You may not have heard of “brobree.”
But you’ve almost certainly seen blobberries in some of the most stylish gardens.
They give the structure and interest of the courtyard year-round. And they are easy to clip and maintain.
We spoke with Managing Director Guy Watts, as this is a term coined by the company’s building plants. I asked him to explain how we could use them in our blobberry and our garden.
“A building plant has shape and shape. It is that it has structure in the plant.”
And bloblies together are the formation of “blob”-shaped plants. “In many cases, the chunks are wider than the taller,” Guy says. “So you get that lovely crushed ball shape.”
The main focus is “blobberry” in architectural plants, and topiaries with the introduction of the elder clouds. The wavy waves of this lowland swelling plant ball are cut into curved shapes and separated as highlights by tall, slim Cypress upright (Cupressus sempervivens ‘pyramidalis’) and specimen topiary.
“You mix them together – different kinds of plants as clumps – and sometimes they blend together over time.”
Therefore, broburies are a sequence of plant balls, planted in a swell-like shape and separated by other impressive topiary plants.
(Note: In some parts of the United States, “brobley” is used as a rejection term.
If you want to watch the video, this interview with Guy Watts will show you ideas for various chunks and architectural plants.
How to Use Brobury in Garden Designs
Many “blob” balls can be grouped under the tree, Guy says. For that reason, you will choose shade-resistant plants.
I visited the garden before hearing the two “brobberry” I’ve particularly loved – the term “brobberry” and both are very clever. Top Photo Show “Tom Thumb” surrounded by boxballs in this post about box alternatives. The photo above is in the garden of garden designer Paul Bangai himself, with a curved boxed bowl underneath the fruit tree. Learn more about this garden at Paul Bangay – Garden Inspiration.
Try combining balls of different sizes, shapes and varieties.
Alternatively, you can plant the brobury in a prominent position and treat it like a sculpture.
You can add other elements. For example, building plants add acres to the autumn leaves (see below) to give them autumn colours.
Generally, you should use odd numbers in your design, Guy advises. Plant the clumps with 3,5 or 7 plants. However, since plants work together as units, that’s not that important.
Two gardens created by architectural plants. In the photo above, Acer interrupted the brobury curve, creating both shape contrast and autumn/leaf colour. The photo above shows blobree as a sculptural effect in the front yard. Photos with permission from architectural plants
What is the best plant for brobury?
Classic plants for all kinds of clipballs are boxes (boxwood).
But the fledgling spread of boxes and caterpillars of boxes around the UK and Europe means it is very unwise to plant boxes. There are reports of that in North America. Australia and some other parts of the world now appear to be free from it, but there are still designers who are advised against planting boxes.
If you’re worried that you might have a Box Caterpillar Moth (or even if you’re not already!), read on how to find a Box Tree Moth Caterpillar and how to deal with it.
However, according to Guy, there is a wide range of plants that can be used in clumps.
They include Viburnum Tinus, Shrubby Honeysuckle, Yew, Pittosporum, Portuguese Cherry Laurel and Holly.
These smart cut balls are the evergreen shrub sheds (Lonicera nitida) and the spikes are cabbage palm (Cordyline anusteris).
Shrub honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is growing rapidly in popularity
The Shrubbie Honeysuckle is probably one of the most popular box alternatives at the moment. Guy says it’s “bad reputation.” In parts of North America, several types of honeysuckle are very invasive. However, Lonicera nitida is not invasive.
But it’s growing rapidly! I often clip it, but I need to clip it about four times a year. And it’s becoming more popular. “We’ve sold more Lonicera Nitida over the past year than we have in the last 20 years,” says Guy.
Guy suggests minimizing workload by mixing faster-growing balls with slower-growing balls like Yew.
Find out how often you need to clip them for your broblies! ” he warns.
These cut yew blobs of architectural plants are taller and wider than they have small points on top. Yews grow slowly and need to be cut out.
Portuguese cherry laurel (Prunus lusitanica) has slightly larger leaves than boxes and honeysuckle, but there is another option for clipped balls. Here you can see the Prunus clipped as a multi-stem, a ball, a slightly raised up from the ground (above). The photo above shows the plant shaped as a “slightly crushed ball.”
And try the Multisjed Blobberry!
Guy says that the building plants are a nursery for growers and has a design studio. ‘And if you’re a grower, you may have 100 plants, but you may only sell 80 of them. So you make a pot into the other 20 and they grow. ”
They then noticed that many of these slightly taller balls looked good on a multi-stem base. They cut the lower leaves to reveal the bottom of the stem.
A combination of “blob” and multi-stem “blob” and autumn-colored multi-stem acer. Photos with permission from architectural plants
Cryptomeria japonica as a multi-stem “blob.” This is one of the plants that surpassed the original blob shape, but adds texture and interest with its new height and exposed stems.
Include deciduous balls to create textures and structures
Not every chunk or ball must cut out the evergreens tightly. Guy recommends adding a beach ball for fall/fall interest. Both the beech and horn beams are clipped into balls, turning the leaves into a rich copper brown color for winter.
“Beekies are better than horn beams because they retain more leaves in winter,” Guy says.
He also recommends the d-star conifer version of the Japanese Cedar Cryptomelia Japonica, in particular the variety Glovesa Nana.
Add a texture to the brobury. The top photo shows a beech ball on the left side of the garden designer Charlotrow’s garden (see Charlotte’s garden design tips here). The photo above shows Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘globosa nana’). This naturally grows into a structured ball.
Other building plants mix and mix the chunks
Mix other plants with strong shapes and textures. A popular option is the Niwaki Cloud Prunne Tree.
Cloud-dried gentile trees (here, lined up with building plants) are one of the most popular statement plants found in brobury, says Guy.
Classic English topiary works well with brobury. This is a Yew (Takusubakata) spiral. Topiary can be expensive, but you can also “grow your own.” Learn how to buy topiary on your midterm budget.
Add spiky “jungle” leaves. The top photo shows a Shrubby Honeysuckle with a Cordyline, and the top photo shows a palm tree with a boxed bowl.
Spiked Coldi Line with a tightly cut Lonicera nitida ball at an architectural plant nursery
Lollipops are another good form to include in your brobury. This is a common Holly (Ilex aquifolium) clipped to “standard”.
Olive trees add interest to the leaves and can be cut out. They also often follow in the pot.
Building plants details
Building plants include a 32-acre nursery with over 40,000 trees and plants, ranging from mature topiaries and multi-stems to colorful acres and robust evergreen specimens.
You must book a visit. Explore paths lined with screening plants, dedicated Acer Houses, lake gardens and even tropical groves.
11 indoor polytunnels showcase exotic structural plants, from ferns and large palms to homemade favorites. The Niwaki Zone also offers trees that have been introduced by dramatic clouds at various training stages. Beyond this, there is the propagation laboratory, where rare sculpture specimens are grown to inspire impressive garden designs.
There is also a garden design service, allowing you to hire space for weddings and other venues.
There is an area of architectural plants style and there is a nursery that introduces ideas for using structural plants.
Pins to remember architectural plants and chunks
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