Plants for Hedge Sculptures

Boxwood

• Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) grow in a range of shapes and sizes. All are evergreen and have dense foliage, although some is more dense than others. Appropriate types for hedge sculptures include common boxwood (B. sempervirens). This rounded shrub grows from 15 to 20 feet tall and is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. It prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Common boxwood varieties have glossy, dark green foliage. The Japanese boxwood (B. microphylla var. japonica) grows to 6 feet tall with a 4-foot spread. It is hardy in zones 6 to 9 and prefers moist, well-drained soil and sun to partial shade. This boxwood has small, glossy leaves and produces aromatic flowers in spring. Boxwoods tend to grow slowly and thus require less pruning and trimming. When shaping your boxwood shrubs, prune rather than shearing, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Boxwoods' relatively dense foliage makes them appropriate choices for both complex and simple sculpture forms.

Yew

• Varieties of yew (Taxus spp.) grow as small trees and shrubs. These evergreens have dense, needlelike foliage. The Japanese yew (T. cuspidate) grows to 6 feet tall with a 7-foot spread. It is hardy in zones 4 to 7 and prefers well-drained, sandy sites. This yew thrives in sun to shade and has dull green leaves that grow in V-shaped rows. The Chinese yew (T. chinensis) grows 10 15 feet tall and is hardy in zones 5b to 7. It prefers sun to partial shade and thrives in moist, well-draining soil. This pyramidal shrub tolerates drought. For taller hedge sculptures, the English yew (T. baccata) grows up to 60 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. Hardy in zones 6 to 7, this tall yew has feathery, dark foliage and prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. When repeatedly clipped during the sculpture training, yews develop very dense growth, according to Cornell University. This dense foliage makes yews a good choice for more complex hedge sculptures, through they also perform well as larger, geometrically shaped topiaries.

Holly

• Several types of holly (Ilex spp.), which also grow in both tree and shrub form, can be shaped into hedge sculptures. The Chinese holly (I. cornuta) grows to from 8 to 25 feet tall and has glossy, pointed foliage. This evergreen is hardy in zones 7 to 9 and prefers full sun. It tolerates drought and a range of soils. The perny holly (I. pernyi) grows from 9 to 12 feet tall and is hardy in zones 6 to 9. This shrub has spiny, dark-green foliage and produces red fruits. It thrives in well-drained soil and sun to partial shade exposures. Hollies have larger foliage than boxwoods or yews, which makes them a more appropriate choice for less-complex sculptures, such as spheres or other simple, geometric shapes.

Process

• Hedge sculptures grow on a frame that guides the shape of the shrub's growth. Frames must be at least 4 inches in diameter, which ensures that the shrub has enough room to grow so its trunks and stems won't be girdled as it gets larger. Plant shrubs where the frame meets the soil, then settle the frame around and over the shrub. Fertilize and water the shrubs regularly and add a layer of mulch to conserve moisture. Tie the shrubs to the frame and, as they grow, prune, clip and tuck them into the desired shape. Expect your hedge sculpture to take from three to 10 years to complete.