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What Is Espalier?
Espalier is not a practice suited to low-maintenance landscapes and usually just one design is used in a garden.
Simpler designs can take form in three to four years.
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Here are a few examples of popular design patterns.
Want more gardening tips?
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How to Espalier Trees
The easiest trees to espalier are fruit trees.
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Flowering treesand shrubs along with woody vines join fruit trees as good candidates for espalier.
Select a plant that is well-suited to your climate and hardy in yourUSDA growing zone.
Choose a sour cherry variety rather than a sweet cherry.
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Sour cherries are less demanding with a greater yield.
Sour cherries, also sold as tart cherries, thrive in USDA growing zones 4 to 8.
Almost any variety works, however ones with rapid growth mean less work and an earlier harvest.
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Most figs are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10.
Espaliered fig trees receive extra winter protection when grown against a south-facing wall.
Crabapples offer year-round interest with fragrant spring blooms followed by berries that last through winter.
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This variety is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7.
Magnolia
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Magnolia trees,(Magnolia spp.
), grow rapidly and and are good candidates for ornamental espalier.
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Magnolias thrive in USDA growing zone 5 to 9.
This flowering ornamental blooms as early as February.
The showier types are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8.
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Both are used to help manage plant growth however espalier has more potential for decorative design.
Wisconsin Horticulture, Division of Extension
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
