Last updated on April 6th, 2022
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There are many ways to make the outside of your home a stunning display and one such way is by using topiary plants to bring your front door to life. Topiaries are plants, often evergreens that can be formally clipped in such a way as to add symmetry, shape, or structure. Topiaries can be crafted like a hairstyle, cut and trimmed the way you want whenever the mood strikes. But what plants work well in a topiary, particularly ones you put right outside your front door?
You can buy topiary plants already trimmed into elegant spirals, cones and balls with the two most common types being Bay trees which are also known as Lauralis noblis, and Buxus commonly known as box plants.
Below is our list of the best plants for front door topiary displays starting with the very popular and easy to care for Bay Tree.
1. Lauralis noblis – Bay Tree
One of the most commonly used plants is this one. It is commonly known as a Bay Tree and is the same Bay plant you might also find in your kitchen. From this topiary come the bay leaves you toss in your dishes for a delicious flavour. Infused in the leaves are rich scents that will welcome your guests as they arrive at your front door.
They can be shaped and pruned into spheres, pyramids, cones, or lollipops. If you opt for this plant, make sure the location you decide upon for its home is not an exposed area because the cold wind can damage the evergreen foliage.
It’s worth noting that although they are hardy in very cold winters it can be worth bringing them indoors into either a greenhouse or conservatory during this time. If you cannot bring them indoors then make sure you invest in some fleece to cover the plants in very cold weather.
2. Buxus – Box Plant
If you prefer the quintessential rounded, box shape, this is the plant for you, however, they can also be purchased in the shape of cones and spirals, nearly any shape you can think of. More suited to formal gardens or topiaries, these can be neatly cut into a formal structure. This plant is susceptible to blight, but you can counter this by ensuring good airflow where you plant it.
You will have a lot of fun with the shapes, neat and tightly cut, and your guests will enjoy the wafting scent as they enter your home. Buxus is a little hardier compared to Bay Trees and doesn’t need to be protected the same in cold weather. The shelter of being next to your home is usually enough, but don’t forget to water them when needed.
- STRUCTURAL TOPIARY GARDEN PLANTS Garden classics, perfect for decorating doorways, gates, pathways or adding evergreen structure
- LOW MAINTENANCE These perfectly shaped Box Topiary Buxus pyramid cones are easy to maintain - trim twice a year
- DECORATIVE POT OR CONTAINER PLANTS Great in modern pots and containers - zincs, ceramics, or just classic real terracotta
- GARDEN PLANTS These can also be planted straight into the garden soil, where they are more tolerant of full sun than those in pots
- DETAILS Supplied as a pair of trimmed Buxus Topiary pyramid cones, 45/50cm tall from the bottom of the nursery pot to tip of cone
Learn how to plant Buxus topiary into pots following our step-by-step guide here
3. Prunus lusitanica – Portuguese Laurel
This plant is commonly known as the Portuguese Laurel and it is known for its fast growth rates. It is part of the laurel family but has smaller leaves, similar to that of Bay Trees and you will be pleased to know it’s very hardy, even in harsh winters.
You can have a lot of fun with this one if you are not sure how you want your topiary to be shaped, or if you want it shaped in different ways when the mood strikes. It will grow so fast that you can cut it all the time, train it around other objects, and so on.
Really, it needs major pruning twice per year which is double that of most topiaries, and you can encourage faster growth with extra fertiliser in the spring. The leaves are a rich, green colour with a rich gloss to them.
4. Photinia ‘Red Robin’
This is a fast-growing plant with large leaves, bright red when young before maturing to green and produces white flowers. It is commonly sold as a shrub to use as a focal point and even as hedging. However, it also makes an excellent topiary plant.
It is a very relaxed choice, more suited to informal gardens. You can, of course remove the flowers and keep it trimmed to just the leaves if you so choose. If you do use it as a topiary plant you usually never see the flowers because they get trimmed off before they even appear but you will receive a fantastic show of bright red foliage.
- YEAR-ROUND COLOUR A perfect evergreen (well ever-red really) for year round colour and impact, in a classic standard shape - just like a lollipop! This variety works brilliantly as a pair to frame either side of a doorway, gate or porch
- LITTLE RED ROBIN This new Photinia is a very tough and hardy shrub with smaller leaves, yet the red glow of the foliage is just as bold and bright
- RED LEAVES Any new leaf growth on this Photinia is bright red, gradually fading to dark green, but the plant will retain a mix of red tones all year
- CARE Perfect in large pots on the patio or as feature plants in a border. Grow in full sun for the best red leaf foliage colour. Prune to maintain the shape and encourage new red leaf growth
- DETAILS Supplied as an established plant in a 3L pot, approximately 70-80cm tall including the pot, ready to plant
You can’t go wrong with any of the topiary plants mentioned above but Buxus and Bay trees are our personal favourites, so find the plants you like best and start trimming until the display is perfect.
Ilex Topiary
There are a few other plants that can be used as topiary, which include Ilex (commonly known as Holly), varieties such as Gold King are popular with their golden variegated leaves.
- Holly ‘Green Alaska’ (Ilex) standard shaped tree ideal for patios and gardens, with glossy evergreen foliage and bright red winter berries.
- This easy-to-grow and low-maintenance standard tree is resilient and hardy, thriving in most conditions. A great choice for small gardens and patio containers.
- This evergreen variety adds year-round interest the garden with its dense green foliage. It looks great at Christmas when it will be covered in traditional red holly berries.
- Potted garden plant; Supplied as 2 x Holly ‘Green Alaska’ (Ilex) Standard Tree, 2 years old and up to 1m tall (From bottom of pot to top of stem).
Also, consider the standard Salix Flamingo that is frequently used as a standard with a ball on top. They need plenty of water and will dry out and shrivel up quickly without enough water.
- PINK LEAVES A striking spring tree with beautiful pink leaves that erupt into colour every year. See fountains of exceptional flower and leaf colour
- FLAMINGO WILLOW The leaves are an amazing combination of green, cream and powdery pink - hence the common name of the Flamingo Willow Tree
- SPECIMEN TREE This tree is supplied in a standard lollipop form, with a clear stem and a ball of foliage colour on top, skilfully grafted on. Perfect in a pot on the patio or as a feature plant in a bed, border or lawn
- LOW MAINTENANCE Totally hardy, the Flamingo Willow Salix Tree is a low maintenance plant that can add height to gardens, or displayed as a pair in big pots for a more formal look. Prune back into shape in late autumn, if in a pot
- DETAILS Supplied as an established grafted plant in a 3L pot, approximately 80-90cm tall, shaped standard head. Growing to an eventual height and spread of 150cm
Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
