing in places, and that’s okay. Unlike a wire wreath form, the grapevines add a rustic interest.

I think the snappy green of the lemon cypress is a fun departure from traditional holiday greens. This wreath cost me nothing to make, and making it only took about an hour of my time.

Once the season changes, I can easily remove the berry sprigs and then toss this wreath straight into the yard waste bin.

Here I must admit two things:

One, since I’ve never used lemon cypress in a wreath before, I have no idea how long it will look good. I will probably mist it from time to time. My hope is that it will last at least through Christmas.

And two, our front door is in a protected area. A wreath like this in a different, more weather-exposed environment, may not hold up as well.

What If You Don't Have Grapevines Or Other Suitable Vines for Creating the Foundation?

Ready-made grapevine wreaths are fairly affordable and easy to find. I'm listing them as a material below just in case anyone needs to purchase one instead of making one.

As for the cost estimate, I'm listing it as $15, but your cost could be much lower, down to zero, depending on what you already have onhand.

Please check out the link to this post on my blog to see other wreaths and winter decor projects. Also, be sure to check out my post on making outdoor winter visits cozy and comfortable.