Alternatives to Box for Topiary: Yew (Taxus baccata) Balls
Professional gardeners and landscapers are increasingly seeking reliable alternatives to traditional boxwood (Buxus) for topiary applications. With the persistent challenges of box blight and box tree caterpillar affecting Buxus species across the country, yew (Taxus baccata) has emerged as an exceptional alternative that delivers both classical appeal and practical benefits for contemporary landscape designs.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why professionals are seeking alternatives to box for topiary, and why you should consider incorporating Taxus balls into your outdoor space.
Why Leading Landscapers Are Switching to Yew
The shift from box to yew for formal topiary elements is not merely reactionary but represents a thoughtful evolution in professional landscaping practice. Taxus offers several advantages that make it particularly suitable for commercial and high-end residential projects:
Superior Disease Resistance
It’s no secret that box has traditionally dominated the topiary market, but its susceptibility to Cylindrocladium buxicola (box blight) and Cydalima perspectalis (box tree caterpillar) has created significant challenges. By contrast, Taxus species demonstrate remarkable resilience against pests and diseases, significantly reducing maintenance requirements and replacement costs.
Exceptional Longevity
Taxus specimens are renowned for their impressive lifespan, with some specimens in the UK dating back centuries. This exceptional longevity translates to sustainable landscape installations that mature beautifully over time, enhancing the value proposition for clients investing in quality landscape elements.
Versatile Growth Habits
Yew responds exceptionally well to pruning, maintaining dense foliage even when shaped into precise geometric forms. The rich, deep green needles create a sophisticated texture that compliments both heritage gardens and contemporary landscape designs. Unlike box, which may develop a sparse or patchy appearance over time, properly maintained yew balls retain their dense, uniform appearance for decades.
Planting Considerations
When incorporating Taxus balls into your landscape designs, be sure to consider:
Optimal Planting Conditions
Taxus thrives in both full sun and partial shade, displaying greater tolerance for varied light conditions than box. While it performs best in well-drained soils, it adapts admirably to diverse soil types, making it suitable for any challenging installation environments, however please be aware that Taxus does not like heavy wet sites. This adaptability is particularly valuable for commercial projects with variable site conditions.
Pruning Requirements
Maintenance of Taxus balls typically requires pruning once or twice annually, compared to the more frequent trimming often needed for box. June is the optimal time for the primary annual prune, with a potential light trim in late August if desired.
Spacing Guidelines
When designing with Taxus balls, the spacing is entirely up to you depending on the look you are going for. There is no right or wrong distance to plant Taxus balls next to each other, so it is down to you to decide what look you are going for.
Our Topiary Recommendations
Taxus baccata (English Yew)
The classic choice, offering exceptionally dense growth and deep green foliage that provides maximum visual impact in formal gardens and commercial landscapes.
Shop English Yew
- 30cm Topiary Yew Ball
- 40cm Topiary Yew Ball
- 60cm Topiary Yew Ball
- 70cm Topiary Yew Cone
- 120cm Topiary Yew Cone
- 180cm Topiary Yew Cone
Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’
Unlike normal Taxus baccata (English Yew), Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ is an upright growing sub-variety of Taxus known as Irish Yew. It’s branches naturally point upwards and will grow in a columnar shape all on its own so no trimming is needed and it can’t be effectively trimmed into specific shapes.
Shop Irish Yew
The Professional’s Choice
As experienced growers and suppliers to the professional landscape industry, we believe that the combination of disease resistance, reduced maintenance requirements, and exceptional longevity makes yew the superior choice for topiary elements in quality landscape installations.
Our nursery offers professionally grown topiary hedging plants in various sizes to meet your project specifications, with bespoke quotes for bulk orders available for commercial clients. Get in touch with our team of experts today to discuss your requirements.