Topiaries are beautifully shaped and cared-for plants. These plants can be shaped into any shape your heart desires, but each shape will require a bit of a different care plan as well as patience! Any plant that can tolerate pruning could be shaped into topiary. Of course, some plants are better than others.
In this article, I have put together a list of 29 plants that are beautiful when grown naturally or when shaped into a topiary. When you are selecting your plant, take into consideration the type of sun and soil your plant will be growing in, as well as how much time you have to maintain your new topiary. With that being said, let’s dig in!
Arborvitae ‘Degroot’s Spire’
Achieve stunning spiral or cone topiaries with this variety.
If a large spiral or cone topiary is what you are desiring, Arborvitae ‘Degroot’s Spire’ is the perfect shrub for you. These arborvitae are used for tall privacy screens but can easily be trimmed into a columnar shape to plant on either side of your front door or as a more decorative screen.
You may be able to find ‘Degroot’s Spire’ pre-shaped at a local garden center. If not, you have your work cut out for you! These shrubs take nicely to pruning, but depending on how tall the shrub is when you begin shaping, you may want to enlist some help!
Arborvitae ‘Golden Globe’
Select from diverse arborvitae varieties for enduring beauty in landscaping.
There are many arborvitae varieties to choose from, with so many providing dependable beauty season after season. ‘Golden Globe’ is a great variety for shaping topiary spheres. This variety produces golden-green foliage that grows naturally in a globe shape.
You have a few options when it comes to the ‘Golden Globe’. You can allow it to grow into its natural globe shape and leave it alone. If you prefer a neater shape, a sphere will be easy to achieve. This plant is excellent for a first-time topiary shaper.
Boxwood ‘Green Mountain’
Versatile and resilient, ‘Green Mountain’ boxwood suits various garden styles.
Boxwoods are known as being a very common and well-performing topiary plant. ‘Green Mountain’ is a mid-sized boxwood with bright green evergreen foliage. This boxwood variety grows in an upward, conical shape and is beautiful when used in formal gardens, informal gardens, or large containers.
The natural shape of this boxwood lends itself nicely to a cone or sphere shape. However, this plant is very tolerant to pruning and can easily be shaped into a cube or standard hedge shape.
Boxwood ‘Suffruticosa’
Craft timeless elegance with small, easily pruned spherical shrubs.
For a classic boxwood look, shop for the ‘Suffruticosa’ variety. This is a much smaller variety which makes it more manageable when it comes to pruning. It also makes it much easier to tuck into your gardens or containers.
Shape ‘Suffruticosa’ into spheres for the classic look. Group a few spheres together for a formal look, or use them on their own for a specimen plant.
Camellia
Craft elegant topiaries by shaping Japanese camellias into standard trees.
Japanese camellias are beautiful shrubs with glossy large leaves and stunningly showy flowers. There are many uses for camellias in your garden, including topiary. If you live in a chillier area, you can bring your camellias into your sunroom for the winter.
Trim Japanese camellia into a standard tree form. From there, you can choose to shape the top as a ball or leave it a little wild. This process will likely take two years. Keep pruning and making small snips to promote foliar growth for a nice full topiary.
Cherry Laurel
Shape cherry laurel into stunning hedges to enhance garden beauty.
Cherry laurel is a group of evergreen shrubs that produces glossy deep green leaves and cream colored flowers. They have a strong, sweet fragrance. These large shrubs make beautiful hedges and can be useful for privacy screens as well.
You can prune cherry laurels into any shape you like, but they are most common as a hedge. This basic shape will show the glossy leaves and beautiful flowers off nicely.
Coleus
Shape coleus into a stunning ball form for garden delight.
Coleus is a colorful foliage plant that is typically grown as an annual. These plants are stunning and come in amazing color combinations, such as green, orange, pink, and white. According to the University of Rhode Island, coleus is an excellent alternative for shady gardens if you have experienced downy mildew with impatiens.
Attach the main stem of your coleus plant to a garden stake. As with other plants you wish to trim to a standard shape, begin trimming the lower stems off of the main stem. Be sure to use delicate tools, such as bonsai scissors. As your plant continues to grow, you will need to remove more growth. Shape your top into a ball. Continue making small cuts, and deadhead any flowers to promote foliar growth, which will lead to a nice full sphere.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Craft elegant topiaries effortlessly with slow-growing dwarf Alberta spruce.
Dwarf Alberta spruce are widely popular garden shrubs, and for good reason. These evergreen spruce grow dependably in a wide range of hardiness zones and look beautiful while doing so. Dwarf Alberta spruce makes a great choice for topiary due to its slow growth habit. This will allow you to perfect the shape while the shrub is still small, leaving only smaller trimmings once the shrub reaches its full size.
Shape dwarf Alberta spruce into cones or spiral-shaped topiaries if you are looking for a simple task. These shrubs naturally take on a conical shape, and will only require minor trimming to keep them in a tight cone or spiral shape.
Dwarf Scotch Pine ‘Glauca’
Shape dwarf Scotch pine into classic or funky topiaries effortlessly.
Dwarf Scotch pine is a very versatile shrub, especially when it comes to topiary shaping! Left to its own devices, this pine species will grow into a nice mounded form that easily could be left alone and greatly loved in your gardens.
Dwarf Scotch pine can be neatly shaped into a sphere, but it can also be pruned into more funky shapes. Form balls at the end of each large branch for a classic yet slightly funky topiary.
English Ivy
Craft unique topiaries by training English ivy onto frames effortlessly.
English ivy may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you envision a topiary. This beautiful vine can do more than creep up the side of your house, however. Because of its aerial roots, English ivy is an excellent candidate for creating a topiary using a frame.
Once your frame is in place, try a globe, a spiral, or a fun animal shape. You simply need to attach the vine to the frame. Using orchid clips is simple and will not harm the vine. Trim the vine as needed to keep the shape.
Euonymus ‘Silver King’
Shape ‘Silver King’ into hedges or ornamental cones for elegance.
‘Silver King’ is a beautiful variety of Euonymus. This evergreen shrub sports green leaves with silver-yellow edges and discreet yellow flowers in the springtime. When left to its own devices, this euonymus variety grows in an attractive upright form.
‘Silver King’ is perfect for a spot in your garden that could use year-round interest. Trim this euonymus as a neat hedge, or perhaps give your hand at shaping it into a cone or spiral.
Gardenia
Shape gardenias into elegant spheres for a classic topiary look.
Gardenias are large, beautiful evergreens that produce intoxicatingly fragrant flowers. This plant can be grown outdoors, but it is also a stunning houseplant. It should be noted that these plants are a bit high maintenance and not for the faint of heart.
Gardenias are commonly pruned into a standard form, and you can typically find them already shaped this way at your local garden centers. If you are starting from scratch, start by removing lateral branches on the lower part of the main stem. Once you have the size top you are looking for, shape it into a sphere.
Germander
Sculpt and shape with care, revealing its silver beauty.
Germander is a shrub that boasts sturdy stems that are tolerant of topiary pruning. The leaves of this plant are silver with a white underside. This plant also produces blue flowers that last throughout most of the growing season.
If you love Germander, try shaping it into a standard form or a globe shape. Take your time trimming the stems, and do your trimming when the plant is not in bloom. Germander also makes a lovely hedge. Trim these hedges neatly or allow them to have a more freeform shape for a whimsical appearance.
Holly ‘Sky Pencil’
Grow effortlessly elegant with ‘Sky Pencil’ holly’s slender grace.
If you are looking for an evergreen plant that is easy to grow and will not disappoint, ‘sky pencil’ holly is a tried and true shrub. This holly is tall and narrow, creating a column shape. The small leaves are deep green, and the plant will produce dark purple berries in the fall.
This plant keeps itself neat on its own and would be very easy to shape into a perfect column or even into a spiral. ‘Sky Pencil’ holly can also be planted in large containers.
Inkberry ‘Shamrock’
Embrace elegance effortlessly with inkberry’s glossy leaves and berries.
If you love hollies, inkberries will soon be on your well-loved list. These plants are noted for their deep green and glossy leaves, as well as their naturally attractive shape. Throughout the winter, this plant will show off black berries that accent the evergreen leaves very nicely while feeding the birds.
The ‘Shamrock’ inkberry is one of my favorite shrubs to prune into a shape. That shape is typically a sphere, but it is a very relaxing task and is nearly foolproof. You can, of course, shape inkberry into another more intricate shape, but a sphere is simple, and the clean appearance adds simple elegance to your gardens.
Japanese Holly
Sculpt with ease, transforming Japanese holly into exquisite forms.
The rounded natural shape of Japanese holly lends itself nicely to topiary shaping. This evergreen shrub produces ovate leaves that are slightly toothed but not as dramatically as some other holly shrubs.
Japanese holly is great for some basic beginner shapes, such as cones or spheres, but it is also a wonderful option for more intricate designs, such as animals. Prune and shape your Japanese holly after the bloom period ends in the early fall.
Jasmine
Craft living sculptures swiftly with star jasmine’s abundant growth.
Star jasmine is a quick-growing woody vine that can quickly fill in a topiary form. This is an evergreen vine that produces beautiful white flowers in late spring and then on and off again through the rest of the growing season.
Jasmine is typically used along a fence or other support to create a privacy screen. However, if you are looking for something to fill in a fun animal topiary form or other metal form, give Star Jasmine a try. You will not be disappointed by the performance of this plant or the stunning blooms.
Juniper ‘Blue Point’
Elegantly shape symmetrical beauty with blue-green foliage and silver-blue berries.
‘Blue Point’ juniper is a stunning choice for gardeners nearly everywhere. This conifer is low maintenance, beautiful, and versatile. Producing blue-green foliage and silver-blue berries, ‘blue point’ is also loved for its symmetrical growth.
These shrubs will naturally grow into a cone shape. This makes it easy to trim into a tight cone. Even better yet, try pruning the ‘blue point’ juniper into a spiral for a truly fluffy and stunning specimen in your garden.
Lantana
Shape cascading blooms into elegant standards with ease.
In many areas, lantana is grown as a sun-loving annual that creeps along our flower beds or spills out of window boxes or hanging baskets. These plants have sprawling stems covered in small green leaves. The stems bloom with clusters of brightly-colored, tiny flowers. When these flowers pass, they produce glossy globe-shaped seeds.
Training lantana into a standard form is easy enough to do. Select your main stem and secure it to a garden stake. As the plant grows, prune lateral growth away while shaping the top ball as needed.
Lavender
Craft aromatic elegance with lavender’s versatile beauty and fragrance.
Lavender plants are beloved for their beautiful and aromatic flowers. These pretty purple blossoms can be used in many ways around your home including teas, potpourri, and other aromatherapy uses. These plants can be trimmed into standard topiaries as well. Grow them indoors or out!
Begin by removing any lateral growth from the bottom portion of the plant. Once you have your main stem exposed, you can trim the top growth into a sphere or leave it a bit wild. Don’t forget to save any blossoms you have snipped off.
Lodense Privet
Transform your garden with versatile Lodense privet topiaries.
If you are looking for a smaller shrub to turn into a topiary, give the Lodense privet a try. Unlike some other privets, this is not an evergreen variety. It does produce lush green leaves, white flowers, and black berries, so long as you do not snip the flowers off.
Use Lodense privet as a low hedge or a smaller topiary such as a sphere or cube. Add these to a foundation garden for a more formal look, or use them in containers with ivy spilling out of the pot for a classic garden look.
Olive
Craft elegant indoor topiaries with graceful olive tree foliage.
Olive trees are popular as houseplants, but they can reside outdoors in containers throughout the summer months. Olive trees are slow growing, which makes it achievable for you to not only shape a topiary but also grow it indoors. With their graceful, elongated, blue-green leaves, it is easy to see why people love these plants.
You can easily find olive tree topiaries already started for you. They are typically made up of two plants that have been twined together for a stable trunk. I prefer to leave the top of my olive tree topiaries a bit wild, but you can prune them into a tighter ball if that suits your aesthetic.
Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’
Enhance your garden with the stunning variegated foliage option.
There are many different varieties of Pittosporum to choose from. If you are looking for something a bit extra, try ‘Silver Queen’. This variety produces gorgeous green leaves with a creamy white edging. In the winter, ‘Silver Queen’ leaves take on shades of pink.
Pittosporum is best grown in a mounded shape or a sphere. You can choose a plant with a straight stem and opt for a standard shape if you have the patience. This plant benefits from frequent snipping to prevent any spotty growth that can take away from your topiary’s beauty.
Podocarpus
Craft year-round elegance with dense, evergreen shrubs.
Chinese podocarpus is a large evergreen shrub that features dense, deep green needles. This plant will produce silvery-blue berry-shaped cones that will eventually turn purple.
You do not see this plant too frequently, however, it is a beautiful option for a hedge as well as a container plant. The dense needles are forgiving to topiary trimming and remain beautiful year-round.
Rosemary
Shape versatile rosemary into charming kitchen or patio topiaries effortlessly.
If you are looking for a topiary that can live in your kitchen or out on your patio, rosemary is the perfect plant. These plants are easy to shape, and you can use the scrape for your cooking. It’s a win-win! There are many different varieties of rosemary. Select one that you will use the most. Larger plants will help the process move a bit faster.
Shaping your rosemary plants into cones or globes is a simple task. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, try adding in a frame or going for a standard topiary shape. Begin by removing lateral branches to encourage a more upright shape. Trim away until you have achieved the shape you are hoping for. Try to avoid trimming while this plant is in bloom.
Sweet Bay
Fashion elegant topiaries from your versatile bay laurel plants effortlessly.
If you cook, you likely are familiar with bay leaf. Those herbaceous leaves grow on the beautiful plant, the sweet bay or bay laurel. These small bushy plants are not hardy in many areas, but in colder climates, you can bring your bay laurel into your home and treat it as a houseplant while you harvest the leaves.
With a little work, you can coax your bay laurel into a topiary. Do the bulk of your pruning in the spring. The most common way to prune bay laurel is into a standard form by removing the lower limbs and shaping the top into a ball form.
Waxleaf Privet
Sculpt elegant topiaries from versatile evergreen shrubs effortlessly.
Privet is a beautiful evergreen shrub that is very commonly used as a hedge shrub. This shrub will also respond nicely to topiary pruning. Due to its tall and narrow size, these would make very nice cone topiaries or standard trees.
In the springtime, this shrub will produce white flowers. Be sure not to prune your topiary while it is in bloom. Use a waxleaf privet as a specimen or plant it in a large container to make a statement on your patio.
Yew ‘Repandens’
Create stunning, low-maintenance topiaries with lush, evergreen foliage.
Yew bushes are often regarded as the next best shrub for topiaries after boxwoods. This is because these shrubs produce lush needles that are evergreen. They are slow-growing and will not require a lot of maintenance pruning once the desired shape has been trimmed.
‘Repandens’ is a low-growing and wide-spreading variety of yew that will lend itself nicely to a lower topiary or a low-growing hedge. Plant these shrubs with caution if you have pets and children, as yew bushes are poisonous.
Yew ‘Standishii’
Elevate your garden with striking ‘Standishii’ topiaries boasting colorful foliage.
If you like the idea of a yew topiary but want something taller, try the ‘Standishii’ variety! This variety is tall and narrow and will make a great cone or spiral shape. The needles on ‘Standishii’ are yellow rather than deep green, which is more common with yew bushes.
This variety will produce red cones, adding a colorful contrast to your gardens. ‘Standishii’ provides beautiful tall lines to foundation gardens and would perform nicely in large containers as well.
Final Thoughts
Whichever of these plants you choose to grow in your garden, there is one thing you need to keep in mind. Be patient. Learning the skill of topiary shaping can be tricky. Do not rush yourself.
Do not rush your plant. Pruning off too much or making harsh cuts can slow down the process. If you are a true novice, look for a pre-shaped topiary that you can practice trimming before you start from scratch. Either way, have fun. This is a very rewarding process!
