Underneath every one of Agrumi’s beautiful topiary pieces - whether made from living plants, grass, moss or artificial boxwood - lies a sculptural frame fashioned by hand from thin metal rods. Our gifted and imaginative team use their skills to craft these robust structures so they are capable of withstanding the plant weaving process, yet detailed enough to show the characteristic features of the design below. The frames can be bought ‘off the shelf’ from one of our existing designs, or made completely bespoke to your own ideas. We also make topiary frames, to any size, suitable for the horticultural techniques of training plants into pleached, espalier, arched, or caged designs.
Minus the plants woven around the sculptures, Agrumi’s topiary frames are equivalent to works of art. The physical manipulation of material to form sculpture dates back to prehistoric times. Today the signature of a particular artist on a sculpture can command huge prices. Of course we’re not saying that Agrumi’s topiary frames are in the same league as art by Anish Kapoor, yet in their own way they catch the eye and prompt the viewer into a response – be it admiration for the modeling, appreciation of the skill involved in the fabrication or simply a recognition that it captures something authentic about the character of the figure portrayed.
Surely the reason why a piece of art is covetable is that it is distinctive and individual? The buyer pays for the time and effort the artist has contributed and in return expects to own something that is an exclusive one-off: an object that no one else has. Agrumi’s topiary frames offer a similar experience for comparatively little expense. Each frame is not just a commodity manufactured through a soulless production line; our frames are special. Each one is unique precisely because it is handmade. This means that no two frames are identical – even when they are constructed to the same physical dimensions and design. Each frame has quirks and idiosyncrasies that make it stand out from its peers.
The fabrication process used by our team have been tried and tested over years of experimentation. Our senior topiary artist Luigi was originally from Northern Italy. He started work as an apprentice in the furniture-making industry for which his country is rightfully known as a world leader. Chairs and sofas need to be constructed from frames that are sturdy and durable, yet exhibit appealing aesthetic qualities when they are covered in fabric or leather. The process of attaching the covering to the frame beneath is also a skilled job where a true artisan can excel if they have an eye for detail, patience and dexterity of hand.
These accomplishments are not so very different from the techniques needed for topiary making. Recognising this, Luigi saw an opportunity to offer his natural aptitude and acquired skills to some of the many agricultural nurseries that abound in Northern Italy where topiary is an important part of the stock ranges. He also welcomed the chance to give his creative flair free reign outside the factory environment where he was previously employed.
Ever on the look out for new and interesting product lines to offer Agrumi’s customers, our Director Stanley Jackson routinely sources some stock from the Northern Italian specialists. Having lived in the area for years and speaking fluent Italian, he views it as a second home where he can obtain high quality plants at wholesale prices to pass on as savings to his customers. While there, Stanley came into contact with Luigi, a friendship was formed and, seeing a new opportunity for his unique skills, Luigi moved to the UK. We have been very lucky to benefit from his talent – expertise that he is now passing on to others at our New Forest nursery.
Our topiary frames make wonderful stand-alone sculptures in a garden, landscape or home. Imagine the impression among family, friends and other visitors when they see one of our designs displayed to optimum effect in your personal space. Picture the delight of children encountering a family of elephants trailing across your lawn or a group of hares racing and boxing.
Our topiary frames can also be used to enhance exhibition spaces and communicate business and PR messages in a playful yet sophisticated way. A golfer outside a golf club; a horse outside a stud or stables; a car on a dealer’s forecourt: all these things advertise what your business is about clearly, but the message is upmarket and subtle. Look at the photographs on this page and you’ll appreciate creativity behind the replication of a life-size racehorse in steel, the capturing of the cheeky personality of a little terrier dog, the elegant sophistication of a stiletto shoe or the latent power of a Harley Davidson.
Each of our topiary frames also offers a master class in the application of precision engineering and three-dimensional modelling. For people purchasing our frames for display purposes we increase the amount of metal detailing to ensure that as much fine detail as possible is achieved. The frames can be purchased galvanized or un-galvanized giving you the option of letting your new sculpture rust gracefully outside as it ages or of resisting corrosion from the elements. Inside of course, our frames retain their pristine looks.
Traditionalists more interested in the artistic attractions of clipped topiary than the substructures beneath, might be intrigued by the creative challenge of fashioning their own topiary sculpture from scratch. If you buy a frame, pot and plant from us separately, we’ll show you how to put the three together to make a stunning topiary focal point in your own mini Versailles. Creating a natural wonder out of steel and plants is skilled work, but with Agrumi’s know-how behind you it won’t be impossible to achieve. We’ll be there whenever you need help and advice on precision pruning.
Give our team a call on 01590 683487 to order a topiary frame today.
Here at Agrumi our speciality is in Bespoke Topiary, however, we also supply many classic architectural topiary shapes.
We can offer balls, cones, pyramids, spirals and standards, all at very competitive prices. We supply them in a wide range of plant species; including Common Box, Conifer, the deciduous shrubs (Euonymus and Photinia) and the evergreen shrubs Ilex (of which Holly is one variety), Ligustrum (Privet) and Taxus.
We also have some beautiful specimen Cloud and Pom Pom-trained trees at the nursery; grown in a variety of species and sizes they make fantastic feature plants, placed in a prominent place they can gracefully enhance your garden design.
If you see something you like or have a particular request, don't hesitate to ask, we make classic topiary in all manner of shapes and sizes.
Another popular use of topiary is to transform all manner of transport into a green expression of nature. We can make topiary transport models of almost any type, specification or details; such as the Hyundai Car we made, celebrating the first production model Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, the ix35.
Be it a plane, car, bike, boat or train, our sculptor works to any specification, scale and model, to bring them as close to life as possible; from F1 cars to a full-size horse and carriage, we've made all kinds of transport in topiary!
This year Agrumi were present at the RHS Hampton court palace flower show 2015 with a special garden display.
With the backing of Pan Macmillan, and designs based on illustrator John Tenniel's drawings for Lewis Carroll's original Alice story, we'll be celebrating 150 years of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with a fun fitting feature made in marvelous topiary!
The Agrumi “We’re all mad here!” Garden will feature living Privet figures, including the Cheshire cat, Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts (her dress decorated in red sedums) and more!
Designed by Melanie Harper/John McGill and inspired by the altered perceptions of reality in the Macmillan Alice book, 
the garden plays with 3D perspective.
Placed on a giant chessboard made of turf and dried natural moss, that has been dyed organically in contrasting colours, the chess squares are made to appear as if they are receding into the distance.
Buy your tickets to the show here
We're hugely excited to be a part of such a prestigious event, and look forward to seeing as many faces as possible!
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The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2015 has come to a close! We've had a fantastic show and the public reception was exceptional; our display had people stopping and smiling all day long!
Thank you to everyone that came along, saw our display, and joined us in the sweltering heat; we're incredibly grateful!
It's not the end for our topiary Alice garden, however, as you'll be able to find them on display at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall and Wisley over the Summer; so, if you missed out, they're worth a visit!
We’ll work with you to create something truly unique and personal to you both:
It will be eye-catching, distinctive and unique to the special relationship you share.
And after your event your topiary can live on in your home or garden as a permanent reminder of your perfect day – so it’s environmentally friendly too!
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This beautiful wedding peacock was the result of collaboration between Agrumi and a talented local florist. We built the frame and the florist did the rest.
The colours were chosen to compliment the bride and groom’s wedding clothes.
The peacock is associated with fortune, compassion, kindness, and patience. It is an ideal symbol for couples embarking on a lifetime together.
Or what could be more appropriate for a classic English wedding than topiary hearts placed by the altar, lining the aisle under planted with flowers matching the bride’s bouquet or surrounding the wedding breakfast table?
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Together we’ll create designs to delight, surprise and inspire.
Animals, figures or objects – there is almost nothing we can’t make in topiary.
From traditional hearts or entwined initials to exotic birds and fantasy characters – topiary can make your event look extraordinary.
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Agrumi Topiary Art is fabricated on metal frames covered in living or artificial plants and flowers or natural, dried moss (which can be dyed).
We also have stock topiary figures and classic topiary shapes –including box balls, cones, spirals and lollipop bay trees – for sale or hire to dress your reception space.
Star Jasmine, with its lovely fragrant white flowers, makes an exceptional plant of choice for any wedding decoration – a huge variety of other plants and flowers are of course possible as well.
After the event, your personal topiary design can be planted in your garden as a memento of the occasion.
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Why not challenge us to make something completely new and unique? The range of miscellaneous topiary shapes we can offer is almost infinite; express your creativity and imagination with our expertise to have something special made.
In the past, we've made Anchors, Arches, Cubes, Flowers, Shoes, Gazebos, Hearts, Stars, Teddy Bears, Umbrellas, Wishing Wells, Treble Clefs, and Tennis Rackets.
Why not challenge us to make something new?
The word ‘topiary’ is derived from the Latin word topiarius; meaning ‘landscape gardener’.
Topiary is the horticultural art of clipping and training shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes and sculptures. The resulting topiary shape can be as exotic and elaborate as desired; ranging from animal shapes and figures to a well trimmed hedge.
There are many different styles of topiary, each favoured by different regions of the world and at different times of history.
The most notable gardens, mazes and sculptures are discussed below.
This style of topiary became popular during the Italian Renaissance and influenced French gardens after the invasion of Italy by Charles VIII. Beautifully ornate, clipped hedges (often using Buxus Sempervirens, or Box) are laid out in symmetrical patterns, usually on a large scale. Gravel paths are often placed between the hedges with statues and plants in pots among them. As time went on the designs became more and more elaborate with colorful plants and flowers added for interest.
First established in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, these gardens again follow very formal designs with low hedges cut in criss-cross patterns literally resembling knots. Traditionally the hedges would be made from aromatic plants and culinary herbs. Today the hedges may be fashioned from Box (or similar) with gravel paths and aromatic plants and herbs in between. In this case they may be more accurately called Parterres.
In gardening terms, a maze is constructed from tall, clipped hedging and offers a branching puzzle to walk through with choices of path and direction. A labyrinth offers a single, non-branching path. The goal in each case is to reach the centre of the garden. Pleasure gardens with mazes and labyrinths evolved from the Parterre and Knot gardens of Renaissance Europe. The oldest surviving example in England was built for King William III in the late 17th century at Hampton Court Palace.
Topiary sculptures are a more modern development and most often consist of standard, geometric shapes like pyramids and spirals; however, the resurgence of topiary became a unique way to represent animals and figures, with its use in special displays such as at theme parks, festivals and promotional events across the globe. The shapes can be made by trimming a bushy shrub or tree down, or, by using a wire frame which can either be stuffed with moss or used as a pruning guide to grow plants around it.
People and fantasy characters make for fantastic topiary sculptures; have a set made to a particular theme for display, include props to enhance them, and they will surely turn heads.
The range of people and fantasy characters we can make is limited only by imagination; we make to fit whatever your specifications!
We have been commissioned to make figures for parties, shows, exhibitions and as permanent fixtures in private spaces. For instance, we made a giant chess set for a famous authors garden, people and dogs to add to the audience at a public event, and many many more.
We are currently working on a full set of Alice in Wonderland figures based on the 19th century drawings by John Tenniel, to be displayed at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Show.
We’re often approached by people who need topiary pieces made up in a hurry, or for an event that is too soon to give our standard Ligustrum time to fluff up. In these situations we have several tried and tested solutions to produce healthy looking topiary art exactly to the customers’ specification, in just a matter of weeks.
Climbers, such us Star Jasmine and Ivy's, are energetic climbers than will rapidly cover a wire frame; making them an excellent solution to producing an elegant sculpture in a hurry. They're easy to wrap around the wire frame, without damaging the plant, and can be used to create a fuller effect in far less time than you'd get with Ligustrum or Buxus, for example. Star Jasmine also has the added bonus of producing extremely fragrant flowers!
Examples
Artificial boxwood matting is a covering of realistic plastic foliage which can be used on a standard wire frame to create a green and bushy topiary sculpture in a fraction of the time. Fire resistant and UV stable options are available, and the final products have the added benefit of being suited to life indoors, as well as being highly portable.
Examples
Price wise artificial boxwood sculptures are available at very similar prices to those made from living material.
Namgrass is a near neighbour of Agrumi in the New Forest and they just happen to be Britain’s premier supplier of artificial grass. Namgrass products have a natural look and feel and have been a perfect partner for Agrumi’s topiary skills when clients want a design that’s light weight and easily portable. Agrumi have made a range of products with Namgrass
Examples
Dried moss topiary figures can be made as a green natural alternative to living topiary that we use to create fuller looking products in an instant; producing healthy looking, soft topiary which requires very little maintenance.
Examples
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.
The same talented wire artists that create Agrumi's living plant topiary at our New Forest nursery 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 events and exhibitions both indoors and out.
Agrumi have created a range of Boxwood topiary sculptures; including a big scottie dog for Radley Co. as an artificial topiary piece.
Agrumi’s prices are very competitive; price-wise there is little difference between bespoke topiary made from artificial boxwood matting and that made of living plants, as it requires the same amount of work – give us a call and we can work something out!
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