Ooh cheers Nicky Nicky. I was waffling so long that our posts crossed. Will take a look tonight - much appreciated.
I'm not too bothered about timescale. I'm in my forever home. Garden is under VERY slow development due to time constraints, so the hedge may as well take its time too. And just spent a fortune on a greenhouse.
i chose osmanthus burkwoodii as an alternative to box balls - I've read it makes a good hedge too. It is slow growing and has sweet smelling white flowers in spring. Pittosporum golf ball is pretty, but maybe better for balls than a hedge.
PS Fairygirl. Came across thuja occidentalis danica. Sounds too good to be true - a box ball type plant that you don't prune to get the shape. Suspect it'll take years to get even to a small ball size, but that'll do me! Thought you might like too?
Hi Shady, posts crossed again. Yes, I didn't mean pitto golf balls as a hedge. Just as specimens. I have planned osmanthus burkwoodii as the hedge at the back of the border coincidently as i need something bit taller there. Interesting to use it topiaried as a ball - is it easy to do an maintain? I like that idea. Also how does burkwoodii differ from delavayi?
Thanks for that suggestion Snoodle - will look that one up. I often use Hebes to get the same effect - the buxifolia types (as the name suggests) are very box-y.
I have three Hebe Vernicosas in large terrracotta pots which make a nice rounded dome and need very little attention. flowers for the bees is a bonus
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ha yes, super noodle, I didn't see your post about golf ball until after. I posted. Osmanthus is slowly becoming ball shaped (year two) - not as dense as box but nicely shaped after pruning. Don't know about the delavayi. . I have lots of pittosporum Tom Thumb, they are lovely and very long suffering (shade and wet and sun) and lots of hebes instead of box. Have just bought some ilex crenata too to try and topiarise. Am fairly obsessed with rounded shapes that are not box! Having said that I bought some small box for about ??3 a pop from a nursery 3 - 4 years ago and it now looks quite ball shaped. Find it too heartbreaking to invest in large balls if they are just going to die a horrible death.
Posts
Ooh cheers Nicky Nicky. I was waffling so long that our posts crossed. Will take a look tonight - much appreciated.
I'm not too bothered about timescale. I'm in my forever home. Garden is under VERY slow development due to time constraints, so the hedge may as well take its time too. And just spent a fortune on a greenhouse.
i chose osmanthus burkwoodii as an alternative to box balls - I've read it makes a good hedge too. It is slow growing and has sweet smelling white flowers in spring. Pittosporum golf ball is pretty, but maybe better for balls than a hedge.
PS Fairygirl. Came across thuja occidentalis danica. Sounds too good to be true - a box ball type plant that you don't prune to get the shape. Suspect it'll take years to get even to a small ball size, but that'll do me! Thought you might like too?
Hi Shady, posts crossed again. Yes, I didn't mean pitto golf balls as a hedge. Just as specimens. I have planned osmanthus burkwoodii as the hedge at the back of the border coincidently as i need something bit taller there. Interesting to use it topiaried as a ball - is it easy to do an maintain? I like that idea. Also how does burkwoodii differ from delavayi?
Thanks for that suggestion Snoodle - will look that one up. I often use Hebes to get the same effect - the buxifolia types (as the name suggests) are very box-y.
I have three Hebe Vernicosas in large terrracotta pots which make a nice rounded dome and need very little attention. flowers for the bees is a bonus
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A big argument against Box is the smell. Is it only me or does it stink of Tom Cats?
Cheers FG. Like the suggestion. Wonder if I can get the full box look without a single box!
Hebe Vernicosa -
There's a little one called Green Globe (or Emerald Green sometimes) which is a lovely little 'box ball' shape
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...