The best plants for topiary that will add year-round structure, form and contrast to your garden scheme
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The best plants for topiary include evergreens and semi-evergreens that will offer interest all through the year.
The winter frosts or a dusting of snow only enhance plants for topiary and their forms are wonderful foils against the billowing mass of spring and summer flowers or fall leaves. Small-leaved shrubs, such as box and yew, are best to keep the shape defined. Complicated shapes can take many years to fill out and need patient training so will form part of your long-term garden ideas.
Many of these plants can be bought ready-formed and may have taken between three and eight years to train. Developing topiary from young plants is a long-term commitment but you can also start with mature specimens and can suit formal garden design to cottage style, or even interspersed among naturalistic planting.
Topiary frames are a great way to add structure and visual interest to your garden. By shaping plants into geometric or animal-inspired forms, you can create living sculptures that evolve with the seasons. Choosing the right plants is key to creating frames that will hold their shape year after year. Here are the top 10 best plants for sculpting durable and decorative topiary frames:
1. Boxwood
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) is the classic choice for topiary. Its small, dense, evergreen leaves can be clipped and shaped into clean lines and intricate patterns. Boxwood responds well to frequent pruning and shapes easily when young. Give boxwood full sun to part shade and evenly moist, well-draining soil. Protect it from harsh winter winds. There are several compact boxwood cultivars that make excellent topiary plants.
2. Yew
Yew (Taxus baccata) is another traditional topiary plant valued for its flexibility and ability to regrow after hard pruning. Its fine flat needles enable detailed clipping. Yew does best with full sun to part shade and moist, well-draining soil. Choose slow-growing cultivars like ‘Repandens’ or ‘Everlow’ for small topiary frames. Protect yew from winter dessication.
3. Privet
Privet (Ligustrum japonicum) has long been used for hedges, but its tolerance for pruning also makes it ideal for topiary Privet regrows vigorously after clipping It can be shaped into a variety of forms. Grow privet in full sun to part shade and moist, fertile soil. Frequent pruning will keep growth compact.
4. Holly
Hollies like Ilex crenata are excellent for structural topiary designs. Hollies hold their shape well and respond to close pruning and shaping. Plant them in full sun to part shade with moist, acidic soil. Choose compact cultivars like ‘Sky Pencil’ Japanese holly or ‘Hoogendorn’ Chinese holly. Hollies may need winter protection in colder climates.
5. Arborvitae
Arborvitaes like Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ have dense foliage perfect for sculpting into spirals, balls, and columns. Their natural pyramidal shape lends itself well to topiary forms. Give them full sun and moist, well-draining soil. Choose compact cultivars and prune frequently for the best results. Protect arborvitaes from winter burn.
6. Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic evergreen herb that can be trained into topiary shapes. Give rosemary full sun and very well-draining soil. Trim it frequently to encourage bushy, compact growth. Small-leaved cultivars like ‘Lockwood de Forest’ are best for topiary. Bring potted rosemary plants indoors for winter in cold climates.
7. Lavender
The fine texture and compact growth of lavender (Lavandula spp.) allows it to be clipped into ornamental forms. English lavender cultivars like ‘Hidcote’ work well. Lavender thrives with full sun, good drainage, and low fertility. Trim it 1-2 times per year. Cut back lavender plants each spring to maintain desired shapes. Lavender topiary is not hardy in all winter climates.
8. Cedar
Evergreen cedars like Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’ lend themselves nicely to topiary designs like spirals and columns. Give them full sun to part shade and moist, acidic, well-draining soil. Their dense branching tolerates frequent pruning and shaping. Protect cedar topiary from harsh winter winds.
9. Cypress
Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is ideal for tall, narrow topiary forms like pyramids and columns. It tolerates hard annual pruning to keep growth contained. Provide full sun, good drainage, and protection from winter dessication. Dwarf cypress cultivars can make small topiary frames.
10. Juniper
Evergreen junipers (Juniperus spp.) work well for freeform, loosely clipped topiary designs. Their scale-like foliage responds well to creative pruning. Choose compact cultivars suited to your climate. Give junipers full sun and well-draining soil. Trim back new growth 1-2 times per year to maintain shape. Protect juniper topiary from harsh winter conditions.
When selecting plants for topiary frames, look for compact, dense evergreens that can tolerate frequent pruning. Boxwood, yew, privet, holly, arborvitae, rosemary, lavender, cedar, cypress, and juniper are great options. Give them proper care and prune 1-2 times per year to maintain desired shapes. With the right techniques and plants, you can create living topiary frames to enhance your garden all year long.
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Best plants for topiary
Beyond the usual green box, yew and privet you can shape a wide array of evergreen shrubs and evergreen trees, including fruiting and flowering shrubs. Think of variegated and silver foliage, as well as ornamental and productive specimens.
The best plants trialled by the RHS as boxwood alternatives are mainly corokia and podocarpus. Corokia grow a bit faster but when established they both look very dense and clip very well, says Alessandra Sana, horticulturist at RHS Garden Wisley.
Variegated plants such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ or Elaeagnus ebbingei Gilt Edge’ will have you going for gold. Ready-made shapes can be purchased from specialist nurseries and garden centers, or have a go yourself.
Ligustrum delavayanum – delavay privet (Image credit: Agrumi)
This hardy evergreen is not susceptible to the pests and diseases that box plants can get. Long pliable stems make it particularly useful for winding onto frames.
Delavay privet is a compact shrub with ovate dark green leaves, panicles of small white flowers in early summer, followed by blue-black berries. It grows in sun or part shade in any moist, well-drained soil and tolerates most soil types and all aspects, and is also drought tolerant.
Useful as a fast-growing hedge of topiary, you may need to trim it three times a yea.r
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FAQ
What is the best plant for topiary frame?
Best plants for topiary
The best larger shrubs, conifers, and trees to use for both simple and complex topiary are small-leaved privet (Ligustrum japonicum) and yew (Taxus baccata). There’s also Bay (Laurus nobilis), which has large leaves and is suitable for simple balls and for standards.
Which of the following plants is best suited for topiary design?
The most common shrubs used for creating topiary designs are boxwoods, arborvitae and pines. sharp hedge clippers are recommended for large topiaries and sharp pruning shears are ideal for smaller plants.
What plants are used in topiary?
Common species chosen for topiary include cultivars of European box (Buxus sempervirens), arborvitae (Thuja species), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), holly (Ilex species), myrtle (Eugenia or Myrtus species), yew (Taxus species), and privet (Ligustrum species).