How to Make a Fresh Magnolia Wreath

See the steps to make a gorgeous magnolia wreath from freshly cut Magnolia Grandiflora leaves and incense cedar for fragrance. This attractive wreath works well for fall and through the holidays due to the rich, rusty brown indumentum on the underside of the magnolia leaves. When made with wire, this wreath will last well throughout the fall and winter months, and burnish to a lovely copper colour as it ages. 

I love experimenting with different wreaths, but one of my favourite plants to work with is Magnolia Grandiflora because of the gorgeous, long-lasting foliage. I couldn’t be happier with how this one turned out! The glossy leaves with textured undersides create an interesting contrast that looks unique and eye-catching while still maintaining the classic natural look of a fresh wreath. I have made many wreaths with fresh magnolia leaves, and the age to a coppery brown colour that makes the wreath even more charming.

Magnolias have an interesting botanical characteristic called indumentum, which is a layer of trichomes or small hairy looking bristles covering an area of a plant (in the case of magnolias, it is on the underside of the leaves). Indumentum works to protect plants from insects and help to control water absorption and sun damage.

While many magnolias are prized in the spring for their scented blooms, Magnolia Grandiflora is known for its foliage. It has attractive, dark green leaves with a rusty brown color peeking out from underneath. The glossy green of the leaves would be attractive enough on its own, but the underside of each leaf is often covered with a thick brown or rust colored indumentum which creates a textural quality that looks like velvet.

The leaves don’t have that heavenly fragrance, so I added some incense ceder in my wreath to up the scent. I do love the freshness that comes from evergreen wreaths hung on my door and incense cedar packs a punch (as you can imagine from it’s name).

How to Make a Fresh Magnolia Wreath

Materials

• Magnolia Grandiflora branches with leaves intact
• Wire wreath form
• Florist paddle wire
• Incense cedar, juniper berry branches, or seeded eucalyptus (optional)

Make it!

1. To begin, you will need a wire wreath form. Gather your magnolia clippings in small bundles before securing them to the wreath.
2. Wrap each bundle around the wreath form with wire, overlapping them so that the stems are covered by the leaves of the next bundle. To see detailed instructions for attaching your bundles, head over to my tutorial on how to make an evergreen wreath.
3. I use twine for most wreaths that are tossed in the compost after the holidays because it is compostable. But for a wreath that will last many months or even years, I use paddle wire.
4. You can use a set of needle nose pliers to tighten the paddle wire as the branches dry out and shrink. Just turn the wreath over and gently twist the wire to tighten the hold on the branches.
5. It’s not necessary to add anything other than magnolia leaves to the wreath, although a few branches of incense cedar, juniper berry branches, or seeded eucalyptus can add a little extra interest. I decided that my plain magnolia wreath needed a little jazzing up.

I love the way this incense cedar looks with the magnolia, plus it has a lovely fragrance, so I added some to my wreath in between the magnolia leaves.

Now it’s perfect!

Caring for a Fresh Magnolia Wreath So it Lasts!

In most areas, the wreath should last for a few months and look freshly crafted. Over time, the green leaves will fade to brown but the indumentum will stay the same color. The leaves will become more brittle as the wreath ages, so wipe it gently with a soft cloth to clean without breaking the leaves.

Magnolia Varieties to Craft With

Here are a few different types of magnolia that produce gorgeous foliage. If you are thinking of adding a magnolia to your garden, one of these will be just the thing—even if you only have space for a container garden! A big thank you to my friends at Monrovia who sponsored this post, provided these gorgeous photos, and allowed me to share some of the varieties of magnolia that would work well for my project. 

Magnolia Bracken’s Brown Beauty from Monrovia

Most Popular Magnolias for Cutting Material:

Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia has bright green glossy leaves with a faded brown underside. Hardy in Zones 5-9.

D.D. Blanchard Southern Magnolia has large, very dark green glossy leaves with a bright, rust-colored underside. Hardy in Zones 7-9.

Kay Parris Magnolia has much smaller leaves than the two listed above. The leaves are bright green and glossy, with a velvety underside and wavy edges that create an interesting shape. Hardy in Zones 6-9.

Best Magnolias for a Small Spaces:

If you want to grow a magnolia but don’t have a lot of extra room, the Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia is for you! It is bred specifically for container gardening, so you can get the beauty of a magnolia with whatever space limits you have. Hardy in Zones 7-9.

Teddy Bear Southern Magnolia is also a small space dream because of its upright habit. The shiny, deep green leaves have a heavy reddish-brown felt beneath and in the warm months, there are large 6- to 8-inch fragrant white flowers to enjoy. Hardy in Zones 7-9.

Teddy Bear Magnolia Courtesy of Monrovia

Most Dramatic Magnolia Foliage:

For a really stunning display, check out the Alta Southern Magnolia. Its glossy leaves are such a dark green that they look almost black, which contrasts beautifully with the rusty undersides. Hardy in Zones 6-10.

For Even More Wreath-Making Tips, See These Projects:

• Gardening for Your Front Door: Making a Fresh Wreath
• The Best Garden Greenery for Holiday Decorating (and Which Ones to Avoid)
• The Everything Wreath: Fresh, Festive, and Free
• How to Make a Grapevine Wreath Form
• A Very Merry Fresh Holly Wreath for Christmas