Go Back Email Link
A bouquet of Maple Leaf Roses - roses that have been handcrafted from freshly fallen maple leaves.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
5 from 1 vote

How to Make Maple Leaf Roses

Making roses - or even full bouquets - from fallen leaves is a fun fall craft. Here is how I make Maple Leaf Roses. Great for fall weddings!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Author: Marie Porter
Cost: $2

Equipment

  • Floral wire cutters
  • Spray bottle of water

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If needed, cut your floral wire to whatever length you’d like the stems to be.
  • Sort all of your leaves into groups. I like to make piles by both colour and size. So here, I have piles for red, yellow, and bicolour/mottled leaves. Each colour is divided into 3 sizes - small, medium, and large.
    Several piles of maple leaves, sorted by size and colour.
  • Pick a small or medium sized leaf. Fold the top half of the leaf backwards, as shown.
    A hand folds a yellow maple leaf in half.
  • Hold the leaf so that the bottom part of the leaf is behind the top part of your first floral wire stem, as shown.
    A yellow maple leaf - bent in half - is held up behind a piece of green floral wire.
  • Wrap one side of the leaf forward and across the floral wire, tucking the leading edge in and rolling it inward.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire.
  • Wrap the remaining side of the leaf forward and around the “bud” that’s been forming.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire.
  • Gather the bottom edge of the leaf tightly around the floral wire, holding it with one hand.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire, and secured with floral tape.
  • Use floral tape - sticky side down - to secure the base of the gathered leaf to the stem. Be sure to pull the tape as you wind it - that’s what activates the adhesive.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire, and secured with floral tape.
  • Once the “bud” base is wrapped, continue wrapping the tape down the stem for another inch or two. This step will secure the flower to the stem, and provide a good base to build on.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire, and secured with floral tape.
  • Next, pick a medium sized leaf and hold it up to the rosebud, as shown.
    A yellow maple leaf is held up behind the yellow "rosebud" formed in the last few steps.
  • Bend the leaf backwards - so the tip and stem end both meet - and form a “petal”. Depending on the size and shape of the leaf, you may wanted to bend the leading or tailing end of the leaf, to shape it.
    Wrap this leaf around the rosebud, leaving a little bit of space around the top of the bud. (Hold it tight at the base, though!
    Once you have the “petal” the way you want, secure to the base of the bud with more floral tape.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire.
  • Repeat with another medium or medium-large leaf.
    A yellow maple leaf is wrapped around a piece of floral wire.
  • Continue - using progressively larger leaves - until you’re happy with the fullness of your rose.
    An orange and yellow maple leaf is held up behind the rose that has been forming over the past few steps.
  • Once you’re satisfied with your rose, pick our 2-3 smallish leaves, and wrap them around the base of the rose, as-is. (No folding!). Play around a bit with the positioning, until you’re happy with it.
    A yellow rose made from maple leaves.
  • Secure with a final wrapping of floral tape. Wind it all the way down the stem, this time.
    The Maple leaf rose is turned on its side, and floral tape is being applied to the length of the stem.
  • Repeat as necessary with another set of leaves, to make as many roses as you need.
    A 6 photo collage showing the previous steps, but using red leaves this time.
  • As you finish roses, mist with a bit of water and gently set them aside.
    Two completed maple leaf roses rest on their sides.
  • Remember, you’re aiming for somewhat natural looking, not super uniform in appearance.
    A deep red rpse made of maple leaves.
  • Once you’re finished your roses, gather your stems and arrange them as desired. Secure with more floral tape, if needed.
    A bouquet of Maple Leaf Roses - roses that have been handcrafted from freshly fallen maple leaves.

Video