In this post — a step-by-step tutorial for making the most beautiful (and unexpected) patriotic centerpiece of the summer: a lemon topiary in red, white, and navy.
Why I Love a Topiary
I have a confession: I love topiaries.
The topiary is one of those classic forms that transcends any particular decorating style. I’ve seen them in traditional Southern homes, modern coastal houses, and everything in between. What makes them work is the shape itself. The tall, tapered cone creates instant visual interest and height, which is something that can add a lot of character and interest to a space.
This lemon topiary started as a 4th of July idea, but it became something I want to make every summer. It was simple to make too! The result is patriotic without being too literal and the best part is that the lemon topiary can remain long after the summer holiday season.
The whole project takes about an hour. Let me show you how I made it!
How to Make a Lemon Topiary
- Why I Love a Topiary
- What You’ll Need
- How to Make It, Step by Step
- How to Style and Display Your Topiary
- Variations and Ideas for Other Seasons
- Shop This Project
- Pin It for Later!
- Happy 4th of July!
- You may also enjoy…
What You’ll Need
For The Structure
1 foam cone form, 12–15 inches tall (available at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or Amazon)
Spanish moss or preserved sheet moss, to cover the base
To anchor the topiary, you’ll want to use a small pot or container made from a heavier material like terra cotta or white ceramic. A simple basket or wooden box would work beautifully too so long as they’re heavy enough. I reused a low ceramic pot from Trader Joe’s that used to contain small succulents.
The Lemons
For this project, you can use fresh lemons from your tree or grocery store, or high-quality faux lemons from a craft store or Amazon if you want something that will last season after season.
You will need a good supply of small lemons, fresh or faux — you want them on the smaller side so they adhere neatly to the cone.
I used 2 1/2 boxes (about 50) of these realistic faux lemons for this project. They were the perfect size. I intend to display this topiary in my kitchen year-round, so faux was the way to go for me.
Tip: If you want this topiary to last for years, go with high-quality faux lemons — the kind with a realistic texture and not shiny plastic. The better craft stores and Amazon carry excellent options, and they’re worth the investment. Faux berries and florals will last indefinitely.
The Filler & Color
Faux red berries or something similar
Faux white baby’s breath or something similar
Assorted wired ribbon in patriotic colors
Floral wire (optional)
Tools
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Floral pins or pearl-head pins (these are very handy, especially if you don’t intend to glue anything to the lemons)
Sharp scissors or floral snips
How to Make It, Step by Step
Step 1: Make Sure the Cone Fits in the Container
Start by anchoring your foam cone in its vessel. If the pot opening is close to the cone base diameter, the cone may stand on its own — just test it first. The cone should stand completely steady before you add a single lemon. If it needs support (at the end of the project) run a thin line of hot glue around the base of the cone where it meets the pot interior, or tuck Spanish moss firmly around the base to hold it upright.
In my case, the cone sat a little too low for my liking in the shallow pot, so I trimmed a round piece of floral foam to fit and glued it to the cone before setting it in the pot. Don’t secure it to the pot until after the next step.
Step 2: Cover the cone with sheet moss
Roll the cone up in the moss to figure out how much to cut. I marked a line with a Sharpie to help guide my scissors.
After cutting the moss, attach it to the cone using pins. (You can use hot glue too, but be careful not to burn your fingers. I’ve found through experience that hot glue and moss are a bad combo and can make a sticky mess!)
If there are any bare spots remaining on the cone, cut small pieces of moss to cover them. For this step I did use a small amount of hot glue plus some pins to make sure they laid flat.
Step 3: Pick Your Lemons
Fresh Lemons
If you’re using fresh lemons, plan to make and display the topiary within two to three days of assembly. The lemons will hold beautifully at room temperature for a long Fourth of July weekend. You will need tooth pics or short wooden skewers to anchor the lemons.
Insert a floral pick or a trimmed wooden skewer about two inches into each lemon, leaving two to three inches of pick extending out from the base. The pick is what you’ll press into the foam — it distributes the weight of the lemon evenly and gives you a secure hold without cracking or bruising the fruit.
Faux Lemons
If you go with faux lemons, you can either use wooden skewers to attach them to the cone or hot glue. I opted for the glue to fasten them securely to the moss.
To start, heat up a glue gun and have ample refill sticks handy. For this project, I used approximately 50 faux lemons. You may need more or less depending on the height of your cone and the size of the lemons.
Step 4: Build the Lemon Rows
Starting at the very bottom of the cone, press a row of lemons all the way around the circumference. The lemons should sit snugly against each other without gaps, but don’t worry about perfection — a little variation is part of the charm. Work your way up the cone in rows, staggering each row so the lemons offset like brickwork. This creates the most solid structure and the most visually pleasing pattern.
I attached the lemons at an angle which made them easier to stagger.
As the cone narrows toward the top, you’ll naturally use smaller lemons or press them in at a slightly steeper angle. I left the very top of the cone exposed for the next step.
Step 5: Tuck in the Berries and Florals
Cut small sprigs of berries and baby’s breath. I also used the leaves from the berry picks for a little extra greenery.
With all the lemons in place, step back and look at the gaps between them. This is where your red and white dried berries and florals go. Tuck berry stems into the foam between lemon picks, and if needed use a tiny dot of hot glue to secure any pieces that feel loose. I opted to not glue anything because I want to be able remove everything later. If you’re going to move the topiary around a lot, then a little glue will help keep the florals and berries securely attached.
You don’t need to fill every gap — some negative space between the lemons is beautiful. Think of this layer as punctuation, not filler.
Work the red and white in a loose, scattered way rather than alternating precisely. An intentionally imperfect distribution looks the most natural and the most beautiful.
Step 6: Add the Ribbon
Option 1: Spiral
Cut a length of ribbon long enough to spiral from the base of the cone to the top — roughly two to three times the height of your cone, depending on how closely you spiral it. Starting at the bottom, pin the ribbon end to the foam with a floral pin, then wind it loosely upward in a spiral, securing with a pin every three to four inches. You want a relaxed, slightly loose spiral that lets the lemons and berries show through.
At the top, tuck the ribbon end behind the final lemon or pin it neatly to the tip. If you have extra ribbon, trim it cleanly.
Option 2: Bow With Cascading Ribbon (shown)
Create a bow with one or two kinds of ribbon, leaving the tails long. (For a bow-making tutorial, see this post.)
Use pins to attach it to the top of the topiary. Then use pins to secure the tails in graceful wavy ribbons down the sides of the topiary.
Step 7: Cover the Base and Finish
If needed, cover the top of the pot and the visible foam base with Spanish moss or sheet moss, tucking it snugly around the cone. This is the detail that takes the project from “craft project” to “something you’d see in a beautiful shop” by making it look more finished. In my case, the topiary fits snugly in the pot, so there was no need for filler moss.
Optional: tie a small bow of navy ribbon around the pot itself, or tuck a tiny flag pick or star pick into the moss for a finishing touch.
How to Style and Display Your Topiary
This topiary is remarkably versatile. A few of my favorite ways to use it:
As a dining table centerpiece. A single topiary at the center of a round table is a striking focal point. Two flanking a low arrangement of red and white florals on a longer table is even more dramatic.
On a front entry console or porch. A pair of topiaries flanking your front door or an entry table makes a stunning symmetrical statement. In San Diego where we can leave things outside in summer, they look beautiful on a porch or a gated garden entry.
On an outdoor serving cart or bar. Tuck the topiary on one end of an outdoor bar cart for a beautiful, festive accent that doesn’t compete with the drinks and glasses.
As a hostess gift. This is my favorite use of all. Wrap the pot in kraft paper, tie it with a navy satin bow, and bring it to whoever is hosting the party. It arrives looking gorgeous and entirely unexpected, and it lasts through the whole holiday weekend and beyond, if you used faux lemons.
Variations and Ideas for Other Seasons
There are lots of other fun variations of topiaries that you can make year-round based on the instructions above!
Summer entertaining (non-patriotic version): Swap navy ribbon for natural jute, skip the red berries, and use preserved eucalyptus sprigs as your filler. Gorgeous for a summer dinner party.
Thanksgiving: Use small seckel pears or faux pears instead of lemons, add dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks between the rows, and wrap with a warm brown velvet ribbon.
Christmas: Limes with cranberries and holly sprigs, wrapped in red velvet ribbon. Or use all-white flowers on a white cone for a snowy effect.
Year-round lemon version: Skip the patriotic ribbon entirely and use a natural jute or cream ribbon. A lemon topiary with just greenery filler is a beautiful year-round accent that works in any coastal or California-inspired home.
Shop This Project
Foam cone form, 12–15 inches (Amazon)
Pearl head pins (Amazon)
Faux red berry stems (Amazon)
Faux baby’s breath (Amazon)
Assorted wire ribbon, 1–1.5 inch (Amazon)
Hot glue gun (Amazon)
Sheet moss (Amazon)
Faux lemons, set (Amazon)
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Pin It for Later!
Happy 4th of July!
I hope this topiary brings a little California sunshine to your holiday — whether you display it at home, bring it as a hostess gift, or make for a celebration. This is a project that looks incredibly involved but comes together in an afternoon. My favorite kind!
If you make one, I want to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @fromthebaytothebeach or let me know in the comments. There is nothing I love more than seeing how you put your own spin on these ideas.
Wishing you a beautiful, sunny, sparkler-lit Fourth of July — from the Bay to the Beach.
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2 Responses
Love this Susan. Simple but stunning. I love lemons and I love topiaries so bringing them together is fabulous. XO- MJ
Thanks MaryJo!