Evergreen whimsies: suitable subjects for topiary
❍ Yew (Taxus baccata) is the king of topiary plants in England for good reason. Welltrimmed, mature yew provides an evenly dark, matte texture. It’s the perfect, discreet foil for setting off more colourful plants through the seasons or simply rising like a velvet wall beside a lawn.
Old yew topiary and hedges usually tolerate substantial pruning and regeneration should they become too large. Although yew grows on a wide range of soils, waterlogged ground is its nemesis. For all topiary, feeding with general tree and shrub fertiliser and mulching around the roots to maintain healthy soil structure is good practice.
❍ Holly is tough and unfussy about soils; choosing near-spine-free varieties makes trimming a much pleasanter chore than wading in to battle with spiny ones. Japanese holly, Ilex crenata, has become popular in recent years, especially for low hedging or small, detailed specimens. Ilex crenata is slow-growing, but nicely dense and ready-made topiaries are these days widely available from garden centres and tree nurseries. ❍ Holm or holly oak (Quercus ilex) is fastgrowing and makes excellent coarse-leaved evergreen hedging and topiary, especially in maritime locations. It looks better with at least three cuts per year to maintain shape, so isn’t a low-maintenance option.
❍ The Chilean myrtle, Luma apiculata, can be trained to form nice, dense shapes of very dark green, its small foliage having a semi-matte surface. In all but the coldest regions, it can be used successfully as an alternative to box and yew for small topiary pieces, likewise, varieties of smallleaved Pittosporum tenuifolium (brighter in effect) and Escallonia Red Dream, whose shiny, leaves are uplifting in winter.
❍ Let’s not be among the doomsayers who rule out box (Buxus sempervirens). With Topbuxus products and their ilk now easy to buy (at least, via Amazon and other online sources), gardeners at last have significant armoury against box-blight diseases and the dreaded, all-consuming box moth caterpillars. It’s still a premier league topiary plant, but do attend to its ailments without delay, if it gets them. As with most aspects of gardening, vigilance is key.