Plants for a Formal Garden

Boxwood

• Borders are a necessity for a formal garden and are usually made of dense evergreens. Borders are placed in a geometric configuration and run around and through sections of the garden. Boxwood is a likely candidate for borders because it is evergreen and grows into a dense hedge that can be clipped to any size. Boxwood can be clipped short into a knot configuration for a formal knot garden or it can encircle a series of flower beds planted with herbs and flowers.

Cypress Trees

• Some formal gardens include trees that are thin and pointed called columnar trees. Many types of cypress trees grow in columnar fashion and can be clipped back to a few feet or higher and will create a lovely screen or backdrop for the formal garden.

Topiary Plants

• Topiaries are shrubs and other plants trained into different shapes. Evergreens are particularly suited to be made into a topiary. Shapes can be round, cone shaped, geometric shapes or animal shapes.

Roses

• Roses are a favorite plant in a formal garden and can be used as individual plants or planted so they ramble over an arbor. Hybrid tea roses are great for a formal garden because they are tidy and neat and produce flowers in a rainbow of colors. Old English roses are also popular because of the large flowers and wonderful scent. Even miniature roses can grace a formal garden.