Sometimes termed the "umbrella" shape, the neatly trimmed sphere of leaves atop a tall elegant stem makes the stemmed ball topiary appear an especially bold element in any garden. If, as here, the stem has also been persuaded to take on a corkscrew shape, then the effect is doubly striking.

Having gone to all the time and trouble to achieve this lofty elegance, the specimen should be displayed in such a way as to reveal as much of the stem as possible. Arising from dense ground cover in a bed, or with trailing low-lying foliage spilling over the edge of a planter, the stemmed ball topiary should stand proud above its neighbours.

Plant Species

The best species for this application is, without doubt, Bay, although Ilex (Holly) can also be used to good effect.