Showcase · Bay lollipop pair in tall black planters at a pale blue door, white hydrangeas and black grass below
Hand-Matched Pair · Bay Lollipop Pair 80-100cm & 12-34 monochrome border plants across 5 species · 3 sizes

The Contemporary Monochrome — Entrance Transformation Bundle with Bay Lollipop Topiary Pair

RRP£1,110.00 £1,054.50 Save £55.50Pair price · incl. VAT
Choose your size

Your pair’s QC certificate — origins, dimensions, six photos — sent before dispatch · 24 hours to review

7 daysMatching Guaranteematched within 10cm — or replaced, your call
6 moThrive Guaranteea struggling plant replaced at half the single-plant cost
∞Lifetime Caregrower answers within 24 hours — forever, free
14–21Working dayskerbside pallet delivery — upright, tracked, UK-wide
Quick Specifications
Quick Specifications

  • Bundle Size: Starter (14 plants) | Standard (22 plants) | Impactful (36 plants)
  • Topiary Anchor: 2× Bay Laurel Lollipop Trees (80-100cm stem height, 14-16cm stem girth)
  • Border Plants: 12-34 plants (varies by variant) across 5 species
  • Coverage: 5-7m² (Starter) | 7-9m² (Standard) | 9-12m² (Impactful)
  • Establishment: 12-18 months (Starter) | 8-12 months (Standard) | 6-9 months (Impactful)
  • Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
  • Hardiness: H4-H5 (hardy across UK, protect in severe frost)
  • Containers: Included for topiary lollipops, border plants for in-ground planting

Delivery

Every bundle is dispatched on a single pallet via specialist courier. Delivery window 8am-5pm—driver calls approximately 1 hour before arrival. You'll receive pre-dispatch photos of your exact topiary pair for approval before shipping. Most orders are delivered in 2–4 weeks depending on season and location. Free UK mainland delivery included.

Meet the Twins

This bundle creates a sophisticated monochrome entrance where black, white, green, and gold dominate—a restrained contemporary palette emphasizing form and texture over bright color. Bay Laurel lollipops provide evergreen structure whilst surrounding plants deliver dramatic near-black foliage (Ophiopogon), pure white flowers (Hydrangea, Astrantia), golden-chartreuse accents (Carex), and architectural fern fronds (Dryopteris). This is modern minimalist planting: deliberately restrained, architecturally focused, with exceptional textural contrast.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Topiary Anchor:

  • 2× Bay Laurel Lollipop Trees (Laurus nobilis)
  • Clear stem: 80-100cm height, 14-16cm girth (substantial mature stems)
  • Ball canopy: 40-50cm diameter, densely clipped aromatic evergreen foliage
  • Dark green aromatic leaves year-round, responsive to clipping, containerised and ready to position

Border Plants (quantity and size vary by variant):

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (Black Mondo Grass)

  • Role: Dramatic near-black ground cover and textural contrast
  • Striking near-black strap-like leaves creating low tufted clumps 15-20cm height, evergreen year-round, small pale purple flowers summer followed by black berries, provides one of darkest foliage colors available in hardy plants, exceptional contemporary design plant.
  • Quantity: 4 plants (Starter - P9 plug), 7 plants (Standard - 1L), 12 plants (Impactful - 1L)

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea)

  • Role: Structural shrub with dramatic white spherical blooms
  • Massive white flower heads 20-30cm diameter June-September, flowers emerge lime-green maturing to pure white then aging to pale green, deciduous rounded habit 1-1.5m height and spread, flowers on current year's growth (reliable annual display), provides substantial white presence.
  • Quantity: 2 plants (Starter - 2L), 2 plants (Standard - 3L), 2 plants (Impactful - 5L)

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' (Japanese Sedge)

  • Role: Golden-variegated textural accent
  • Evergreen arching foliage with central golden-yellow stripe edged in dark green, forms cascading mounds 20-30cm height spreading 30-40cm, provides year-round golden accent in monochrome scheme, fine texture contrasts with bold foliage plants, tolerates sun to shade.
  • Quantity: 3 plants (Starter - 1L), 5 plants (Standard - 2L), 9 plants (Impactful - 2L)

Astrantia major 'White Giant' (Great Masterwort)

  • Role: Intricate white flowers and mid-border texture
  • Intricate white star-shaped flowers with pale green bracts June-September, long flowering season, attractive seed heads persist autumn, clump-forming habit 60-75cm height, provides delicate white flowers contrasting with bold Hydrangea spheres, tolerates partial shade.
  • Quantity: 2 plants (Starter - 1L), 3 plants (Standard - 2L), 5 plants (Impactful - 2L)

Dryopteris affinis (Golden Male Fern)

  • Role: Architectural golden-green fronds
  • Tall shuttlecock of arching fronds 60-90cm with golden-bronze spring emergence (fiddleheads unfurl golden-green—spectacular spring feature), semi-evergreen fronds persist through winter, provides vertical architectural presence, golden tones when young mature to deep green complementing monochrome palette.
  • Quantity: 1 plant (Starter - 1L), 3 plants (Standard - 2L), 6 plants (Impactful - 3L)

COVERAGE & DESIGN:

  • Starter (5-7m²): Foundation monochrome planting for entrance widths 2-2.5m. Topiary provides immediate structure, dramatic black Ophiopogon and white Hydrangea establish monochrome foundation over 12-18 months as plants fill and flower quantities increase.
  • Standard (7-9m²): Balanced contemporary composition for entrance widths 2.5-3.5m. Larger plant sizes (particularly Hydrangea in 3L, Dryopteris in 2L) deliver more substantial architectural presence. Increased quantities of textural accents (7 Ophiopogon, 5 Carex, 3 Astrantia, 3 Dryopteris) create richer layered effect. Establishes sophisticated monochrome garden within 8-12 months.
  • Impactful (9-12m²): Commanding monochrome garden for entrance widths 3.5m+. Feature plants (Hydrangea 5L mature specimens, Dryopteris 6 plants in 3L creating substantial fern grouping) provide immediate architectural drama. High quantities of black ground cover (12 Ophiopogon) create continuous dark carpet. Golden accents (9 Carex) provide strategic color without breaking monochrome discipline. Near-mature sophisticated appearance within 6-9 months.

Colour palette is deliberately restricted and contemporary: dark green topiary, near-black Ophiopogon, pure white Hydrangea and Astrantia, golden-chartreuse Carex and young Dryopteris fronds, deep green mature fern foliage. This monochrome approach (black-white-green-gold) creates sophisticated restraint—the composition reads as intentional contemporary design rather than traditional colourful border. Texture becomes as important as colour: fine near-black Ophiopogon grass, massive spherical Hydrangea blooms, delicate intricate Astrantia stars, arching golden Carex foliage, architectural shuttlecock fern fronds. Multiple textures create visual interest where bright colour is deliberately absent. Form and structure dominate: elevated lollipop canopies, spherical Hydrangea blooms, vertical fern fronds, cascading Carex mounds, low horizontal Ophiopogon carpets—architectural composition emphasising three-dimensional form. This is contemporary minimalist planting philosophy: restrained palette, strong forms, textural contrast, architectural discipline.

Care & Maintenance
ESTABLISHMENT PHASE (First 6-12 Months):

Topiary (Bay Laurel Lollipops):

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly during summer (containers dry faster than in-ground). Check moisture before watering—if damp 5cm down, skip. Winter: once every 10-14 days in dry weather only.
  • Feeding: Once annually in spring (March-April) with slow-release shrub fertilizer, 50g per container.
  • See Complete Care Guide for comprehensive topiary maintenance including winter protection (Bay Laurel hardy to -5 to -10°C, may need fleece protection in severe frost).

Border Plants:

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly during first spring/summer. Hydrangea needs consistent moisture (never allow to wilt—stresses plant and reduces flowering). Water deeply (15-20L per m²) encouraging deep roots. Reduce frequency progressively through autumn.
  • Mulching: Apply 5cm layer bark mulch or compost after planting. Essential for Hydrangea (moisture retention). Keep mulch 5cm clear of plant stems and crowns.
  • No feeding required Year 1—planting compost contains nutrients.

ONGOING MAINTENANCE (Year 2 Onwards):

Topiary (Bay Laurel):

  • Water 2-3× weekly in summer, minimal in winter (see Container Care Guide)
  • Feed once annually in spring (slow-release fertilizer, 50g per container)
  • Prune 2-3× annually May-August (Bay Laurel grows vigorously, needs frequent trimming for tight canopy)
  • See Pruning & Trimming Guide for lollipop maintenance

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens':
Very low maintenance. Moderate drought tolerance established (appreciates occasional water during prolonged dry spells). No feeding required (excess fertility can reduce intensity of black colour). Minimal care needed—comb out any dead foliage spring with fingers. Divide every 4-5 years spring if clumps becoming too congested. Slow-growing but very long-lived. Virtually pest/disease-free. Evergreen provides year-round dramatic black colour.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle':
Simple maintenance—flowers on current year's growth so prune hard. Late winter/early spring (February-March) cut all stems to 15-30cm from ground. This encourages strong new growth with large flower heads. Water weekly during growing season (particularly during flowering—never allow to wilt). Feed spring and midsummer with balanced fertilizer. Mulch annually spring (well-rotted compost). Very few pest/disease issues. One of easiest Hydrangeas to maintain.

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold':
Very low maintenance. Moderate drought tolerance established. No feeding required. Comb out dead foliage spring with fingers or rake—minimal grooming needed. Divide every 4-5 years spring if centers dying out or clumps becoming too large. Virtually pest/disease-free. Evergreen provides year-round golden accent—key feature of monochrome palette.

Astrantia major 'White Giant':
Very low maintenance. Drought-tolerant once established though prefers consistent moisture for best flowering. Light spring feed (balanced fertilizer). Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming or leave seed heads for autumn interest. Divide clumps every 4-5 years in spring if becoming congested (or leave undivided—tolerates crowding). Cut back foliage to ground level late autumn or early spring. Minimal pest/disease issues.

Dryopteris affinis (Golden Male Fern):
Extremely low maintenance. Tolerates dry shade once established (though appreciates moisture). No feeding required. Remove old fronds spring as new fiddleheads emerge (old fronds turn brown—cut to ground level making way for spectacular golden-green spring emergence). Divide every 7-10 years spring only if becoming very congested (rarely necessary—long-lived without disturbance). Virtually pest/disease-free. Semi-evergreen—fronds persist through mild winters providing structure.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE GUIDES:

For detailed care covering all seasons, pests, diseases, and troubleshooting:
→ Complete Care Guide
→ Seasonal Care Calendar
→ Pruning & Trimming Guide
→ Container Care & Repotting Guide
→ Pest & Disease Management Guide
→ Winter Protection Guide

GETTING HELP:

Lifetime email support: hello@topiarytwins.co.uk (24-hour typical response). No time limit, no cost. Species-specific guidance for all plants in your bundle available forever.

Botanical Specifications
SITE REQUIREMENTS:

Light: Full sun to partial shade. Topiary (Bay Laurel) tolerates partial shade. Hydrangea prefers some afternoon shade (prevents flower scorch). Ophiopogon, Carex, Astrantia, and Dryopteris all tolerate sun to partial shade. This bundle is particularly suitable for positions receiving morning sun and afternoon shade—ideal for many urban entrances.

Soil: Well-drained, moderate to rich fertility. Hydrangea prefers consistent moisture and rich soil. Ophiopogon and Carex adapt to wide range. Astrantia and Dryopteris tolerate typical garden soil including clay if not waterlogged. Amend with compost before planting to improve moisture retention.

Space: Minimum 2m width for Starter, 2.5m for Standard, 3.5m for Impactful. Allow 70-80cm clearance from topiary container edge to door frame (see Placement Guide).

POSITIONING LAYOUT:

Step 1: Position Topiary Lollipops
Place containers 120-150cm apart (centre to centre) depending on entrance width. Elevated dark green canopies provide architectural anchors for monochrome composition below. Ensure containers sit level.

Step 2: Plant Hydrangea
Position to sides or behind topiary where massive flower heads (20-30cm) will be clearly visible. Space 100-120cm apart if planting both (all variants have 2 Hydrangea plants). These become 1-1.5m width shrubs—give them space to develop rounded habit.

Step 3: Plant Dryopteris Ferns
Position where tall arching fronds (60-90cm) create vertical architectural presence. Space 60-80cm apart. In Starter (1 plant) position as single specimen focal point. In Standard/Impactful (3-6 plants) group together creating substantial fern feature—more effective than scattering individually.

Step 4: Plant Ophiopogon (Black Mondo Grass)
Use as ground cover throughout front and around topiary bases creating continuous dark carpet. Space 25-30cm apart (tight spacing creates cohesive black effect faster—essential for visual impact). Plant in drifts rather than single scattered specimens—dramatic near-black colour needs mass to register effectively.

Step 5: Plant Carex 'Evergold'
Position strategically where golden-variegated foliage provides accent without overwhelming monochrome restraint. Space 35-40cm apart. Use in clusters of 2-3 creating golden punctuation marks rather than distributing evenly (more effective visually).

Step 6: Plant Astrantia
Scatter throughout mid-ground between other plants. Space 40-50cm apart. Provides delicate white flowers complementing bold Hydrangea spheres—different scale of white creates layered effect.

DETAILED LAYOUT PLANS:

For comprehensive positioning diagrams showing exact plant placement for your entrance dimensions and variant-specific layouts, see our Bundle Planting Guide.

[View Bundle Planting Guide →]

ESTABLISHMENT CARE (First 6 Months):

Topiary: Water 2-3× weekly during first summer. Bay Laurel in containers needs consistent moisture. Feed once in spring. See Complete Care Guide for full maintenance.

Border Plants: Water 2-3× weekly first growing season. Hydrangea particularly needs consistent moisture (never allow to wilt). Mulch 5cm around all plants (keep clear of stems). Ophiopogon benefits from consistent moisture first season. No feeding required Year 1.

By 6 months: Starter plants rooted and establishing monochrome foundation (30-40% mature, black Ophiopogon spreading, white Hydrangea flowering). Standard plants established with noticeable monochrome presence (50-70% mature, strong white flowers, developing black carpet). Impactful plants quickly established with dramatic contemporary appearance (70-90% mature, substantial architectural presence and monochrome impact from first season).

Guides to Help You Plan
The Contemporary Monochrome — Entrance Transformation Bundle with Bay Lollipop Topiary Pair £1,054.50
With Every Scheme

Bought as a scheme.Planted as one.

What a whole front garden arrives as.

N° 01

Structure, then the border

Every tier is built the same way: two topiary specimens plus the border designed around them. Starter is 14 plants (2 topiary and 12 border), Standard 22 (2 and 20), Impactful 36 (2 and 34) — covering roughly 5–7, 7–9 and 9–12 square metres of planted ground.

N° 02

The flanking topiary pair

At the heart of the scheme sit two hand-matched topiary plants, chosen and grown side by side rather than picked off a bench on dispatch day. They are the permanent architecture — clipped, evergreen, and identical in January and July, when the border is asleep.

N° 03

One palette, not a plant list

The border isn't a bag of leftovers around a pair. Species, quantities and the ratio of structure to seasonal colour are settled together, in drifts and repeats rather than singles, so the frontage reads as one idea from the pavement.

N° 04

A layout for where each plant goes

Your scheme travels with a layout showing where each plant goes and at what spacing. No design brief to write, no plan to commission, nothing further to specify — the judgement about which plants, how many and where is the thing you're buying.

N° 05

You see the plants first

Your scheme's plants — photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review. The pictures reach you before the pallet is built, with the topiary pair shown side by side at our UK depot, so nothing about the plants is a surprise on delivery day.

N° 06

One pallet, and backing after it

The whole scheme travels together, kerbside, free, UK-wide — then six months of backing on every plant in it, and unlimited grower support long after that. The full terms, numbers and exclusions are set out immediately below — no asterisks.

Guaranteed Twice, Supported Forever

Promises withnumbers attached.

The terms, in full — no asterisks a lawyer would love.

10cm

The Matching Guarantee

This one is scoped to the topiary pair at the scheme's heart: your two topiary plants will never differ in height by more than 10cm. That is the whole promise, and it is measurable on the doorstep with a tape.

If the pair that arrives isn't matched, email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk within 7 days of delivery, subject line “Matching Guarantee Claim – [order number]”, with a photograph of the two plants together. Claims are resolved within 24 hours, and the remedy is your choice: a replacement pair, or a refund.

6 mo

The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee

This one covers every plant in the scheme, topiary and border alike. If a plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's single price — half what the plant on its own costs, whether that's one of the topiary or one perennial out of thirty-four. Eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours of your email — subject line “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]”.

One honest exclusion, carried over from the pairs: if both topiary plants fail, the guarantee doesn't apply to them. Two identical failures point at the site rather than the stock — drainage, wind, a buried rubble layer — and swapping the plants would only repeat the problem. That is exactly the conversation Lifetime Care Support exists to have, and we'd rather fix the ground than sell you the same outcome twice.

Life

Lifetime Care Support

Unlimited email guidance from the people who grew your topiary and specified your border, answered within 24 hours, free, forever. Send a photograph of a worrying patch, a question about when to cut the border back, or a picture of the shears you're about to use — there is no expiry date and no limit on how often you ask.

How to claim, step by step → in the questions below.

Placing The Scheme

Three decisionsthe frontage makes.

Three decisions. One pinned frame. Scroll.

Complete front garden planting scheme laid out before planting, topiary pair with its border plants
Shade-tolerant front garden planting scheme with a yew ball pair and woodland border
Front garden planting scheme being installed, topiary pair positioned and border going in
01 / 03
01

Read the frontage before the palette

Stand at the pavement, not the doorstep, and read two things. First the light: a shaded or north-facing frontage rules out the hot and drought palettes entirely — they survive there and look sullen — while a baking south-facing strip of gravel wants the plants that were bred for it. Aspect decides, palette follows; get that order the wrong way round and no amount of design saves it. Second the elevation: ball and cube pairs at 50–60cm suit low frontages and cottage doors, while 80–100cm clear-stem lollipops and 110–130cm spirals hold their own against tall Georgian and Victorian fronts. If the approach is mostly driveway rather than garden, the same thinking scales along it in our driveways and pathways collection.

02

The pair sets the geometry, the border answers it

Set the two topiary plants first, one each side of the door, centred on the width you have and clear of the door swing — then walk to the gate and check them before anything else goes in the ground. Everything in the scheme is proportioned to that pair, so it is the only decision worth being slow about. Then lay the border out still in its pots, following the layout, and shuffle it until the drifts read from the street rather than from above. If you want only the two plants either side of the door and no border at all, that's a different purchase — our front door plants are sold as pairs on their own. And if the structure is already in and it's only the ground layer you're missing, buy that by the metre from border by the metre instead.

03

Which tier, and when to size up

Pace out the part of the plot you actually intend to plant — not the whole frontage, the planted part. Under 7m² takes Starter, 14 plants. Between 7 and 9m² takes Standard, 22 plants. Anything beyond that wants Impactful, 36 plants, or the drifts thin out and the bare soil between them is all anyone sees. If you fall between two tiers, take the larger: buying a size down is the one economy in a front garden that always shows, and it shows in the first season rather than the fifth. An awkward, narrow run can also be planted at Starter density over a longer length without changing the plant list at all.

After The Pallet Leaves

What clients noticea season in.

The pair softened the entrance without losing the architecture. It still reads as a designed front — just a kinder one.

Elena · Surrey

They grow into the house. Every year the structure looks a little more like it was always meant to be there.

David · The Cotswolds

Neighbours stop to ask about them. We've handed your name over the fence more times than we can count.

James & Priya · Kent

Drag · Scroll

Once your scheme is in, share it with #TopiaryTwins or tag @topiarytwins — and if you film it, our referral programme pays 20% of your order back, rising to 100% if two friends order with your code.

The Scheme Family

Ten schemes.Every frontage covered.

Same three tiers on every one — swap the palette, keep the method. Complete-scheme prices, including VAT.

The Warm Summer entrance transformation scheme, photinia Red Robin lollipop pair with a hot-toned border

N° 01

The Warm Summer

Photinia lollipop pair over rudbeckia, helenium and crocosmia. Full sun; peaks July–October.

Scheme £545 – £905 · 14–36 plants

The White Evening Garden entrance transformation scheme, Portuguese laurel lollipop pair with a white border

N° 02

The White Evening Garden

Portuguese laurel lollipop pair with ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, white astrantia and digitalis. Glows at dusk.

Scheme £710 – £1,190 · 14–36 plants

The Formal Welcome entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with lavender and allium border

N° 03

The Formal Welcome

Bay laurel lollipop pair over lavender, salvia, allium and nepeta. Purple, violet and silver.

Scheme £755 – £1,085 · 14–36 plants

The Naturalistic Prairie entrance transformation scheme, Ilex crenata cube pair with prairie grasses

N° 04

The Naturalistic Prairie

Ilex crenata cube pair with pennisetum, echinacea ‘White Swan’ and molinia. Movement, and real winter structure.

Scheme £765 – £1,205 · 14–36 plants

The Woodland Edge entrance transformation scheme, English yew ball pair with a shade-tolerant woodland border

N° 05

The Woodland Edge

English yew ball pair over astilbe, brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, tiarella and ferns. Partial to full shade.

Scheme £785 – £1,125 · 14–36 plants

The Soft Romantic entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with roses and nepeta

N° 06

The Soft Romantic

Bay laurel lollipop pair with David Austin roses, nepeta and geranium ‘Rozanne’. Blush, lilac and lime.

Scheme £860 – £1,190 · 14–36 plants

The Autumn and Winter entrance transformation scheme, cloud-pruned privet pair with sarcococca and hellebore

N° 07

The Autumn & Winter

Cloud-pruned Delavay privet pair with sarcococca, skimmia and hellebore. Peaks November–March.

Scheme £890 – £1,260 · 14–36 plants

The Contemporary Monochrome entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with black and white planting

N° 08

The Contemporary Monochrome

Bay laurel lollipop pair with black ophiopogon, ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea and golden carex. Black, white, green, gold.

Scheme £1,110 – £1,460 · 14–36 plants

The Silver and Blue entrance transformation scheme, English yew spiral pair with festuca and perovskia

N° 09

The Silver & Blue

English yew spiral pair with festuca ‘Elijah Blue’, perovskia and echinops. Exceptional drought tolerance.

Scheme £1,350 – £1,600 · 14–36 plants

The Fragrant Entrance transformation scheme, English yew spiral pair with lavender and scented roses

N° 10

The Fragrant Entrance

English yew spiral pair with lavender ‘Vera’, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ roses and philadelphus. Scent from winter to summer.

Scheme £1,470 – £1,790 · 14–36 plants

Prefer to compare the palettes side by side? The whole scheme collection.

Front door framed by clipped bay standards with low box hedging along the path

Your scheme's plants · photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review

Before You Order

Your whole frontage.Straight answers.

Starter, Standard or Impactful — which tier do I need?

Measure the ground you actually intend to plant, not the whole plot, and let the square metreage choose for you. Starter is 14 plants (2 topiary and 12 border) for 5–7m²; Standard is 22 plants (2 and 20) for 7–9m²; Impactful is 36 plants (2 and 34) for 9–12m². Fall between two and you should take the larger one: bare soil between thin drifts is exactly what makes a new front garden look unfinished, and it looks unfinished in the first season rather than the fifth. A long, narrow run is the one exception — the same plant list can be spread at Starter density over more length without any change to what's supplied.

What actually arrives when I order a scheme?

One consignment holding the entire scheme: the two hand-matched topiary plants that give the frontage its permanent structure, the border planting composed around them as a single palette, and a layout showing where each plant goes and at what spacing. Nothing else is needed and nothing else is billed — there is no design fee, and the plant counts are fixed per tier at 14, 22 or 36. Schemes start at £545 including VAT, with free UK delivery, and the range across the ten palettes runs to £1,790 at Impactful size.

Can I change the topiary species inside a scheme?

The species choice is made by choosing the scheme rather than by swapping parts inside one — each border palette was composed around that particular topiary form, which is why the schemes look resolved. Between the ten there is a form and a species for most tastes: English yew balls in The Woodland Edge, English yew spirals in The Silver & Blue and The Fragrant Entrance, Ilex crenata cubes in The Naturalistic Prairie, cloud-pruned Delavay privet in The Autumn & Winter, bay laurel lollipops in The Formal Welcome, The Soft Romantic and The Contemporary Monochrome, Portuguese laurel in The White Evening Garden and photinia in The Warm Summer. If you have a particular pairing in mind, email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk before you order and we'll tell you honestly whether it works.

How are the topiary pair and the border arranged at a door?

Pair first, always. Set the two topiary plants one each side of the door, centred on the width you have and clear of the door swing, then walk out to the gate and judge them from the pavement rather than the doorstep — that is the only viewing distance that matters on a frontage. Everything else in the scheme is proportioned to that pair. Then lay the border out still in its pots, following the supplied layout, taller material to the back and the drifts running in threes, fives and sevens rather than one of everything. Shuffle the pots until the repeats read from the street, and only then plant, water in properly and mulch. It is an afternoon's work in most front gardens.

When should I plant it out, and what does it need afterwards?

Plant as soon as you can after the pallet lands — the plants are pot-grown, so any month with workable, unfrozen ground is fine, and autumn or spring is kindest because the roots move while the soil is warm and damp. Water in properly rather than lightly, mulch once the whole scheme is in, and keep watering through the first dry spell of the first season; that first summer is the whole of establishment. After that the upkeep is modest: one trim a year on the topiary and one cut-back on the border. The step-by-step for planting day is in our planting guide, and the clipping detail is in the topiary care guide.

How is a whole scheme of 14 to 36 plants delivered?

Together, on one pallet, kerbside, by a specialist plant haulier, anywhere in mainland UK — and delivery is free. The topiary pair travels standing upright, the border plants travel in their pots alongside it, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there. Allow 14–21 working days from order: your plants are being selected, photographed and documented during that window, not sitting in a warehouse. Kerbside means the pallet is left at the boundary rather than carried through the house, so line up a second pair of hands and somewhere to stage 36 pots before the lorry turns in. Full terms live on our delivery and returns page.

What if a plant in the scheme doesn't thrive?

Tell us early. The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee covers every plant in the scheme, topiary and border alike: a plant that fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care is replaced at 50% of that plant's single price — half what that plant costs on its own, so a struggling perennial and a struggling topiary are each treated on their own terms. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk with the subject “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]” and we review eligibility within 48 hours. One honest exclusion: if both topiary plants fail, the guarantee doesn't apply to them, because two identical failures point at the site rather than the stock and a straight swap would only repeat it. That is precisely what Lifetime Care Support is for — unlimited email guidance from the growers, answered within 24 hours, free, forever, so we can fix the conditions instead.

The Topiary Twins Difference

Designed as one.Delivered as one.

Structure, palette, quantities and spacings settled together — and the two topiary plants your whole scheme hangs on selected side by side in Tuscany, so that part is grown rather than approximate.

Designed as one palette

Structure, colour, quantities and spacings settled together, before anything is picked.

Guaranteed twice

7-day Matching Guarantee on the topiary pair, then the 6-month Thrive Guarantee across the scheme.

Growers for life

Lifetime Care Support — a photo gets grower answers for as long as you own the planting.