Succulents are ideal plants for living wreaths. Whether you purchase a ready-made living wreath or create your own, these are living works of art.

Living Wreaths Come in All Shapes

While the traditional living wreath was often round, these now come in every shape under the sun. I’ve seen ones that were shaped like pets, picture frames, and topiary trees.

Start by looking in craft stores and garden centers to see what type of wreath base appeals to you. For living wreaths, the forms are often metal. But, creative gardeners can easily figure out ways to use wreath forms made from other materials.

The metal frames that are used for topiary can also be used for living wreaths. You can buy topiary forms in all sorts of fanciful shapes. Choices include pets of all sorts and even trees.

Caring for Living Wreaths

Water a living wreath just as you would water a potted plant. Water it thoroughly so that the potting soil inside the wreath becomes thoroughly moist. Allow the wreath to dry out between waterings. Misting the wreath instead of watering isn’t recommended.

Be sure and keep your living wreath in a sunny exposure. The more sun, the better. These succulents will suffer if they don’t get enough sunlight. The light should come evenly from all directions. Otherwise, it will be necessary to rotate the wreath from time to time so it doesn’t experience uneven growth.

Under good growing conditions, the living wreath will thrive and grow. In some cases, growth will be rapid enough that some of the plants might need a slight pruning in order for the wreath to retain its natural shape.

Indoor Versus Outdoor Living Wreaths

Depending on the plants you select, a living wreath can be kept indoors or outdoors. For outdoor living wreaths, select cold tolerant species of succulents.

Displaying Living Wreaths

Living wreaths deserve a place of honor. Use them as focal points. Some suitable spots include conservatories, sunny patios, and decks.

In addition, these are sometimes used as centerpieces during garden parties. For best results, don’t leave a living wreath indoors on a dimly lit dining area for more than a day or so at a time.

Buying a Living Wreath

If you lack the time or simply don’t care to create your own living wreaths, purchase a pre-planted one from a garden center and nursery. Beautifully made, these are by no means cheap. There are several reasons for that. First, a large number of plants are required for each wreath. It also takes quite a bit of time to create a living wreath.

Succulents for Living Wreaths

Evergreens are preferred. The hen-and-chicks as well as the Aeoniums and diminutive echeverias are often used. While rosette forming species are often selected for living wreaths, include some with other shapes for contrast.