Pom Pom Trees: How Big They Get and How to Look After Them
You've seen them in garden magazines, on Instagram, outside boutique hotels — those striking trees with multiple rounded heads of foliage stacked along a bare trunk, each one clipped into a perfect green ball. They look sculptural, expensive, and like something that belongs in a professionally designed garden. And now you're wondering: could I actually have one?
The answer is yes — but the two questions that matter most before you commit are how big they get and how much work they need. Get those wrong and you've either got a plant that overwhelms the space or one that loses its shape because you didn't know what it needed. Here's the honest picture.
What Exactly Is a Pom Pom Tree?
A pom pom tree is an evergreen plant trained so that multiple rounded heads of foliage sit at intervals along a single stem or branching trunk, with clear stem visible between each head. The look is layered and sculptural — like a living piece of garden architecture. Some people call them cloud trees, though "cloud" usually implies a slightly looser, more naturalistic shape whereas "pom pom" suggests tighter, more defined balls.
The shape takes years to create. Growers select a plant with a strong central stem, then gradually remove branches and foliage to expose the trunk while shaping the remaining growth into rounded heads. By the time a pom pom tree is ready for sale, it's typically had three to five years of specialist training. You're buying the result of that work, not starting the process from scratch.
How Big Do Pom Pom Trees Get?
This depends on the species — and the answer range is wider than most people expect.
Ilex crenata (Japanese holly). Compact and slow-growing. Pom pom forms typically reach 80–150cm in a container and stay manageable with one or two trims a year. The tight, fine foliage produces the most precise, neatly defined pom pom heads. Best for smaller gardens, patios, and container growing where you want the pom pom effect at a contained scale.
Buxus (box). Similar scale to ilex crenata — compact, slow, and precise. Heights of 80–150cm are typical for pom pom forms. The leaves are slightly larger and the colour a slightly lighter green than ilex, but the overall effect is very similar. The same box blight considerations apply here as with any buxus plant.
Ligustrum delavayanum (privet). Slightly faster-growing and a little larger than buxus or ilex — pom pom forms typically reach 100–180cm. The foliage is lighter and slightly frothier, giving a less rigid, more playful character. Produces small white flowers in summer that attract bees. A good middle-ground option: bigger than a box pom pom but not as imposing as a cypress.
Cupressus leylandii (Leyland cypress). The largest and most dramatic option. Pom pom forms typically stand 150–250cm at point of sale and can reach 300cm+ if planted in the ground and left to grow. The golden-green foliage on exposed woody stems looks completely different from the monotonous hedge you associate with the species — these are genuine statement plants. Needs more space than the smaller species and trims twice a year to hold the shape tightly.
Olive (Olea europaea). Not a traditional pom pom, but mature olive trees are sometimes trained into multi-headed forms with silver-green foliage clusters on gnarled trunks. These tend to be larger — 150–250cm — and have a looser, more Mediterranean character than the tight-clipped evergreen pom poms. They need a sheltered, sunny position and are best suited to warmer areas of the UK.
Container vs ground: Growing in a pot naturally restricts a pom pom tree's size — roots can't spread, so the plant stays smaller. Planting in the ground gives the roots room to run and the plant will grow larger over time. If you want to control the ultimate size, keep it in a container. If you want a larger, more dramatic specimen, plant it in the ground and let it develop.
How to Look After a Pom Pom Tree
Despite looking like they need a horticulturist on staff, pom pom trees are surprisingly low-maintenance once you understand the routine. The shape already exists — you're preserving it, not creating it.
Trimming
Trim each pom pom head individually, treating it as a separate ball. Use sharp hand shears for fine-leaved species (buxus, ilex crenata) or secateurs for larger-leaved types. Work around the head in smooth, even passes, following the existing shape rather than trying to reshape it. Trim once in late spring after the new growth flush. A second trim in late summer keeps the definition crisp through winter. Remove any shoots that appear on the bare stem between the heads — these spoil the clean trunk line that gives a pom pom its character.
Feeding and watering
Apply slow-release granular fertiliser once in spring — one application feeds the plant for the entire growing season. For container-grown plants, water regularly through summer, checking every few days and watering thoroughly when the top inch of compost feels dry. Plants in the ground are largely self-sufficient after the first year, except during extended dry spells. Overwatering is a bigger risk than underwatering — ensure drainage is good and never let the pot sit in standing water.
Positioning
Pom pom trees are focal-point plants — they need space around them to breathe and be seen properly. Don't crowd them into a dense border where the shape disappears behind other planting. The best positions are where you can see the full silhouette: against a wall or fence as a standalone feature, in a large container on a patio, at the centre of a gravel bed, or as the signature plant at the end of a sightline. Most species tolerate sun and partial shade equally well. Avoid very exposed, windy positions for cupressus and olive — ilex crenata and buxus handle exposure better.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big do pom pom trees get?
Compact species like ilex crenata and buxus stay at 80–150cm in containers. Ligustrum reaches 100–180cm. Cupressus leylandii pom poms can reach 250–300cm+ when planted in the ground. Container growing restricts size naturally. The individual pom pom heads are typically 25–40cm in diameter and held at their size by regular trimming.
Are pom pom trees easy to grow?
Yes — easier than they look. The most common species used (ilex crenata, buxus, ligustrum) are tough, hardy, and tolerant of most conditions. The shaping work has already been done by the grower, so you're maintaining a form rather than creating one. One or two trims a year, one feed in spring, and regular watering for container plants is the full commitment. They're genuinely among the lowest-effort statement plants you can own.
What is the difference between a pom pom tree and a cloud tree?
They're closely related. A pom pom tree has tight, clearly defined spherical heads of foliage with clean stem between each one. A cloud tree has looser, more organic-shaped heads that suggest natural cloud formations — more Japanese in aesthetic, less geometric. Pine species (Scots pine, black pine) are typically trained as cloud trees, while buxus, ilex crenata, and cupressus are trained as pom poms. Both serve the same purpose as sculptural focal points.
Can pom pom trees grow in pots?
Absolutely — many pom pom trees are designed specifically for container growing. Use a pot at least 10cm wider than the root ball, with good drainage holes. John Innes No. 3 compost mixed with perlite provides the right balance of nutrients and drainage. Feed annually and repot every two to three years into a slightly larger container. Container growing keeps the plant at a manageable size and makes it portable if you move house.
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