A Dry Rose and Marigold Christmas Tree

You could say I start decorating my Christmas tree in April because that’s when I can easily find pussy willows in my local Brooklyn flower bodega.

As the seasons progress, I pick up easily dryable flowers like baby’s breath, gomphrena, and spray roses as they become available.

I also pick some flowers in a park nearby in the fall, and “forage” some from Amazon. 

I hang some flowers upside down, I dry some with silica gel, and some, I simply place in vases to dry. My home becomes a bit of a witch’s lair by November, but that’s the vibe I’m going for anyway so I’m into it.

This year, I decided to make my tree smell just as enchanting as it looks by adding natural oils to the citrus ornaments, and the aroma filled my entire home like an enchanting Christmas spirit. Here’s how I put it together!

How to Properly Dry the Flowers

The most important thing to know about decorating a Christmas tree with dry flowers is that the flowers need to be perfectly dry BEFORE going on the tree. If you have trouble finding the flowers I used, take a look at my list of other flowers that dry beautifully for Christmas trees in this post.

Different flowers dry differently. Most dry best while hanging upside down in a cool, dry place. If you simply place them in a Christmas tree while fresh, they’re likely to quickly droop and look very sad. 

Another important note is that some flowers don’t smell very nice while they dry, and no one wants a stinky Christmas tree. Better to get the stinky part done before decorating.

Some flowers don’t dry very nicely at all, like marigolds. Whether you hang them upside down or leave them right side up, they tend to eventually turn brown and their petals fall off… unless you use silica gel!

I dry my marigolds with silica gel and they dry as bright and beautiful as if they were fresh! If you want to see how, take a look at my post about how to dry marigolds with silica gel.

Just about all of the flowers I used take at least 2 weeks to dry (except for the pussy willows and eucalyptus which don’t have to dry at all before using).

The Flowers and Natural Touches That I Used

Yellow, White, and Orange Spray Roses

I used 6 bouquets of spray roses. They’re best dried upside down and need about 2 full weeks to dry. You may think they’re done when the petals feel dry, but the stems take longer to dry, and if you try turning them upright, the heads will just bend and droop down, so let them hang for a full 2 weeks.

Marigolds

I used 3 marigold bouquets. These do NOT dry nicely without a little help. They will simply turn brown and the petals will fall off if you try to dry them upside down or right side up, so I use silica gel to preserve them perfectly. 

Silica gel usually comes in little packets with a new pair of shoes, or in your vitamin bottles. It absorbs moisture very effectively, so it’s awesome for preserving flowers and their bright colors! I covered my marigolds in silica gel for a full 10 days.

White Gomphrena

I used 4 bouquets of white gomphrena. This poofy, cotton ball-like flower looks so enchanting and dries best when hung upside down. Like roses, give them a full 2 weeks to hang, even if you think the flowers have dried sooner than that. Those stems need to dry all the way through, or they’ll just bend and the flowers will flop.

Billy Balls

I love these bright yellow billy balls! I ordered 2 packages of them from Amazon. They come already dry, and they look so fun!

Baby’s Breath

I used 15 bouquets of baby’s breath – Yes. 15 bouquets. I wanted the tree to look extra snowy. Baby’s breath tends to dry nicely either sitting up in a vase (without water – otherwise, the stems may get moldy), or when hung upside down.

You can also, technically, just place them in the tree while fresh and they’ll dry nicely throughout the season – but they’ll be a little stinky. This flower tends to smell a little funky while it dries, especially if you have a lot of it like I do, so it’s best to get the drying done first. I just hang them up with the other flowers as they dry.

Bunny Tails

I used dried bunny tails to add a “foraged” look to the tree. I did not, however, forage them myself. I simply found them on Amazon. I bought 2 packages.

Pussy Willows

I used 1 large bunch of pussy willows. You can likely find them at some florists throughout the year, or on websites like Etsy. These don’t have to be dry before going into your tree. You can place them at any time, dry or fresh.

Eucalyptus (Not Shown)

I used 1 large bunch of eucalyptus. (In the pile of flowers I had, I forgot it was at the bottom when I took the picture above.) It smells so beautiful and adds a little more texture to the tree. You can place fresh eucalyptus right in the tree, or dry it by placing it in a vase without water. It will take just about 3-4 days to dry.

Snakeroot

I used a big bushel of snake root flowers. I can’t say exactly how much, but I filled 4 big bags of it while foraging. You likely won’t find this flower in your local flower shop, as it’s technically a weed. You will find it covering parks and the side of roads in August-early November.

They look like tiny white flowers when fresh, but when they dry upside down, after about 5 days, the little white flowers turn into off-white poofs. This flower is fairly toxic to animals (and people) if it’s eaten while fresh, so just be sure to dry this away from any area where they tend to roam. 

Once the flowers are done drying, I place them in baskets until I’m ready to decorate.

What I Used to Make The Citrus Ornaments

parchment paper – I find parchment paper is the best lining for your baking sheets when dehydrating the citrus. Foil can sometimes leave seared marks on the citrus, and using nothing at all can make the citrus stick to the pan.

glue gun – I’ve used thread to attach star anise to my citrus ornaments in the past, but it’s a bit time-consuming. I went for a hot glue gun this year to speed the process, but if you’d rather use a needle and thread, take a look at my post on how to make simple citrus ornaments.

toothpick – You’ll use a toothpick to pierce the sliced, dried citrus to make a hole for string.

string – You’ll use about 7 inches of string to make the hangers for the ornaments, so make sure to find string or twine that is thin enough to go through the little hole.

dry baby’s breath – this is optional, it makes the ornaments very delicate, but I just love the way it looks on a few of them.

star anise – I love how the little stars look in the centers of the citrus. They also add a lovely aroma too.

citrus – I used 2 oranges, 2 blood oranges, 2 lemons, and 5 makrut limes. I started seeing these tiny, little limes in my food store in late September. They have such a strong, bright aroma, that you can smell it through their skin!

The Oils I Use to Make My Tree Smell Amazing

I use the cinnamon oil from this spice collection from Laguna Moon, and the orange oil from this set. They’re so elegant and naturally derived, not synthetic. I also like to add some of the ginger oil, bergamot, and clove in the spice collection to give the ornaments a bit more of a zing. 

I also add just a few drops (I mean like 1 drop to only 4 ornaments) of Eternal Essence “Cinnamon Orange Clove” oil. It doesn’t really smell like cinnamon or clove, but it does smell like a warm, sweet orange. Different than the Laguna Moon orange, which is brighter.

How to Make The Citrus Ornaments

1. Thinly slice citrus into quarter-inch thick slices.

2. Place the slices on parchment paper (or Silpat), and dehydrate them in the oven at 200 F. for 2-4 hours. The smaller, thinner fruits may take only 2 hours, but the larger oranges may take up to 4 hours. Be sure to check on them every hour to be sure.

3. Remove them from the oven, and be sure to place them on a flat surface to cool. If they’re warm, they may bend if placed in a bowl or on top of each other. Don’t worry if they’re not entirely dry. They’ll continue to dry while hanging on your Christmas tree throughout the month.

4. I use a hot glue gun to attach the smaller citrus to the centers of the larger ones, but you can also use a needle and thread to thread them together. I also glued star anise to some, and glued little baby’s breath flowers to others.

5. Use a toothpick to pierce a hole through the tops of the larger citrus for the hanging string. To make your ornaments smell like Christmas magic, liberally sprinkle a 100% natural orange and cinnamon oil onto them in equal parts. 

6. If you want to store them for later, place them in a container, but don’t cover them with a lid. They may still have some moisture in them, and covering them with a lid can trap that moisture, and they can potentially mold. You want them to air-dry completely. 

How To Decorate The Tree

It’s a bit of a messy process, so you’ll also want to have a vacuum handy for when you’re finished.

1. I add my Christmas lights, then I get the tree nice and fluffy. I start with the baby’s breath. I simply place little bunches all over the tree, sticking them firmly into the boughs. I keep the string that I used to tie the flowers up to dry knotted around the ends to hold them together easier.

2. I add the snakeroot. This is a bit of a messy process because those little fluffies are quite delicate. I carefully place bunches into the boughs evenly around the tree.

5. Once all of the flowers are in place, I add bunny tails. I place them anywhere that I feel could use a little more fluffiness. I add them in small bunches

6. I then cut the stems from eucalypts and place them into the tree in groups of 2 or 3.

7. To add even MORE fluffiness, I cut the stems of pussy willows and stagger them around the tree as well.

8. Finally, I hang my little aromatic citrus ornaments. I love to place some on the front of the tree, but also place them deep into the tree in front of lights so that you can see the color peaking through the boughs. I also add little glass snowflakes that make the tree look a little icy and romantic.

Special Note About The Strength of the Aroma

The citrus smell of your tree will likely be quite strong after you first decorate it with oil-sprinkled ornaments, but the smell will fade within 24 hours to an elegant citrus-spice whisper.

Something to keep in mind, especially if you’re having guests over. Best to sprinkle the oils the day BEFORE a party so they’re not too strong.

The aroma will continue to fade over 5 days or so, so simply refresh some ornaments with oils as often as you wish.