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Formal
Suggestion Lists
Formal
Formal? Architectural? What’s the difference? Well, formal is architectural but also a bit more… formal. Most varieties which suit a formal planting style will also work in an architectural one, but the reverse is not always true. Architectural style tends to also include emphasis on contour line and strong if amorphic shape. Some varieties which provide these strong architectural features cannot be controlled with pruning and are unsuitable for a very formal design which may require long term precision maintenance to maintain lines of the design. All the varieties we suggest below either respond well to clipping or pruning, or have a naturally very symmetrical and regular crown shape.
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Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
Winged spindle tree
Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
Winged spindle tree
One of the finest and most reliable shrubs for autumn colour, turning an eye-popping crims -
Arbutus unedo
Strawberry Tree
Arbutus unedo
Strawberry Tree
A stocky slow growing evergreen tree with a dense, rounded though often assymetric crown u -
Betula utilis 'Doorenbos'
Himalayan birch
Betula utilis 'Doorenbos'
Himalayan birch
'Doorenbos' is one of the most dramatic of the white-stemmed birches, whose ethereal bark -
Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine'
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine'
Hornbeam
A very tidy and attractive columnar form of our beloved native hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) -
Carpinus betulus (Hedging)
Hornbeam Hedging
Carpinus betulus (Hedging)
Hornbeam Hedging
A classic, native hedging choice. New leaves emerge a fresh lime green, turning mid green -
Carpinus betulus (Pleached)
Common Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus (Pleached)
Common Hornbeam
An elegant form of hornbeam, lending structure and airy four-season screening in maturity. -
Cornus kousa 'China Girl'
Dogwood
Cornus kousa 'China Girl'
Dogwood
A wonderful improved form of the well known Cornus kousa var. chinensis bearing a glorious -
Cornus kousa var. chinensis
Chinese dogwood
Cornus kousa var. chinensis
Chinese dogwood
A stout, rounded little tree producing an abundance of delicate white bracts in late sprin -
Fagus sylvatica Purpurea Group (Hedging)
Copper beech
Fagus sylvatica Purpurea Group (Hedging)
Copper beech
Deciduous. Leaves emerge dark purple in spring and fade somewhat to a purple-green over su -
Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Holly
Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'
Holly
Perhaps the best choice where a quintessential holly is desired. Jolly emerald green folia -
Ilex koehneana 'Chestnut Leaf'
Holly
A soft-leaved, female holly with a rich emerald green, chestnut-like foliage on downward s -
Magnolia 'Heaven Scent'
Magnolia
Magnolia 'Heaven Scent'
Magnolia
This elegant magnolia is a hybrid using Magnolia x veitchii and Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra -
Magnolia grand. 'Goliath'
Bull bay magnolia
Magnolia grand. 'Goliath'
Bull bay magnolia
A less ubiquitous form of Magnolia grandiflora which differs from 'Gallissonniere' in its -
Magnolia kobus
Northern Japanese magnolia
Magnolia kobus
Northern Japanese magnolia
Deciduous. A very hardy small tree or shrub that produces a profusion of goblet to saucer -
Osmanthus x fortunei
Osmanthus
Osmanthus x fortunei
Osmanthus
An attractive, holly-like evergreen with a dense oval crown and lustrous, dark-green leave -
Parrotia persica (Topiary)
Persian ironwood
Sold outParrotia persica (Topiary)
Persian ironwood
Topiary captures the elegance of the Persian ironwood in strict, yet playful way. Leaves uSold out -
Prunus avium 'Plena'
Double white cherry
Prunus avium 'Plena'
Double white cherry
Deciduous. One of the most picturesque of all flowering trees with masses of double white -
Quercus ilex
Holm oak
Quercus ilex
Holm oak
A large tree with attractive, corrugated bark and leathery evergreen leaves. It takes its -
Taxus baccata
English yew
Taxus baccata
English yew
A hardy, slow-growing, dignified and extremely long-lived conifer with short, deep green '