Topiary is the art of 'plant sculpture', clipping and training trees and shrubs into sculptural shapes. Topiary is used to create traditional gardening shapes as well as animals, characters and even corporate logos. In general the shrubs used for topiary have small leaves and dense foliage. Frames can be used as a guide for growing topiary and English Box is one of the more common plants used, Lilly Pilly, Solanums, Ficus, Rosemary, Olives, Conifers, Yew and Hebes are other commonly used topiary plants.
Topiary plants and trees are a popular garden art which involves the shaping of plants to create sculptural forms. Topiary and topiary specialists or nurseries can provide a range of topiary including, topiary spirals, pom-pom, cloud pruned, traditional topiary shapes, topiary animals and more. Topiary frames are not as widely available in Australia as in the UK, Europe or USA. English Box Topiary anf Lily Pilly Topiary are popular forms in Australia. Plants used for topiary vary greatly, in general evergreen, small leafed fast growing plants are most popular.
Topiary shapes range from simple spirals through to animals. We often hear of 'cloud pruned topiary' especially from the UK. This is the art of pruning plants so that the foliage appears in tight 'clouds' on long stems. Hornbeams (carpinus) are used widely in Europe, in Australia Conifers and Boxwood are more common. Very popular at the Chelsea Garden Show.....
Topiary frames are usually made from wire and act as a guide for growing more intricate shapes such as animals.
