How To Preserve Magnolia Leaves: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Preserve Magnolia Leaves PDF download Download Article Reviewed by Ben Barkan

Last Updated: April 26, 2025 Approved

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  • Making a Glycerin Bath
    • |
  • Glycerizing the Leaves
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 110,673 times.

Magnolia trees have beautiful flowering branches in the springtime, and they maintain their leaves throughout the summer. If you want to preserve those leaves to make a wreath or a floral arrangement, you can do so easily by a process called “glycerination.” This process replaces the water in the leaf with a compound called glycerin, which can keep the leaves looking beautiful for months or even years!

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Making a Glycerin Bath

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  1. Step 1 Heat 2 cups (470 mL) of water to 135 °F (57 °C). 1 Heat 2 cups (470 mL) of water to 135 °F (57 °C). Place a pot with water over medium heat, and wait for it to warm up. Use a thermometer to check the temperature, and make sure it doesn’t go over 150 °F (66 °C). Then, turn off the heat.[1]
    • Heating the water makes it easier to combine the glycerin and water.
  2. Step 2 Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of glycerin into the water. 2 Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of glycerin into the water. Pour the glycerin into the warm water, stirring it with a spoon. Continue stirring the solution for at least 30 seconds to ensure that the glycerin and water have combined completely.[2]
    • You can purchase glycerin at the pharmacy, supermarket, or online. Opt for technical glycerin over laboratory glycerin because it’s less expensive.[3]
    • The mixture will be clear, so you won’t be able to see the water and glycerin mixing together.
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  3. Step 3 Pour the glycerin mixture into a baking dish. 3 Pour the glycerin mixture into a baking dish. Use a glass baking dish that is large enough to fit your magnolia leaves. Carefully pour the mixture until there is about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) of headspace remaining in the dish.[4]
    • If you have leftover glycerin, store it in an airtight container. You can reuse the mixture for preserving other leaves or flowers.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Glycerizing the Leaves

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  1. Step 1 Cut fresh magnolia branches, remove the leaves, and cut the stems. 1 Cut fresh magnolia branches, remove the leaves, and cut the stems. Select fresh, green growth from the ends of the limbs to get the newest leaves, which will absorb the glycerin more easily. Use a pair of scissors to cut the leaves away from the branch, and crush or cut the stem of the leaf with your scissors to increase absorption.[5]
    • Where you’ll cut the leaves from the branches depends on what you’re using them for. Some projects might require you to leave the stems on the leaf, while others might require stemless leaves.
  2. Step 2 Place the leaves in the dish so that they’re submerged in the glycerin. 2 Place the leaves in the dish so that they’re submerged in the glycerin. Organize the leaves so that they aren’t overlapping and are mostly covered with the mixture. Some leaves may float, so be sure to keep them separated.[6]
    • Glycerin is non-toxic and safe for humans and animals, so don’t worry about wearing gloves to touch the glycerin bath.
  3. Step 3 Lay a tray or dish over the leaves to keep them submerged. 3 Lay a tray or dish over the leaves to keep them submerged. Pick a heavier plastic tray or dish to place over top of the leaves. Make sure the tray fits inside the baking dish and covers all of the leaves in the dish.[7]
    • If the tray isn’t heavy enough to press the leaves into the bath, place a heavy item like a rock or paper weight on top of it.
  4. Step 4 Keep the leaves in the solution for 2-6 days. 4 Keep the leaves in the solution for 2-6 days. Let the leaves soak in the glycerin solution for at least 2 days, and then look at the leaves. If the entire leaf is a golden-brown color, remove it from the bath. Leave any leaves that aren’t yet golden-brown in the water for an additional 1-2 days.[8]
    • The leaves should be flexible when you pull them out of the bath, so bend them back and forth a few times to ensure that they don’t break. If the first leaf that you try bending does break, keep the rest of the leaves in the bath for another day to absorb more glycerin.
    • If you're glycerizing a larger branch with leaves on it, the process can take up to 2-3 weeks, and you will need to replace the glycerin bath after each week to ensure that there is enough glycerin available.[9]
  5. Step 5 Rinse the leaves with warm water and blot them dry. 5 Rinse the leaves with warm water and blot them dry. Run the leaves under warm water to wash away any excess glycerin from the bath. Then, lay them flat on a towel and pat them dry with a cloth or paper towel.[10]
    • If you want shiny leaves, you can polish them with a soft cloth for 15-20 seconds each to make the leaves glossy.
  6. Step 6 Use the leaves in a floral arrangement or display them for years to come. 6 Use the leaves in a floral arrangement or display them for years to come. The pliable, glycerized leaves are extremely long-lasting and durable. You can craft them into a wreath or use them as foliage for a floral arrangement.[11] When you aren’t using your leaves, store them in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container in a dark, dry place.
    • Since the leaves are soft and pliable, you don’t need to worry about breaking or crumbling when using or storing them.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can I add green dye to keep the leaves green rather than having them turn brown? Community Answer Community Answer It may hurt your plant, depending on the dye you use. Look at the labels for organic or natural ingredients. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 5
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Warnings

  • Avoid putting glycerized leaves on unprotected wood surfaces. If you’re making a wreath of your preserved flowers, be sure to include a plastic backing so the wood isn’t damaged. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/C4T3dZfvIcs?t=35
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/C4T3dZfvIcs?t=45
  3. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drying-flowers/
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/C4T3dZfvIcs?t=50
  5. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6540
  6. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6540
  7. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6540
  8. ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6540
  9. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drying-flowers/
More References (2)
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/C4T3dZfvIcs?t=139
  2. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/glycerin-preserved-foliage

About This Article

Ben Barkan Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 110,673 times. 201 votes - 91% Co-authors: 8 Updated: April 26, 2025 Views: 110,673 Categories: Flower Arranging and Floral Art In other languages Spanish German Indonesian Dutch Portuguese Japanese
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    "Made me feel so great to know how to preserve green leaves with a simple technique. I appreciated a lot reading..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ben Barkan Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer Co-authors: 8 Updated: April 26, 2025 Views: 110,673 91% of readers found this article helpful. 201 votes - 91% Click a star to add your vote Bani Borah

Bani Borah

Dec 15, 2020

"Made me feel so great to know how to preserve green leaves with a simple technique. I appreciated a lot reading..." more Tanya Brown

Tanya Brown

Nov 29, 2020

"I make many natural crafts all year long but I have never tried this, thank you all for this research and article." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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