Christmas Wreaths
A real Christmas wreath on the front door is the first thing anyone sees at Christmas, and the difference between a real one and a plastic one is obvious from the pavement.
Ours are handmade by florists using fresh foliage. Eucalyptus, spruce, pine cones and holly berries. They look right and they smell right, and they keep going through the festive season.
Delivered free across mainland UK, Monday to Saturday.
What goes into our wreaths
Every wreath is built by hand on a natural base, by florists rather than a machine.
The foliage is fresh, not preserved or dyed. Spruce for the body and the scent. Eucalyptus for the silver-green contrast and that sharp, clean smell. Pine cones and holly berries for the colour and the texture.
Because they are made from fresh material, no two are identical. That is the point of a real wreath. A moulded plastic ring is the same as every other moulded plastic ring, and it looks it.
Real or artificial wreaths?
An artificial wreath lasts for years, and that is the whole of its case.
It is plastic. It does not smell of anything. It looks the same in year five as it did in year one, which sounds like a virtue until you see it next to a fresh one.
A real wreath is compostable at the end of Christmas. It is made of things that grew. And it fills a porch with the smell of spruce and eucalyptus every time you open the door, which a plastic one has never managed.
The trade is that a real wreath does not last forever. That is fine. Christmas does not either.
How long does a real Christmas wreath last?
Through the festive season, if you hang it outside.
Cold is what a fresh wreath wants. On an external front door, out of direct sun and away from a radiator on the other side of the glass, it will hold for four to six weeks.
Indoors it will dry out much faster. Central heating pulls the moisture out of the foliage in a fortnight, and dry spruce sheds. If you want a wreath indoors, expect to replace it or accept it will not go the distance.
How to look after your wreath
Hang it outside. Cold, sheltered, and out of full sun.
Mist it with water every few days if the weather turns dry or windy. A hand sprayer over the foliage is enough. This is the single thing that extends a wreath's life, and almost nobody does it.
Keep it off a south-facing door that gets sun all afternoon, if you have a choice. Sun and wind dry foliage faster than frost ever will.
Do not hang it above a radiator or over a hot doorway.
If berries drop or a sprig works loose, push it back in. The base holds it.
Where to hang a Christmas wreath
The front door is the obvious place and the best one. It is cold, sheltered by the porch, and it is what a wreath is for.
A wreath hook over the top of the door is the simplest fix and it does not mark the paint. A ribbon over the top works too.
Beyond the door: a garden gate, a porch wall, a window, or flat on a table as a centrepiece with a candle in the middle. A wreath laid flat lasts well because it is not taking the weather.
Composting your wreath
When Christmas is over, take the foliage off the base and compost it. The spruce, eucalyptus, holly and cones will all break down.
If the base is a natural ring, that composts too. Any wire, ribbon or plastic decorations need to come off first.
You can also put it out with your garden waste, or add it to the tree collection in January. See our Christmas tree recycling guide.
Wreaths and trees together
Most people order a wreath alongside a tree, and it makes sense. The wreath goes on the door, the tree goes in the living room, and both arrive without you setting foot in a garden centre.
Our real Christmas trees are British grown and cut to order. The Nordmann Fir is the non-drop tree and the one most people buy. The Norway Spruce is the traditional one and the one that smells of Christmas.
Delivery is free on both, and you choose the date. See Christmas tree delivery, or read our complete guide to real Christmas trees.
Delivery
Free across mainland UK, Monday to Saturday.
Wreaths are made fresh and sent out to reach you in good condition. Order early for the dates around the start of December, because that is when most people want them on the door.
To order a wreath, or to ask about a larger or bespoke wreath for a business, get in touch.
Christmas wreath FAQs
How long does a real Christmas wreath last?
Four to six weeks on an external door. Far less indoors, where central heating dries it out.
Should I water my Christmas wreath?
Mist it with water every few days in dry or windy weather. It is the best thing you can do for it.
Can I hang a real wreath indoors?
You can, but it will dry out much faster. Outside on a cold door is where a fresh wreath does best.
What is in your wreaths?
Fresh spruce and eucalyptus foliage, pine cones and holly berries, handmade by florists on a natural base.
Can I compost my wreath?
Yes. Strip off any wire or ribbon first, then compost the foliage and the base.
Do you deliver wreaths free?
Yes, free across mainland UK, Monday to Saturday.