Wreath Frames Compared: Wire, Foam, Grapevine and Straw

What are the main types of wreath frames?

Seven kinds of frame turn up in makers’ and suppliers’ own pages. The table shows what each one is listed to hold.

From the product pages and project instructions of Hobby Lobby, FloraCraft, Trendy Tree, OASIS, FiftyFlowers and FTD, plus Iowa State, Oregon State, Illinois Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden for fresh greens. Yes means a maker or guide lists or uses that material on the frame. Limited means the sources disagree. A dash means no source read for this guide says either way. Outdoors No means the seller’s label says indoor use only; the work wreath row rests on one Hobby Lobby product.

Wire frames

A wire frame is a ring made of three or four rows of metal wire, joined by cross wires. Hobby Lobby’s round wire frame has four rows and lists fabric strips, burlap, deco mesh, faux greenery and flowers, and chenille stems. Iowa State calls box-style frames the best type for fresh evergreens.

Work and pencil wreaths

These are wire frames with pairs of twist ties spaced around the rings. Trendy Tree says a work wreath has twists about 6 inches long. A pencil wreath has thinner twists, about the size of a pencil. Hobby Lobby says the bendable sprigs on its work wreath hold deco mesh, burlap and picks.

Metal rings

A metal ring is a single narrow hoop. Hobby Lobby’s 12-inch gold hoop lists no materials or care line. Of the seven frames, it has the least maker guidance.

Foam rings

Craft foam rings are extruded polystyrene. FloraCraft says its FloraFōM ring holds artificial stems, heavy-stemmed naturals and floral picks. It also says the foam can be cut, shaped and painted.

Wet floral foam rings

Wet floral foam is a different product, made to hold water for fresh stems. OASIS describes its Mache wreath as a base that delivers reliable hydration and secure stem placement. It’s sold for weddings, memorials and events, and OASIS says it does away with water picks and wiring.

Grapevine

Grapevine wreaths are natural vine bases. Hobby Lobby lists its grapevine wreath for dried and silk flowers, wax fruit, ribbons and fabrics.

Straw

FloraCraft’s straw forms are sun-baked barley straw and biodegradable. FloraCraft also sells a stretch wreath wrap that gives straw and moss forms a water-resistant surface.

Which wreath frame works for tulle, deco mesh or ribbon?

In Trendy Tree’s tutorials, tulle is tied straight onto the wires of a box wire frame or a pencil wreath.

• Tulle: Trendy Tree ties 6-inch tulle to a 12-inch box wire form in slip-knot loops. Trendy Tree also ties on 12-inch strips one by one. The tulle wreath guide covers the full method.
• Deco mesh: Hobby Lobby lists deco mesh for both its wire frame and its work wreath. On foam, FloraCraft gathers the mesh and pins each loop about 3 inches from the last.
• Ribbon: FloraCraft glues the ribbon end to the back of a foam ring, then wraps it with each layer overlapping.
• Fabric strips: FloraCraft’s fabric wreath knots short strips around a 14-inch foam ring, alternating the inside and outside edges.

How do things attach to grapevine and straw?

Grapevine takes glue and wire. In Trendy Tree’s grapevine tutorial, greenery is held with a small piece of wire or with stem tips dipped in hot glue. A chenille stem or floral wire makes the hanger.

Straw takes pins. FloraCraft’s fall foliage straw wreath sets stems at about a 45-degree angle and holds them with floral pins and glue. FloraCraft says some stronger stems can go straight into the straw.

Work wreath or pencil wreath?

Trendy Tree adds one tip on work and pencil wreaths. If the twists should stay out of sight, the pencil wreath works better. If heavy pieces will be glued on, the work wreath’s larger twists give more surface.

Which wreath frame is best for fresh greenery?

For fresh evergreens, the guides agree on a wire frame with several rings. Bundles of greens are wired on one after another, each covering the stems of the last.

Oregon State explains why a single ring falls short. Greens shift and slide very easily on a single-wire frame unless the wreath is very small. Multiple wires add strength. Cheaper frames of softer wire can pull into an oval under the weight.

The guides differ on wire size. Iowa State calls for 22 or 24-gauge paddle wire. The Missouri Botanical Garden uses 22 gauge on a 14-inch frame. Oregon State says 18 or 20 gauge is typical for heavy greenery work. A lower gauge number means a thicker wire.

Keep the wire in one piece until the last bundle is on. Illinois Extension says to secure each bundle with the same wire and not cut it. Oregon State explains why it must be tight: greens shrink as they dry, and loose bundles fall out.

Can you use a metal ring or foam for fresh greens?

Sources split on the single ring. FiftyFlowers wires fresh greenery onto 10-inch and 12-inch gold rings. FTD says tape or wire will slip on metal or plastic and recommends a wooden hoop.

Fresh flowers need water, which is what wet floral foam is for. For greens set in foam, Oregon State says to shave all needles or leaves off the part of the stem that goes into the foam.

What size wreath frame should you buy?

The finished wreath is much wider than the frame. Mesh, tulle and greens stand out from the rings, so a 12-inch frame can make a wreath nearly twice that size.

Sizes from Hobby Lobby’s product pages, the OASIS Mache page, FiftyFlowers and FloraCraft’s straw project. Work wreath rings from Trendy Tree’s tutorials. Attachment from FloraCraft, Trendy Tree, FiftyFlowers, Iowa State and OASIS.

Trendy Tree’s 12-inch box wire tulle wreath finished at about 22 to 24 inches. Its work wreath has rings of about 12 and 15 inches and finishes at about 24 inches or more. An 18-inch pencil heart with tulle measured about 27 to 28 inches.

Grapevine grows too. Trendy Tree’s 18-inch oval grapevine wreath finished about 29 inches tall and 26 inches wide. No maker read for this guide gives a finished size for metal rings, foam, wet foam or straw.

OASIS gives the outer width and the opening. It lists its 12-inch Mache wreath at 13 inches across with a 7½-inch opening. The 24-inch one is 25½ inches across with an 18½-inch opening.

For fresh greens, Iowa State says box frames come in 8 to 24-inch sizes and calls 16 inches ideal for most gardeners. The Missouri Botanical Garden says longer or denser bundles make a larger, fuller wreath.

Can a wreath frame go outdoors?

It depends on the label. Hobby Lobby lists its CraftFōM foam wreath and the FloraCraft straw wreath for indoor or outdoor use. FloraCraft says the same of its own foam and straw.

Two frames carry an indoor-only label. Hobby Lobby lists its grapevine wreaths for indoor use only. Its metal wire work wreath says the same. The wire frame pages give no care line at all.

How long does a fresh wreath last?

Fresh greens last longest cool and moist. The Missouri Botanical Garden says a wreath lasts longer hung outdoors, out of direct sun. It adds that spruce sheds its needles in a warm room, while juniper, white pine and Douglas fir hold theirs.

Iowa State says fresh-cut wreaths last only 7 to 10 days indoors. Outdoors in Iowa, they can last from late November into early January. Iowa State suggests closing heat vents near the wreath and keeping it out of drafts and wind.

Broadleaf greens behave differently. Illinois Extension says cut boxwood and holly lose their cold hardiness and turn black in freezing weather, so it suggests them for indoor arrangements. A glass storm door causes trouble too: Illinois Extension says a fresh wreath behind one dries out very quickly.

Are wreath frames a fire risk?

Some carry a warning on the label. Hobby Lobby marks its CraftFōM foam wreath and FloraCraft straw wreath as flammable. NFPA advises choosing decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. It says half of decoration fires happen because decorations sit too close to a heat source.

Candles are the other big cause. NFPA says more than one-third of home decoration fires start with candles. It advises keeping lit candles away from anything that can burn. The CPSC names trees, other evergreens and decorations among the things to keep candles clear of.

Fresh greens become a fire risk as they dry. Illinois Extension says cut evergreens dry out in a heated home and become very flammable. It warns against hanging wreaths near a heat source, light or candle. The CPSC likewise advises placing live trees away from fireplaces, vents and radiators.

How do you work safely with hot glue and wire?

FloraCraft’s foam and straw projects, such as its fall foliage straw wreath, call for a low-temp glue gun. Gorilla rates the low setting for floral, fabric and foam work. Gorilla says its glue and the nozzle can reach 400°F. To avoid burns, don’t touch either.

If hot glue lands on skin, Gorilla’s first aid page says to plunge the area into cold water. It also says not to pull the glue off while it’s hot.

For children, the CPSC advises low-temperature glue guns instead of high-temperature ones. Its guide also warns that gases from heating or burning styrofoam may be toxic. The CPSC says to read the product label first. FloraCraft’s pages carry no safety data sheet, so the maker’s label on the foam and the glue sticks is the guide.

Wire has its own risks. The Missouri Botanical Garden warns that wire cutters and the sharp ends of wire can cause injury. It advises gloves for handling natural materials and cutting wire with wire cutters, not pruners. Its finishing step tucks the cut end back toward the front, so it doesn’t scratch any surface.

How do you choose a wreath frame for a project?

1. Name the main material

   Find its column in the first table and keep the frames marked Yes.

2. Decide where it will hang

   For outdoors, keep to frames labeled for outdoor use, such as foam or straw.

3. Plan the attachment

   Tulle and mesh tie onto wires or twists. Pins need foam or straw.

4. Size for the finish

   Expect the finished wreath to run well past the frame size.

5. Read the label

   Check the indoor or outdoor line and any fire warning. Hang it clear of candles and heaters.

Sources

1. Hobby Lobby, Round Metal Wire Wreath Frame, 20″
2. Hobby Lobby, Round Metal Wire Wreath Frame, 10″
3. Hobby Lobby, Metal Wire Work Wreath
4. Hobby Lobby, Gold Metal Hoop
5. Hobby Lobby, CraftFōM Foam Wreath
6. Hobby Lobby, Grapevine Wreath
7. Hobby Lobby, FloraCraft Straw Wreath
8. FloraCraft, FloraFōM Extruded Wreath
9. FloraCraft, Green-Wrapped Decorative Straw Wreath Form
10. FloraCraft, Plastic Wreath Wrap
11. FloraCraft, Decorative Mesh Wreath
12. FloraCraft, Ribbon Wrapped Floral Wreath
13. FloraCraft, Fabric Wreath
14. FloraCraft, Fall Foliage Straw Wreath
15. OASIS Floral Products, OASIS Mache Round Wreath
16. Trendy Tree, What’s the Difference Between a Work Wreath and Pencil Wreath?
17. Trendy Tree, Patriotic Tulle Wreath
18. Trendy Tree, Halloween Tulle and Ribbon Wreath Tutorial
19. Trendy Tree, Tulle Valentine Wreath Tutorial
20. Trendy Tree, 2017 Snowman Grapevine Wreath Tutorial
21. FiftyFlowers, DIY Floral Hoop Wreath in 5 Steps
22. FTD, How to Make a Hoop Wreath
23. Iowa State University Extension, How to Create a Holiday Wreath
24. Oregon State University Extension, Five Tips for Using Holiday Greenery
25. Illinois Extension, Using Greenery to Bring a Little Holiday Cheer
26. Illinois Extension, Decorate Safely for the Holidays
27. Missouri Botanical Garden, Creating an Evergreen Holiday Wreath
28. National Fire Protection Association, Winter Holiday Safety
29. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Holiday Home Decorating Safety Guide
30. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Art and Craft Safety Guide
31. Gorilla, Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks
32. Gorilla, First Aid and SDS: Glues and Adhesives

Each source was read on November 10, 2026.