The Box Alternative Garden at RHS Garden Wisley

This is the plant that has been selected for the parterre element of the garden and is used throughout.  No alternatives are planted.  This cultivar is already widely used in decorative hedging.  The species is dioecious, which means that plants are either male or female. Only female plants will bear fruits, and may require a pollinating partner to do so.  (Technically speaking, the little red berry-like bodies that can develop are not fruits, but to all intents and purposes, they look like fruits.)  The RHS website page for this cultivar includes the abbreviation (f), which suggests that the cultivar is female.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/99126/taxus-baccata-repandens-(f)/details

This is one of the plants used for pyramids in the garden.  As the name suggests, the plant has a blue hue to its foliage.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/62794/podocarpus-lawrencei-blue-gem-(f)/details

Plant with very yellow foliage.  The sample in the garden has absent foliage towards the lower part of the plant, which is in shade.  Consideration should be made to consider aesthetics of potential die-back towards shaded areas or lower growth.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/192516/ligustrum-undulatum-lemon-lime-and-clippers/details

This is one of the plants used for pyramids in the garden.  The colour can be very much bolder than is seen in this picture.  This picture taken in November, but in February the plant shows a very distinct chocolate colour. This is due to bronzing that occurs in the winter, or simply expresses in new growth (which is clipped off in the specimen in the photo).  The RHS have no page for this cultivar, so a page from Trees and Shrubs online is provided instead.

https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/podocarpus/podocarpus-lawrencei-x-nivalis/

As the name implies, a creamy hue of green.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/167187/podocarpus-nivalis-kilworth-cream-(m-v)/details

BLOOMBUX is the trade designation or selling name for the registered cultivar Microhirs3.  Inkarho is the name of the rootstock used for the plant, that gives it the special quality of being neutral soil-tolerant.  The plant is one of my stars of the garden and provides a uniform, small-leaved, dense foliage, that flowers beautifully in May.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/343777/rhododendron-bloombux-(-microhirs3-pbr)-(inkarho)/details

This plant seems like it might be a great candidate but the sample is very young and its development should be watched.  The foliage descends deep into the branches, is dense and very fine.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/90995/cryptomeria-japonica-vilmoriniana/details

The only Pittosporum found in the garden.  What might seem like a perfect genus for topiary has demonstrated poor hardiness at Wisley.  However, it should be noted that at least in London, this genus is seen flourishing in gardens and would seem to be perfectly hardy for that environment.  Pittosporum can sometimes be seen with long bare branches, with only tips with foliage.  In this specimen the foliage is seen to descend deep into the base of the branches, and so is very dense.  A great potential, and its inclusion suggests that it is likely to be hardy at lower UK temperatures.  A plant to watch.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/370201/pittosporum-tenuifolium-golden-ball/details

A curious inclusion.  The first time I have seen this species used in hedging.  This is included as a wildcard.  At the time of study it was not developed enough to judge its suitability.  It appeared to show quite strong apical dominance which could be a problem for hedging.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/99449/sequoia-sempervirens-adpressa/details

Lovely looking conifer, with a refreshing pale green foliage.  Progress in one year suggests fairly vigorous growth.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/93460/chamaecyparis-lawsoniana-summer-snow-(v)/details

Lovely looking conifer, with orange tinged growing tips.  Progress in one year suggests fairly vigorous growth.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/343195/thuja-occidentalis-fire-chief-(-congabe-pbr)/details

Lovely looking conifer, with a yellower coloured foliage.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/91497/thuja-occidentalis-rheingold/details

Gorgeously vibrant variegated plant with great density.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/44576/rhamnus-alaternus-argenteovariegata-(v)/details 

Distinctive plant with a whispy form.  Growth of this species bronzes over winter and shows a very warm rusty hue.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/58692/cryptomeria-japonica-elegans-compacta/details

This young plant hasn’t yet developed sufficiently to judge its performance, but it looks good at this stage.  A fastigiate option.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/109716/taxus-baccata-icicle/details

A fastigiate option that is often seen in garden centres marketed as a box alternative. 

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/93200/euonymus-japonicus-microphyllus/details

This young plant hasn’t yet developed sufficiently to judge its performance, but it looks good at this stage.  A variegated fastigiate option.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/374126/euonymus-japonicus-white-spire-pbr-(v)/details

A good form with small white flowers.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/95985/cotoneaster-conspicuus-decorus/details

A good form with small creamy white/pail yellow flowers.  The photo suggests that the plant is a prolific flowerer, and I expect looks great.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/1952/baccharis-patagonica/details

A straight species Podocarpus.  Providing a neat form and an inconspicuous green foliage colour.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13360/podocarpus-nivalis/details

A form of Taxus baccata that is suitable for pyramids.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/371014/taxus-baccata-renke-s-kleiner-gr-ner/details

A very bright yellow coloured plant.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/352737/ligustrum-sinense-sunshine/details