The best type of plant for your topiary depends on its purpose, desired result, and length of time available…
Here at Agrumi we can make topiary in four possible categories: Living plants, Moss, Artificial Products and Bare-bones
Living Plants
For when you have more time on your hands to wait for your topiary of choice to properly flourish and fluff out. Requires on going care and maintenance, particularly during the growing seasons.
Taking its time – slower growing topiary-friendly plants
Box-leafed Privet (Ligustrum Delavayanum)
Elephants in Ligustrum
Our plant of choice for when you want long lasting topiary and don’t mind waiting for results; it takes a while before reaching its prime but looks wonderfully fluffy after one growing season. This is a compact, evergreen shrub with oval dark green leaves and small white flowers in early summer, followed by blue-black berries. This is a very good bespoke topiary choice, it is resilient, easily woven onto wire frames, and also makes for fine classic topiary shapes from stock.
Read our guide for more information on proper care for your topiary.
Against the clock – fast growing topiary-friendly plants
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)
Stiletto in Star Jasmine
If you’re after something in a hurry this vigorous, evergreen twining plant is the ideal choice for bespoke topiary in a hurry with fabulous results in a mere matter of weeks. It has oval leaves 5-8cm in length which often turn deep red in winter – lending another dimension to topiary figures. This plant also develops fragrant white flowers during the summer, an added bonus, 2-5cm in width that mellow to a cream colour with age.
Common Ivy (Hedera Helix)
The genus Hedera is fast-growing, evergreen and there are many species within it. Agrumi use the small-leaved varieties, either plain or variegated depending on the commission.
Moss Products
Jaeger Hounds in Dried Dyed Moss
We can also use dried moss as an alternative to living topiary to create fuller looking topiary in an instant. Moss creates a healthy looking, soft, green topiary which requires very little maintenance. Eventually, after some time in the sun, your moss topiary will begin to lose colour and fade; not to worry, as the solution can be very simple! You may decide to remove and replace the old moss with a newer fresher product, or, simply fill in any areas which are loosing their colour. Alternatively the simpler solution is to spray/paint your topiary with a natural looking green paint.
- We’ve created a Polo player, Hyundai Car and the base of our RHS Hampton Court garden all using moss!
Artificial Products
We also make topiary using a range of artificial plant/grass products; providing a long lasting, low maintenance alternative.
Boxwood matting
Radley dog in Artificial Boxwood
Artificial Boxwood matting can be very effective if you’re looking for a realistic plastic alternative to living plants. We use a variety with deep ‘foliage’ and tonal shades of green which replicate the real thing. It is also UV fade protected, for long-term outdoor use, sturdy, light to carry and weather-resistant; providing an instant ever lasting wow-factor that can be used time and again.
The same talented wire artists that create our living plant topiary can use this to make topiary that requires absolutely no on-going care. It’s the perfect choice for clients wanting to commission items that they can transport and use over and over again for event/exhibitions both indoors and out.
Price-wise bespoke topiary made from artificial Boxwood matting doesn’t vary much from that made of living plants as it involves the same amount of work.
- We’ve created a large Scottie dog for Radley Co., Easter bunny for Dobbies garden centres and, recently, a set of letters for Ryobi.
Namgrass
Dalek in Namgrass
Namgrass, a near neighbor to Agrumi in the New Forest, just so happen to be Britain’s premier supplier of artificial grass; making it the perfect partner for Agrumi’s topiary skills to provide light weight, portable, low maintenance topiary figures. With Namgrass you can have great looking topiary instantly that doesn’t require any further care.
Namgrass products have a natural look and feel, creating some stunning topiary designs, and are remarkably true to life
- We’ve created a large Dalek, Velociraptor and Pudsey bear using Namgrass; all have been exceptionally popular with Namgrass stockists.
Bare Bones
LED Lighting
Sometimes customers want something a bit different to brighten up their designs with; therefore, we offer a fantastic alternative sculpture covering in the form of LED lights. This combination of LED lights and our wire frame sculptures creates a beautiful effect that will joyfully light up the night!
Stag frame in LED lighting
Last Christmas Agrumi got into the festive spirit by covering one of our wire topiary deer frames in 1000 twinkly LED lights. The work took no more than a morning and the results were fantastic. ‘Rudolf’ was stationed outside our local pub in the New Forest, ‘The White Buck’, and helped raise funds for Greenfingers, the charity that creates magical gardens for children’s hospices.
Following on from the success of our topiary stiletto covered in Star Jasmine, made to mark a fashion event at St Christopher’s Place off London’s Oxford Street, we were later commissioned again to produce an updated replacement of the existing stiletto design, but this time covered in beautiful, twinkling, LED lights; ordered just in time for Christmas it was the perfect way to get shoppers into the festive spirit.
Agrumi can design, make and deliver commissions like this within a few days at remarkably low costs; whether its for an evening event, advertisement or to just add some sparkle to the garden at night we think these LED frames are guaranteed to brighten up your night.
Wire Frames
T-rex in wire frame
And, of course, we can supply all of our topiary figures in their most basic wire frame form; perfect if you’re thinking of trying your hand at training your own topiary plant.
Whatever your desired shape, depending how complex/daring you feel, we can have topiary wire frames made at surprisingly affordable rates.
If you fancy getting started with something simple we can offer a circular cutting guide as to achieve precision pruning for the perfect topiary balls. Or express your creativity with something more intricate and have your art come to life.
Whatever you’re after, any size and shape, we can provide the frame; what you do with it thereafter is up to you! We like a challenge, so if you have something else in mind such as garden frames, cages, hanging baskets, an archway or plant frames, just let us know via the contact us page or give us a call! Perhaps you’re after something not strictly for the garden; an ornamental piece or wire mannequin.
Take a look at our portfolio and case studies for more examples and inspiration!
We can supply all of these and more, any size or shape, to suit your needs.
Artificial Boxwood matting can be very effective if you’re looking for a low maintenance realistic alternative to living topiary plants that can be ready in an instant. We use a variety with deep ‘foliage’ and tonal shades of green which replicate the real thing. It is also UV fade protected, for long-term outdoor use, light, sturdy, and weather-resistant.
