Topiary in the garden follows traditional geometry with crisply formed shapes. Globes, pyramids, cubes, spirals, pom pom trees, and pleached trees set the stage for an all-out topiary garden or just a touch. In this post take a look at the formal appeal when using a diamond pattern to display ivy on garden walls; see how square, rectangular, and diamond boxwood hedges provide a crisp border that holds year-round elegance and more!
Formal topiary garden parterre with pleached fig trees. San Francisco, CA
Large formal entrance with mounded boxwood, pleached trees and topiary boxwood. San Francisco, CA
Globes – A Popular Topiary Form in the Garden
So much so that plants are bred for the shape. Consider plants like Pittosporum ‘Golf Ball’ as a substitute for Boxwood . Unfortunately, boxwoods are dealing with both blight and a pest. While the most popular plant choice for topiaries. Consider a globe substitute if you live in a Mediterranean climate as there are many excellent choices with less issues. A few include: Pittosporum, Myrtus, Cistus, Loropetalum, Westringea, Teucrium.
Westringea ball globe topiary. San Francisco, CA
Boxwood globes surround tree in evergreen design. To right side, black wooden planter with shiny leaved Camellia and white Cyclamen. San Francisco, CA
SF – Boxwood ball mounds. Low mound topiary.
SF garden vignette with small evergreen topiary balls. San Francisco, CA
Front raised white brick planter with Camellia espalier, boxwood globes and trailing white flowered Bacopa, San Francisco, CA
Using Pittosporum crassifolium ‘Compactum’ as globes. San Francisco, CA
Loropetalum globe topiaries. San Francisco, CA
Street tree planting bed with boxwood ball globes surrounded by low box hedge. San Francisco, CA
Diamond Boxwood and Diamond Ivy Patterns
Diamond pattern ivy vine trained on brick wall. San Francisco, CA
Diamond pattern ivy trained on brick wall. San Francisco, CA
Diamond boxwood with Ficus nitida trees, creeping fig vine (Ficus pumila) and white potato vine being trained above garage. San Francisco, CA
Diamond boxwood topiary. San Francisco, CA
Boxwood parterre infilled with mop-head Hydrangea and coleus. San Francisco, CA
Small parterre garden. San Francisco, CA
Juniper, Arborvitae and Boxwood Spirals
Juniper spirals. San Francisco garden
Juniper spirals at Abell Nursery. Bloomington, IN
Boxwood spirals at Devil Mountain nursery. Petaluma, CA
Spirals, cones and pyramid topiaries at Abell’s nursery. Bloomington, IN
Cones and Pyramids
Boxwood in many forms: pyramidal, cones, low hedges and balls. Piedmont, CA
Pyramidal boxwoods at Devil Mountain nursery. Petaluma, CA
Pyramidal arborvitae growing in the fields for balled and burlap. Abell nursery, Bloomington, IN
Pyramidally shaped purple hopseed bush topiaries. San Francisco, CA
Pyramidal privet. Napa Valley, CA
Boxwood cone with echeveria agavoides ‘Lipstick’ – San Francisco, CA
Clipped and Formal Low Hedges Deliver
Formal low red Berberis clipped hedge with sculpture and roses. San Francisco, CA
Clipped low hedges, formal topiary like. San Francisco, CA
Left side – Grey germander (Teucrium) and boxwood combination low topiary hedge. San Francisco, CA
Low and narrow yew against brick wall. San Francisco, CA
Alternating yew and hebe hedge. San Francisco, CA
Topiary Pom Poms and Topiary Tiers
Two juniper ball trees in round clay planter. Yountville, CA
Pom pom juniper tree. San Francisco, CA
Topiary pom pom balls create interesting and unique garden effects. San Francisco, CA
Clipped Animal Topiary
A touch of topiary with a topiary animal, espaliered pear, low box hedges and cones. San Francisco, CA
Four Choice Plants for Topiary:
1. Germander (Teucrium)
2. Boxwood (Buxus)
3. Australian rosemary (Westringea)
4. Yew (Taxus)
Close-up yew (Taxus).
Happy Gardening!
Nicole