How to Make a DIY Pottery Barn Moss Topiary for Stunning Budget-Friendly Home Decor (Pottery Barn Dupe)

Love a good Pottery Barn dupe? You're in the right place! This DIY Pottery Barn-inspired moss topiary has been one of my all-time favorite home decor projects, and I’m so excited to bring it back over 10 years later! These budget-friendly topiaries are perfect for spring home decor, farmhouse decorating, or adding a touch of greenery to any room—without the high price tag. I’ll show you how to make your own with just a few affordable craft store supplies. And stick around to the end—I’m also sharing an alternative version depending on the type of moss ball or vase you find!

DIY Pottery Barn Moss Topiary: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Materials Needed:

Moss ball or ball of greenery (can find easily at craft stores...or make your own with a foam ball and sheets of moss)
Small terra cotta pot or decorative planter
Wooden dowel or stick (for the trunk) - thin enough to stick easily into moss/ball. About 12 inches long.
Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Floral foam or foam block (to secure inside pot)
Burlap, linen, Spanish moss or pebbles (optional for covering the base)
Scissors
Optional: twine or ribbon for extra detail

Step 1: Prepare Your Pot

Place a piece of floral foam or a foam block snugly inside your planter or pot. This will act as the base to hold your topiary stem upright. Hot glue it down for extra security if needed.

Step 2: Attach the Stem to the Pot

Push an end of the dowel into the floral foam in your pot. Make sure it stands straight. Add hot glue around the base for stability if needed...I would suggest waiting for the hot glue until you add the heave moss ball on top in step 4. This will help you know if you stick is really straight or not.

Step 3: Style the Base

To give your topiary a finished look, cover the floral foam in the pot with burlap cut into a square or rectangle, Spanish moss, pebbles, or even small faux greenery. This hides the mechanics and makes it look more polished. I chose to do a piece of burlap that's about 18"x24". It was actually an old placemat I made a while ago and am reusing for this.

Fold the fabric up along the stem/trunk/dowl and secure with a piece of jute tied tightly.

I frayed my burlap by pulling out the individual threads along the edges.

Step 4: Insert the Stem into the Moss Ball

Take your wooden dowel or stick and press it into the moss ball to create a small hole—don’t go all the way through. Remove the dowel, add some hot glue in the hole, and reinsert it to secure the trunk.

This is hanging a little sideways. If needed repeat step 2 to get it straight (if you didn't glue it).

Step 5: Optional Finishing Touches

Add a bow with twine or a ribbon around the stem or pot for a little charm. You can even lightly mist the moss with water if it’s preserved to keep it looking fresh. I used a 1" velvet frayed ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I tied it, and loved how it look, but ultimately decided to complete the full bow.

Here it is all finished! And me :) I feel like I don't show myself on here often enough.

Tips:

Use a more natural-looking branch instead of a dowel for a rustic feel.
Secure moss with floral pins for extra hold if using outside.
These look beautiful grouped in pairs or trios on a mantel or entry table!

On this one below, I used a ball that was made from plastic greenery. I inserted foam into it (they open believe it or not!), and then followed the same steps. I already had this cute vase on hand, so just used it and covered the foam with moss I found from the dollar store.

You can also see the full step by step process in this video :)

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