On the Right Shape – Topiary Plants in the Garden

It often starts with a perfectly trimmed hedge. Perfection evokes a sense of pride in some gardeners, and once they've had a perfectly cut hedge, it's usually not enough.

The path to topiary is then very short. The interplay of shapes and nature can be fascinating and develop into a true hobby. It begins with a sphere or a square and ends with animal shapes.

Topiary plants can be transformed into the most creative sculptures. It all depends on your taste and skill, as not every animal shape comes out perfectly on the first try with the hedge trimmer. The shape you cut is based on what you like, and thus one topiary may look different from another. Different sizes are often enough to give the shapes more expression. How about boxwoods in the shape of various-sized spheres? They look not only beautiful in summer but also get a lovely blanket of snow in winter. Geometric shapes are especially popular in topiary because they are relatively easy to execute. However, if you're looking for something a bit more unique, a spiral can be easily and effectively created. Topiary plants add variety, so a single obelisk or cone can stand alone and really shine. For larger gardens, topiary plants can also be used for boundary marking and combined with flowering plants. In fact, there's no garden where topiary doesn't fit. Even at a wild, overgrown pond edge, a neatly trimmed boxwood looks impressive and balances the overall look. Large and voluminous topiary plants make an ideal backdrop for colorful flowerbeds.

As beautiful and soothing as the many shapes may be, not every plant is equally suitable as a topiary. First and foremost is the classic boxwood. But it's not just boxwood—other deciduous shrubs are also ideal for topiary. These include the barberry, hornbeam, spindle, and hawthorn. What's special about the hornbeam? It keeps its leaves in winter, making it the perfect botanical privacy screen for your garden. Ligustrum and beech are also particularly well-suited and, most importantly, easy to trim. The ability to handle pruning is crucial to ensure that topiary plants don’t wither or die. The winter-hardy shrubs also offer a lot: cypresses, with their natural growth form, are especially good for creating cones, and juniper can be shaped into beautiful forms as well. For those who want to go beyond native plants, there's the Mediterranean option, with bay, lavender, or myrtle as topiary possibilities. The decision on which shrub is best suited for the garden is up to the individual gardener.

Topiary plants are often found in public spaces as well. Parks use topiary as a way to fill large areas with shrubs without making them look monotonous. Typical examples include ornamental shapes or even entire labyrinths. Since creating a labyrinth in your own garden is difficult and space is likely limited, gardeners typically think smaller when it comes to topiary. A standalone tree here, a small bush in a colorful flower bed there. It doesn’t always have to be a large park. A garden path can be beautifully framed with topiary plants. Moreover, topiary is ideal for hiding less attractive corners in the garden. If a spot of grass isn't growing properly, simply place a topiary nearby, and it will draw the eye away from the bare patch.