Spice it up with an Espalier

Originally, an espalier was a fruit tree trained so that its branches grew in a flat plane, typically in a rigid, candelabra arrangement. This was used as a method of training against a sunny wall so that crops could be raised early or in marginally warm regions.

Nowadays, espaliering commonly includes purely ornamental plants trained against walls and fences, both in the traditional formal arrangement and in irregular patterns determined by a plant's natural growth habits.

If nothing else, completing an espalier will give you a sense of accomplishment, and everyone needs a pick-me-up now and again.

The following is a list of some plants that are great for espaliering:

-Acer circinatum
-Azalea (rhododendron)
-Camellia (not all of them)
-Citrus
-Eucalyptus orbifolia
-Ficus auriculata
-Fig
-Hibiscus rosa-sinsensis
-Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'
-Magnolia grandiflora
-Nectarine
-Peach
-Pear
-Plum


There are many more, and if you would like a bigger list or simply an answer to a question, feel free to e-mail me.