Whether real or Artificial, Topiary Plants are any plant that a human has caused to grow into any shape that cannot be considered natural. For natural topiaries, the plant should be of a perennial and, preferably evergreen type. From a seedling onwards, a gardener will try to force that plant to grow into a shape of the gardener’s choosing rather than the shape that nature intended.
A Natural Plant In An Artificial Shape
Forcing shrubs to grow in unison so as to form a hedge is, perhaps, the simplest example of topiarist’s skills. Hedges do not normally have fancy shapes so they can be produced by straightforward clipping and pruning. However, if a shrub or tree is required to take on an unnatural shape then more than clipping may be required. The Japanese bonsai tree starts life as a normal tree that might grow to great height but is subsequently “trained” to remain permanently a miniature version of its real self. Likewise, for a shrub to grow into the shape of an animal (or a geometric shape such as a sphere or cone), requires it to have been taught how to take on the shape that the gardener plans to achieve. In the distant past, all such shapes were achieved purely from the gardener’s skills. Today, encouraging the young plant to grow over shaped wire mesh considerably reduces the time required and ensures better results. But, without continuous maintenance, the finished topiary plant can soon lose its shape.
If The Shape Is Artificial, Can The Plant Be Artificial Also?
An artificial plant can be simply made to any shape imaginable but, in the past, such Artificial Topiary Plants would lack natural appearing foliage and would be considered something of a cheap, novelty “gimmick”. Today’s manufacturers of artificial plants, shrubs and trees have made wonderful progress in making their products appear to be the real, natural thing.
With the best ones, one has to touch the leaves to feel if they are real or not. This is possible through a combination of real or artificial wood into which are “implanted” artificial leaves, etc crafted from textile materials such as silk, nylon or polyester. The end results are most natural looking.
It is fairly obvious that, anyone who can produce an artificial tree or shrub in its natural shape would have little or no problem modifying that shape into something unnatural. Hence, today, very realistic but Artificial Topiary Plants are readily available either to purchase outright or to hire for shorter term use if so required.
To view a wide selection of natural looking Artificial Topiary Plants, visit the website of Plant and Tree Rental LLC at They have both indoor and outdoor topiaries and deliver nationwide.
