The term " topiary " covers a broad mountain chain of techniques . Put simply , it is the graphics of clip evergreen plant plants into SHAPE . There are meter - try out plant that are more cold hardy than others . Once you know your USDA cold hardiness zone ( see resources below ) , you’re able to choose topiary plant that will expand year - round in your area . The zone map break the yr - round modal low temperature each plant can stand firm .
Box
Box ( Buxus ) may be a mutual ordinary hedgerow plant , but for topiary , it is essential . The minor fuddled evergreen foliation is the headstone . It can be shave and shaped and will recover chop-chop . Box is inexpensive and promiscuous to detect . There are two varieties of low - growing box . They are dwarf box ( genus Buxus sempervirens suffruticosa ) , and Korean boxwood ( Buxus koreana ) . Both can be easily kept at 1 to 3 feet improbable and wide . They are used to make little topiary ball and fauna shapes . Boxes do well in containers and are often incorporated into herb gardens and perennial seam . English box ( genus Buxus sempervirens ) is good for larger topiary project . As a hedge , it will touch 5 to 10 metrical unit tall , but work into a topiary can be kept as abject as 3 feet tall . Regular passementerie defend to casual severe pruning is the key to keeping Turkish boxwood looking good . These boxwood are all hardy to USDA Zone 5 ( minus 10 to minus 20 point ) .
Japanese Privet
Evergreen privets are often used for topiary . A pop tumid - leaf variety is the wax - leaf privet ( Ligustrum japonicum ) . This improbable shrub has attractive , boneheaded and glossy leaves . It is best used in looser designs so the leaves are not sever . One example would be the lollipop cast , also holler a criterion . Another method of topiary for privets is cloud pruning . This plant has the power to flower even when tightly clipped . The panicle of blanched summertime flowers have a aroma that is reminiscent of gardenia or jasmine . They are followed by spicy - ignominious berries that also are decorative . Wax - foliage privet is hardy to USDA Zone 7 ( 0 to 10 level ) .
Pine
pine tree are also used in topiary . Two common styles are cloud pruned and pom - pom . Each species will have nanus varieties that are well accommodate for sculpting . Consider needle colour and distance when choosing a true pine . Some pines have deep green needle , and others are blue - green . Also consider the acerate leaf length , which will rove from 2 to 7 inches . A democratic choice is the dwarf scotch pine ( Pinus sylvestris , Nana ) . Scotch pine have short deep - gullible needles . For longer juicy - green phonograph needle , try eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus , Nana ) . Mugo pine ( Pinus mugo - mugo ) can be kept even smaller and has short dark - dark-green needle . These true pine are all unfearing to USDA Zone 3 ( minus 30 to minus 40 degrees ) .
Holly
Box - leaf holly ( Ilex crenata ) works well for 3- to 4 - infantry topiary . The small leaves look alike to English boxwood . They do not have spines like English holly . This plant will tolerate colder temperatures than common boxwood ( Buxus ) . This make Buddy Holly a undecomposed choice for topiary in very cold region . The black Charles Edward Berry in the fall also make added interest . Another variety ( Ilex crenata sky pencil ) is a narrow columnlike form that looks large in containers . These varieties of holly are intrepid to USDA Zone 4 ( 0 to 5 point )
