Your plants are still quite young and will therefore be quite small. One in a pot, depending on the pot size, will look insignificant for at least 12 months as they are not fast growing. I'd suggest you put three together in each pot, in a tiangular arrangement to form the basis of your topiary. They will grow together in time and you can then shape them as you choose. This article from GW Magazine shows how to do this:
One other thought @Jenny_Aster, these young plants make ideal partners in tubs, troughs and hanging baskets as a green foil for your flowering plants. After the summer you can then plant them out elsewhere or create more topiary in pots for friends and family as Christmas gifts!
That's interesting @thevictorian. What's the reasoning behind the moth reduction if it's not clipped? We don't have the moth here, so it's something I have no experience of at all.
I can't remember where I saw it but it was an expert talking about the moth and it was basically that the moth was less likely to find the box (I believe it was only the case when you don't have a vast hedge) when it was undamaged. It might be similar to the way carrot fly is attracted when you pull carrots. He seemed very definite that clipping the hedges when they were on the wing was a bad idea.
An interesting question, @Jenny_Aster . In my experience most people do not understand when I state that "I have no more room in my garden" or "There is no place for yellow-orange flowering plants in my garden". Which are both true.
I would add that, if a person knows you well, they should know your tastes (in gardening or otherwise) and only offer as presents things that you are likely to appreciate.
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Think I've got about 16 x 6 inch plants, so I'm sure they can be used to fill in spaces. I could only think about using them for a formal hedge.
This Pinterest page has some great ideas for box https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/361484307566341244/
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Create a Box Ball - BBC Gardeners World Magazine
I hope this helps!
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
I can't remember where I saw it but it was an expert talking about the moth and it was basically that the moth was less likely to find the box (I believe it was only the case when you don't have a vast hedge) when it was undamaged. It might be similar to the way carrot fly is attracted when you pull carrots. He seemed very definite that clipping the hedges when they were on the wing was a bad idea.