These topiary trees and shrubs are easy to grow and shape into living works of art.
Shaping topiary trees and flowering shrubs is part art and part science.
Begin by choosing plants that tolerate frequent shaping and slowly push out new, dense growth after pruning.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Then grab asharp pair of prunersand get to work sculpting.
Get started today with these surefire topiary trees and shrubs.
Blue Point has striking blue-green foliage and strong pyramidal form.
Credit:Janet Loughrey
Moonglow has silvery blue foliage, and Mint Julep has bright green foliage.
Light:Full sun to part shade.
Juniper tolerates part shade well and is a great plant for areas with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Soil:Drought-tolerant junipers thrive in well-drained soil.
Care:Junipers are slow-growing plants that tolerate extreme temperatures well.
Water duringperiods of drought.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Prune in spring as needed.
Its cinnamon-colored bark provides a wonderful contrast to the foliage.
Unlike juniper which has a prickly texture, Monterey cypress foliage is soft, almost feathery.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Light:Full sun to part shade.
Soil:Plant these evergreen trees in well-drained moist soil.
Care:Monterey cypress benefits from deep, regular watering during the first couple of years after planting.
Credit:Lynn Karlin
After establishing a strong root system, it will tolerate moderate drought.
Choose a location that is sheltered from harsh winter winds,especially in Hardiness Zone 7.
Monterey cypress is deer resistant.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Its tiny needles are arranged in a pleasing dense manner that makes it look lush and full.
Prune this spruce a couple of times a year to maintain its size.
Light:Full sun to part shade.
Credit:Gabriela Herman
In Zones 7 and 8, dwarf Alberta spruce benefits from afternoon shade.
Soil:Plant in well-drained soil.
Care:Well-drained soil and regular, deep watering is key to a long-lived dwarf Alberta spruce.
Credit:Laurie Black
Dwarf Alberta spruce is easy togrow in a container.
The plants leaves have a sweet, spicy citrus scent that youll enjoy every time you prune.
Additional attributes include drought-tolerance and deer resistance.
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Light:Myrtle grows best in full sun to part shade.
Myrtle will grow indoors when it has plenty of light.
Place it in a south- or west-facing window to catch the most daylight.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Soil:Plant myrtle in well-drained soil.
It adapts to a variety of soil types but is sensitive to a consistently moist root zone.
Avoid planting it in clay and anywhere that experiences periods of standing water.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
If it becomes overgrown, myrtle can tolerate hard pruning.
Remove as much as one-third of the length of the stems to bring the plant back into shape.
The round cluster of leaves and flowers on top of the standard erupts in bloom in spring.
The clean, green foliage decorates the plant through the growing season.
Light:Plant a lilac standard in full sun for good flowering.
The best site has 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil:Lilacs grow well in moist, well-drained soil.
Choose a location that drains freely and has no standing water.
Remove the stake in the second growing season.
Prune lilac right after flowering in spring.
Zones:48
Hydrangea Standard
Marty Baldwin
Bringhydrangea flowersup to eye level with a hydrangea standard.
Light:Plant a hydrangea standard in full sun to part shade.
In Zones 7 through 9 plant hydrangea where it will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.
Soil:Hydrangeas grow best in well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients.
Amend the planting site bymixing in a 2-inch-thick layer of compost.
Spread a 2-inch-layer of compost over the root zone each spring to add nutrients.
Maintain a hydrangea standard by pruning away spent flowers and cutting back wayward stems.
Clip away rogue stems that rise from the base of the plant or the trunk.
Boxwood has been sculpted into a multitude of forms for centuries.
It graced grand palaces and simple kitchen gardens thanks to its easy-growing ways.
Green Tower and Green Mountain are great upright selections.
Chicagoland Green has a round habit.
Light:Plant boxwood in full sun to part shade.
It grows well in areas that receive at least 4 hours of bright light a day.
Soil:Well-drained soil is key to good growth.
Avoid areas that are wet or boggy.
Care:Prune boxwood in spring and again in midsummer if needed.
Plants can bepruned multiple times a yearto maintain their shape.
Stop pruning in August to avoid spurring new tender foliage that can be damaged in winter.
This ultra-easy-care shrub will thrive in a container or planted in the ground.
It is best suited for the moderate to warm zones 7 through 9.
Boxwood is a good alternative to holly in Zones 6 and below.
Emerald Colonnade holly is a versatile cultivar that can grow 12 feet tall.
Light:Grow in full sun to part shade.
Soil:Plant holly in well-drained soil that is loose and light.
Do not plant in clay.
Holly tolerates mild drought once established.
Prune plants in winter to maintain a tidy appearance.
This tough plant withstands below zero temperatures and drying winter winds with ease.
Shear it into orbs or pyramids.
For small garden topiaries, choose a petite cultivar such as Annas Magic Ball or Tater Tot.
Strongly pyramidal cultivars include North Pole and Emerald Green.
Light:Arborvitae grows well in full sun to part shade.
Plants growing in part shade will not be as dense as those growing in full sun.
Soil:Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, but arborvitae will tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
Care:Water arborvitae regularly and deeply during the first growing season to establish a strong root system.
Plants are mildlydrought tolerantafter established.
Prune plants in spring or summer; dont prune after late summer to avoid winter injury.
Arborvitae is favored by deer; protect plants where deer populations are high.
Waxleaf Privet
Texture-rich waxleaf privet has large, evergreen leaves.
When pruned into a topiary form it has a course texture that is unique and pleasing in many prefs.
Its glossy green foliage is striking in a container or in alandscape setting.
Due to its large leaves, waxleaf privet is best suited to large topiary sculptures.
Soil:Plant these evergreen trees in well-drained soil.
They tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
Care:Waxleaf privet is one of the easiest care topiary trees.
The foliage turns green in summer and remains on the plant year-round.
Brush cherry tolerates pruning well and can be clipped into a variety of forms.
It makes especially pleasing pyramids and spirals.
Light:Plant in full sun to part shade.
Soil:Brush cherry grows best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Care:Fertilize plants by spreading a 2-inch-thick layer of compost over the root zone annually in spring.
