Drought-Tolerant Bushes to Make Into a Topiary

Fine-Needled Evergreens

• Several drought-tolerant evergreens respond well to pruning and topiary. Chinese juniper is an erect, conical tree with blue-green foliage. Left unpruned, it grows 15 to 25 feet high and 3 to 10 feet wide. Eastern red cedar, dwarf Alberta spruce and some spreading junipers can also be pruned as topiaries. Consult a nursery expert before buying individual plants, though, because some evergreens, such as arborvitae, look best with minimal pruning.

Deciduous Shrubs

• Deciduous shrubs lose their leaves each fall and are not well-suited for elaborate topiary designs. However, they can be pruned into tidy globes or hedges during the growing season. Bushes with a naturally compact, neat form work best. Drought-tolerant varieties include dogwood, European cranberry bush, alpine currant and compact viburnum.

Perennials

• In addition to drought-tolerant evergreen and deciduous bushes, several tough perennials make attractive topiaries. These plants have a creeping habit and work best when trained over a metal frame. Consider sedges, hens and chicks, sedum, creeping thyme or creeping fig.

Considerations

• Most drought-tolerant bushes and plants prefer full sun, but this is not always the case. The soil preference and growing conditions of plants vary widely, and not all plants may perform well in your garden situation. Consult a nursery specialist before purchasing plants and bushes to ensure they will thrive.