How to Make a Citrus Wreath

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Here’s what you’ll need:

The heady aroma of a citrus and spice wreath carries all the warmth and coziness you could ask for at the holidays. Make your own with my easy DIY instructions.

• 24-in. round wire frame
• 10 to 14 assorted oranges, lemons, clementines and kumquats
• 7 to 10 bunches of assorted greens, (I used bay leaf, rosemary and seeded eucalyptus for scent, and filled in with olive leaf and salal—find them at your local florist)
• 0.62-oz. container whole cloves
• Eight to ten 18-in. 20-gauge wires
• Covered binding wire
• Toothpick
• Wire cutters

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Step 1: Trim and Snip

Trim and snip the greens into 8- to 12-in. lengths. Using covered binding wire, bind together 12 to 15 small bundles of assorted greenery at three points each, leaving wire tails long enough to secure each bundle to the wire frame. I used the salal at the back as the base, then laid assorted herbs and greens on top. The seeded eucalyptus adds an airy quality, so include a little in each bunch.

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Step 2: Attach the Bundles

Position each bundle of greens on the front of the wire frame, overlapping them slightly; secure the binding wire on the back of the frame as you go. Trim and tuck in the wire ends.

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Step 3: Embellish the Fruit

Using a toothpick, poke holes for your desired pattern into one side of a piece of fruit and insert whole cloves. Repeat as desired, leaving several pieces of fruit bare for contrast.

Get our best winter citrus recipes.

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Step 4: Wire the Fruit

Thread a wire through the center of each orange, lemon and clementine, bending the wires gently down at a 90-degree angle.

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Step 5: Make Kumquat Bundles

Thread a 20-gauge wire through two kumquats. Gently bend the wire ends down and twist together below the kumquats.

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Step 6: Attach the Citrus

Attach the fruit to the wire frame as desired. (Avoid twisting the wire too tightly or it will slice through the fruit.) I like the asymmetrical look of the fruit clustered on the bottom right. You can add a smaller cluster of fruit diagonally across the wreath near the top if desired for balance. Tuck a few pieces of fruit in deeper to add depth. Make it your own by adding bundles of cinnamon sticks or threading a pretty ribbon through the greens if you like.

Step 7: Trim

Carefully secure the wire ends of the citrus on the back of the frame. Trim and tuck in the wire ends.

The wreath will have some weight to it, so attach a sturdy wire loop at the top and use a hanger that can support the weight. Your citrus wreath will last 3-5 days or longer if kept cool.