Showcase · Pair of Red Robin lollipops above rudbeckia, coneflowers and red crocosmia in a stone planter
Topiary Twins · Photinia Lollipop Topiary 40-60cm & 8 warm prairie perennials per metre across 4 species

The Warm Meadow — Border by the Metre with Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop Topiary

RRP£330.00 £313.50 Save £16.50Pair price · incl. VAT
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Quality-checked and photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review

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
  • Coverage: 1m length × 0.6m depth per unit
  • Total Plants: 9 plants per metre (1 topiary + 8 companions)
  • Topiary: Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop (40-60cm stem, 6-8cm girth)
  • Companion Plants: 8 plants across 4 species
  • Planting Density: ~15 plants per m²
  • Establishment: 8-12 months to mature meadow appearance
  • Sun Requirements: Full sun essential
  • Hardiness: H4-H5 (hardy across UK, Crocosmia may need mulch protection in cold regions)
  • Seasonality: Peak interest July-October (exceptionally long warm-coloured flowering season), evergreen topiary structure

Delivery

All Border by the Metre orders dispatch on a single pallet via specialist courier. Delivery window 8am-5pm—driver calls 1 hour before arrival. You'll receive pre-dispatch photos of your topiary for approval before shipping. Orders are delivered in 2–4 weeks. Free UK mainland delivery included regardless of length ordered.

Meet the Twins

This border creates sun-drenched prairie-style planting celebrating warm colours—golds, bronzes, oranges, and flame-reds that intensify in strong summer light. The composition is designed for full sun positions where hot-border drama is desired—flanking sunny pathways, creating vibrant boundaries, or establishing meadow-style naturalistic borders. Photinia 'Red Robin' lollipops provide evergreen structure with signature red new growth whilst prairie perennials deliver waves of warm daisy flowers July-October—this is the "hot border" approach popularised by Vita Sackville-West and Christopher Lloyd: celebrating heat through warm-spectrum planting.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Anchor Topiary:

  • Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop (40-60cm stem, 6-8cm girth)
  • Elevated ball canopy on clear stem providing eye-level presence, signature feature: new growth emerges brilliant red (spring-summer) maturing to dark green creating living colour-changing sculpture, glossy evergreen foliage year-round, periodic trimming stimulates red flushes throughout season, fast-growing and vigorous, provides architectural punctuation every metre whilst warm perennials billow at base

Companion Plant 1: Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-Eyed Susan)

  • Role: Golden yellow daisy mass
  • Golden-yellow daisy flowers with dark chocolate-brown central cones July-October, exceptionally long flowering season (3+ months continuous—reliable workhorse of late-summer borders), upright clump-forming habit 60-75cm height, RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, drought-tolerant once established, native American prairie plant adapted to heat, provides continuous golden presence throughout peak season
  • Quantity: 3 per metre (2L pots)

Companion Plant 2: Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' (Sneezeweed)

  • Role: Rich orange-red vertical accents
  • Rich bronze-red daisy flowers with prominent brown-yellow centres July-September, upright stems 80-100cm creating vertical punctuation, clump-forming habit, provides warmer deeper tones than yellow Rudbeckia creating colour depth and richness, attracts butterflies and bees, excellent cut flower, combines beautifully with golden Rudbeckia creating warm tapestry
  • Quantity: 2 per metre (2L pots)

Companion Plant 3: Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' (Purple Coneflower)

  • Role: Architectural structure and pollinator magnet
  • Large purple-pink flowers with prominent orange-brown central cones July-September, sturdy upright stems 80-100cm, architectural seed heads persist through winter (beloved by goldfinches feeding on seeds), exceptional pollinator plant (butterflies, bees, beneficial insects), drought-tolerant prairie native, provides essential colour bridge between warm yellows/oranges and prevents palette from becoming monotonous
  • Quantity: 2 per metre (2L pots)

Companion Plant 4: Crocosmia 'Lucifer' (Montbretia)

  • Role: Flame-coloured drama and movement
  • Intense flame-red tubular flowers on arching stems July-August, dramatic flower spikes 100-120cm tall creating vertical drama, sword-like pleated foliage 60-80cm provides structural presence even before flowering, spreads via corms creating expanding clumps over years, one of most dramatic red-flowering perennials, attracts hummingbird hawk-moths, provides peak hot-colour impact midsummer
  • Quantity: 1 per metre (2L pot)

HOW THE COMPOSITION WORKS:

Colour palette is deliberately warm and saturated celebrating heat: red Photinia new growth (spring-summer—particularly intense May-June), golden-yellow Rudbeckia (July-October continuous), bronze-red Helenium (July-September), purple-pink Echinacea with orange cones (July-September), flame-red Crocosmia (July-August peak). These are advancing warm colours (appear to come forward visually) creating energetic vibrant composition—the "hot border" approach where warm spectrum dominates and cool colours are deliberately excluded or minimised.

Texture provides interest within warm palette: glossy elevated Photinia canopies (smooth, geometric), daisy flowers with prominent cones (flat ray petals surrounding sculptural centres—Rudbeckia, Helenium, Echinacea all share this form creating cohesion), sword-like Crocosmia leaves (vertical, pleated), arching Crocosmia flower stems (graceful, dynamic). The repetition of daisy-form flowers creates rhythm and unity—this is prairie aesthetic where related flower forms repeat creating natural meadow effect.

Seasonal progression ensures continuous warm colour July-October: early season Rudbeckia begins (July continuing through October—exceptionally long), Helenium overlaps (July-September), Echinacea coincides (July-September), Crocosmia peaks midsummer (July-August providing most intense red when heat peaks). By late summer all four perennials flower simultaneously creating peak warm abundance—the border is at maximum saturation August-September. Autumn extends interest: Rudbeckia continues into October, Echinacea seed heads provide winter structure attracting goldfinches, Photinia may produce additional red growth flushes with autumn trimming.

SCALABILITY:

Each metre is a complete warm meadow unit. When ordering multiple metres:

  • Topiary rhythm: 1 topiary every metre creates formal punctuation preventing prairie abundance from appearing chaotic—essential discipline maintaining composition (hot borders can easily appear messy without structural anchors)
  • Prairie drift: Warm perennials flow continuously between topiary units—Rudbeckia particularly spreads creating golden drifts, Crocosmia corms multiply expanding through border
  • 2-metre order: Intimate warm entrance or sunny pathway edge
  • 5-metre order: Substantial prairie border with genuine meadow abundance—warm colours register as intentional hot-border design
  • 10+ metre order: Grand warm colonnade effect—dramatic contrast between geometric Photinia rhythm and billowing warm prairie perennials creates powerful summer-long display

The design scales from cheerful (2-3m) to breathtaking (10m+) whilst maintaining prairie authenticity—warm colours intensify with length creating increasingly dramatic hot-border effect.

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

Topiary (Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop):

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly during summer (Photinia is vigorous fast-growing—needs consistent moisture in containers). Check moisture regularly. Winter: once every 10-14 days dry weather only.
  • Feeding: Once annually spring (March-April) with slow-release shrub fertiliser, 50g per container. Photinia responds well to feeding with vigorous growth and intense red flushes.
  • See Complete Care Guide including tips on trimming frequency to maximise red new growth (trim every 6-8 weeks spring-summer stimulates red flushes—key aesthetic feature).

Companion Plants:

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly first spring/summer. Water deeply (15-20L per m²) encouraging deep drought-resistant roots. Reduce frequency progressively through autumn. By end first season, most are drought-tolerant.
  • Mulching: Apply 5cm layer bark mulch after planting. Keep mulch 5cm clear of plant stems and crowns (particularly Crocosmia corms—avoid moisture retention at crown which encourages rot).
  • No feeding Year 1—planting compost contains nutrients. Prairie plants evolved in relatively poor soils—don't over-fertilise (causes weak floppy growth requiring staking).

ONGOING MAINTENANCE (Year 2 Onwards):

Topiary (Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop):

  • Water 2-3× weekly summer, minimal winter
  • Feed once annually spring (slow-release fertiliser, 50g per container)
  • Prune 2-3× annually May-August (frequent trimming stimulates signature red new growth—key feature of this species distinguishing it from plain evergreen lollipops)
  • See Pruning & Trimming Guide for lollipop techniques and maximising red growth

Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm':
Very low maintenance. Drought-tolerant established. No feeding required (excess fertility reduces flowering). Deadhead during season to prolong flowering or leave seed heads autumn-winter (attractive and provides seed for birds—though Rudbeckia primarily valued for exceptionally long July-October flowering). Cut back all growth to ground late autumn or early spring. Divide every 5-7 years spring if clumps becoming congested or to create more plants. Virtually pest/disease-free. One of most reliable long-flowering prairie perennials—workhorse of warm borders.

Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty':
Low maintenance. Moderate drought tolerance (appreciates water during dry summer spells for best flowering—more moisture-needy than Rudbeckia or Echinacea). Light spring feed (balanced fertiliser) optional. Deadhead during season to prolong flowering (extends July-September season). Cut back to ground late autumn after flowering finished. Divide every 4-5 years spring if flowering declines or clumps becoming too large (vigorous grower—benefits from regular division). Can be prone to slugs on young growth spring (apply slug control if problem). Otherwise pest/disease-free.

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus':
Low maintenance. Drought-tolerant prairie native. No feeding required. Critical: Leave seed heads standing through winter—goldfinches feed on seeds (delightful to watch), architectural cones provide winter structure. Cut back to ground late winter (February-March) after birds have eaten seeds. Divide every 5-7 years spring only if flowering declines (generally doesn't need dividing—long-lived undisturbed). Relatively pest/disease-free. Do not deadhead during season if wanting winter seed heads (petals fade but cones remain—this is desired effect).

Crocosmia 'Lucifer':
Low maintenance. Drought-tolerant established. No feeding required. Deadhead spent flower spikes or leave for seed (corms multiply naturally regardless—deadheading doesn't affect this). Cut back foliage to ground late autumn or early spring. Divide clumps every 5-7 years spring if becoming too congested or to control spread (vigorous in ideal conditions—can become invasive, but 'Lucifer' less aggressive than some Crocosmia varieties). Mulch corms 5cm autumn in cold regions (below -10°C regularly) for winter protection (though 'Lucifer' is one of hardiest Crocosmia cultivars). Flame-red flowers July-August provide peak hot-colour drama with minimal maintenance.

WARM MEADOW MAINTENANCE PHILOSOPHY:

This bundle follows prairie/meadow approach—celebrating natural growth habits and wildlife value. Key principles:

  • Minimal deadheading (except Helenium where it genuinely extends flowering—Rudbeckia and Echinacea flower continuously regardless)
  • Leave seed heads standing winter (Echinacea particularly—goldfinch food and architectural interest)
  • Allow natural spreading (Rudbeckia forms drifts, Crocosmia multiplies—embrace this creating increasingly abundant effect)
  • Topiary trimming maintains discipline (frequent Photinia trimming stimulates red growth—creates living sculpture changing through seasons)
  • No staking required if plants not over-fertilised (prairie perennials evolved to stand without support—only flop if over-fed or insufficient sun)

Reward: exceptionally long flowering season (July-October continuous warm colour), abundant prairie-style effect, wildlife-friendly (bees, butterflies, moths, goldfinches), relatively low maintenance despite lush appearance, intensely warm vibrant aesthetic celebrating summer heat.

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 border available forever.

Botanical Specifications
SITE REQUIREMENTS:

Light: Full sun essential. All plants in this bundle are sun-lovers requiring maximum light (6+ hours daily minimum). Topiary (Photinia) produces most intense red new growth in full sun (shade reduces red colour intensity). All prairie perennials require full sun for best flowering and sturdy compact growth—insufficient sun causes floppy weak stems requiring staking. This bundle is ideal for hot sunny exposed positions where warm colours intensify in strong light—these species evolved in open prairies and thrive in heat.

Soil: Well-drained, average to moderate fertility. Prairie perennials evolved in relatively lean soils—avoid over-enriching which causes floppy growth. Rudbeckia, Helenium, and Echinacea tolerate clay if drainage adequate. Crocosmia requires excellent drainage (corms rot in waterlogged soil particularly winter). Photinia adapts to wide range but prefers well-drained. Neutral to slightly acidic pH ideal (6.5-7.0) but plants tolerate 6.0-7.5 range.

Space: 1m length × 0.6m depth per unit minimum. Can extend depth to 0.8m if desired (allows more generous spacing for tall Crocosmia and Helenium stems). Prairie plants benefit from air circulation—avoid overcrowding.

POSITIONING WITHIN EACH METRE:

Step 1: Position Topiary Lollipop
Place Photinia lollipop centrally within 1m width, positioned 20-25cm from back edge. Elevated canopy (total height approximately 100-120cm including stem and ball) provides eye-level architectural presence and red new growth display. Container sits on surface or partially sunken for stability. Ensure adequate light reaches canopy for best red colour production.

Step 2: Plant Rudbeckia (Golden Daisies)
Position 3 Rudbeckia plants throughout mid-ground and front, creating golden drifts. Space 50-60cm apart. Don't position in rigid row—scatter organically creating natural prairie effect. High quantity (3 per metre) essential for warm-border impact—these are workhorse plants providing continuous golden colour July-October.

Step 3: Plant Helenium (Orange-Red Daisies)
Position 2 Helenium plants in mid-ground interspersed with Rudbeckia. Space 50-60cm apart. Bronze-red tones provide colour depth preventing composition from being all-yellow. Mix with Rudbeckia rather than segregating—creates blended warm tapestry rather than colour-blocked effect. Upright habit (80-100cm) provides vertical punctuation.

Step 4: Plant Echinacea (Purple-Pink Coneflowers)
Position 2 Echinacea plants where prominent orange-brown cones will be visible and appreciated (these are architectural features—cones remain attractive even after petals fade). Space 50-60cm apart. Purple-pink petals provide essential colour bridge—prevents warm palette from becoming overwhelming or monotonous. Position where goldfinches feeding on winter seed heads can be observed from house windows (winter wildlife value).

Step 5: Plant Crocosmia (Flame-Red Spires)
Position 1 Crocosmia plant prominently where dramatic flame-red arching stems will create focal point July-August. Space 40-50cm from topiary base or other plants. Tall stems (100-120cm) rise above other perennials creating vertical drama. Sword-like foliage provides structural presence even before flowering—don't hide behind other plants.

REPEATING FOR MULTIPLE METRES:

Continuous borders (2m+):

  • Topiary positioned at precise 1m intervals creating geometric rhythm (essential discipline preventing warm abundance from appearing chaotic—hot borders particularly need structural anchors)
  • Prairie perennials positioned organically—vary placement slightly between metres creating natural drift. Example: Metre 1 might have Rudbeckia clustered front-left, Metre 2 front-right, creating woven effect as plants spread
  • Rudbeckia spreads naturally forming substantial clumps—embrace this, allow drifts to develop across unit boundaries
  • Crocosmia corms multiply spreading through border over years—creates increasingly dramatic flame-red display (divide every 5-7 years if becoming too congested)
  • Helenium and Echinacea positioned consistently but not identically—creates rhythm without rigidity

Prairie curves:

  • Warm meadow style particularly suits gentle curves—billowing prairie plants follow curves naturally
  • Don't force rigid straight edges—let warm perennials spill slightly creating abundant prairie effect

DETAILED LAYOUT PLANS:

For visual top-down diagrams showing plant positioning within 1m × 0.6m unit and how multiple metres create continuous cottage border, see our Border Planting Guide.

[View Border Planting Guide →]

Guides to Help You Plan
The Warm Meadow — Border by the Metre with Photinia 'Red Robin' Lollipop Topiary £313.50

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

With Every Metre

Bought by the metre.Backed plant by plant.

Six things that arrive with the scheme.

N° 01

A metre is a module

Each metre is a fixed module — 1m long, 0.6m deep, eight to ten plants depending on the scheme. The variant you choose names the exact count. Order three metres and three of everything arrives, so the run repeats down the bed exactly as it was drawn.

N° 02

A clipped evergreen in every metre

Every module carries one topiary anchor — an Ilex crenata ball or cube, an English yew ball, a bay, photinia or variegated holly lollipop, or a blue Arizona cypress spiral, according to the scheme. It is the part still standing in January.

N° 03

The layout plan

Everything for the run arrives together with a plan showing where each plant sits inside the module. Nothing has to be designed on the lawn with the pots still in their trays — that work is already done.

N° 04

You see the plants first

Your scheme's plants are photographed before dispatch, and you have 24 hours to review them before the pallet is built. The evergreen anchors and the supporting planting, as they actually are.

N° 05

Upright, tracked, palletised

The whole scheme travels standing up on its own pallet — never boxed, never laid flat — fully tracked, with a timed kerbside delivery and a call from the driver about an hour before he turns in. Allow 14–21 working days.

N° 06

They thrive or we step in

Six months of backing on every plant in the scheme, individually, and unlimited grower support long after that. The full terms and numbers are set out immediately below — no asterisks.

Backed, Supported, Delivered

Promises withnumbers attached.

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

6 mo

The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee

A border scheme is a lot of plants, so this works per plant, not per order. If an individual plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's own single price — half what that one plant costs on its own, whether it is the evergreen anchor or one of the perennials around it. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk, subject line “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]”, and eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours.

If a whole stretch goes at once rather than one plant here and there, tell us that too — planting that fails together usually points at the ground rather than the stock, and drainage, a wind funnel or a buried rubble layer will do the same thing to a replacement. That is exactly the conversation Lifetime Care Support exists to have, and we would rather fix the ground than send the same outcome twice.

∞

Lifetime Care Support

Unlimited email guidance from the people who grew your scheme, answered within 24 hours, free, forever. Send a photograph of one sulking plant in the third metre, a question about when to cut the grasses back, or a picture of the shears you are about to take to the anchor — there is no expiry date and no limit on how often you ask.

14–21

Delivery, kerbside and palletised

Kerbside pallet by a specialist plant haulier, UK-wide, in 14–21 working days from order. The plants travel upright and are never boxed, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there.

Your scheme's plants are photographed before dispatch, with 24 hours to review them before the pallet is built. Delivery is to the kerb, so plan the carry from kerb to bed before the pallet lands — a five-metre scheme is forty to fifty pots.

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

Placing The Run

Three decisionsbefore you order.

Three chapters. One pinned frame. Scroll.

Tape measure run along an empty garden border bed to read its length in metres
Planted garden border with clipped evergreen balls set at even intervals along the run
Three-tier border with clipped evergreen balls, salvia and low hedging along a path edge
01 / 03
01

Measuring the run — and what to do at a corner

Take a tape along the bed and read the length. That is the only measurement the order depends on: depth is fixed at 0.6m per module, so a bed deeper than about a metre simply takes a second module behind the first, offset, and a bed shallower than half a metre is edging rather than a border. Round up, never down — a run that stops a hand's width short of the corner is the one mistake you cannot plant your way out of later. Curves get measured along the front edge with a hosepipe laid where you want the line, then the hosepipe gets measured. At a corner, treat the two arms as two runs and order each to its own whole metre, so the join lands where you decided rather than where the maths left off.

02

The rhythm the anchors make

The spacing inside a metre is already settled — it comes drawn on the plan — so the only rhythm you are choosing is the one between the metres. Because every module carries a single clipped evergreen, a three-metre order lands three anchors down the bed at even intervals, and that repetition is what makes a loose planting read as designed rather than accidental. Set those anchors first on planting day and let everything else fall in around them. If you want the anchors to pull the eye rather than just hold the line, the taller ones do that work: the blue Arizona cypress spiral in The Silver & Blue and the bay lollipop options stand above the perennials all season, where a 30–40cm ball sits down in the planting and reads as punctuation.

03

An edge, a bed, or the strip by the door

A single module run tight to the front of a path or drive behaves like an edge: one row deep, the anchors carrying the line, the planting softening it — which is the same job the driveways and pathways planting does, in scheme form. Two modules front-to-back, offset, behaves like a proper bed, and that is where the taller schemes earn their keep. Around a seating area or a small paved garden, one or two metres is usually the whole planting budget of the space, so pick for scent and evening colour rather than mass — the logic behind the courtyard and patio planting. And if the run you are measuring is the strip either side of a front door, the entrance schemes are built for exactly that frontage instead.

After The Pallet Leaves

What clients noticea season in.

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 border 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 Border Family

Ten schemes.One module.

Same 1m × 0.6m module every time — the palette and the evergreen anchor are what change. Each length is its own price; read the one on the length you want.

The Formal Edge border by the metre with a clipped Ilex crenata ball, lavender, salvia and allium

N° 01

The Formal Edge

Lavender, silver carpet, salvia and allium round an Ilex crenata ball — or a bay lollipop instead.

1m–5m £275 – £1,924 · ball or lollipop

The Cottage Drift border by the metre with an Ilex crenata ball, geranium, alchemilla and nepeta

N° 02

The Cottage Drift

Geranium ‘Rozanne’, alchemilla, nepeta and penstemon — blush, lilac and lime, May to November.

1m–5m £275 – £1,306 · 10 plants a metre

The Silver and Blue border by the metre with a blue Arizona cypress spiral, festuca, agapanthus and perovskia

N° 03

The Silver & Blue

Festuca, agapanthus, stachys and perovskia — steel blue and silver, exceptional drought tolerance.

1m–5m £275 – £1,710 · yew ball or spiral

The Autumn Gold border by the metre with a photinia Red Robin lollipop, crocosmia, rudbeckia and miscanthus

N° 04

The Autumn Gold

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, rudbeckia, sedum and miscanthus under a photinia lollipop — peaks August to October.

1m–5m £295 – £1,401 · 9 plants a metre

The Naturalistic Grass border by the metre with clipped topiary, pennisetum, molinia and echinacea

N° 05

The Naturalistic Grass

Pennisetum, molinia, verbena bonariensis and echinacea — prairie movement and see-through texture.

1m–5m £295 – £1,544 · yew ball or Ilex cube

The Shaded Woodland border by the metre with an English yew ball, astilbe, brunnera, fern and hellebore

N° 06

The Shaded Woodland

Astilbe, brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, male fern and hellebore under a yew ball — partial to full shade.

1m–5m £300 – £1,425 · 8 plants a metre

The Warm Meadow border by the metre with a photinia Red Robin lollipop, rudbeckia, helenium and echinacea

N° 07

The Warm Meadow

Rudbeckia, helenium, echinacea and crocosmia — gold, bronze and orange, sun-drenched, July to October.

1m–5m £330 – £1,568 · 9 plants a metre

The White Garden border by the metre with a bay lollipop, hydrangea Annabelle, white aster and foxglove

N° 08

The White Garden

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’, white aster, geranium ‘Album’ and foxglove — it glows at dusk.

1m–5m £330 – £2,066 · yew ball or bay lollipop

The Winter Structure border by the metre with a variegated holly lollipop, hellebore, carex and cyclamen

N° 09

The Winter Structure

Hellebore, carex ‘Evergold’, cyclamen coum and scented sweet box — peaks November to March.

1m–5m £400 – £1,900 · 9 plants a metre

The Fragrant Path border by the metre with an aromatic bay lollipop, lavender, catmint and fragrant rose

N° 10

The Fragrant Path

Lavender ‘Vera’, catmint, sweet violet and fragrant rose round an aromatic bay — scent all year.

1m–5m £520 – £2,470 · 8 plants a metre

Border schemes start from £275 for the first metre. Every price above is the RRP for that scheme's shortest and longest run, including VAT.

Prefer to compare them side by side? The whole border family.

Clipped evergreen balls anchoring a modern planted border against black timber cladding

Designed as a scheme · photographed before dispatch · delivered kerbside

Before You Order

Your border.Straight answers.

How many metres should I order?

Run a tape along the bed and read its length — that is the only measurement the order depends on, because the module is a fixed 0.6m deep whatever you buy. Round up to the next whole metre rather than down; schemes are sold in whole metres, one to five per order. Then read the price shown against the length you actually want. Each length is its own variant with its own published RRP, and the schemes are not priced at a flat rate — several of them shift as the run gets longer — so scaling the single-metre figure in your head will give you the wrong number. Border schemes start from £275 for the first metre.

What actually arrives in a metre?

Between eight and ten plants, depending on the scheme, all in pots and ready to go straight in the ground, plus the layout plan showing where each one sits. The split is always the same shape: one clipped evergreen topiary anchor plus seven to nine supporting perennials, grasses and bulbs. The variant title spells out the count for the length you pick — a metre of The Cottage Drift is ten plants, one topiary and nine border; a metre of The Fragrant Path is eight, one topiary and seven border. Order three metres and three of everything arrives, so the scheme repeats down the run exactly as designed.

Which scheme suits my aspect and my colours?

Aspect first, palette second. Partial to full shade takes The Shaded Woodland, where a single metre is £300 — astilbe, brunnera, male fern and hellebore under an English yew ball. Hot, dry and sunny takes The Silver & Blue, a metre at £275 with the yew ball or £360 with the blue Arizona cypress spiral. For late colour in full sun, a metre of The Autumn Gold is £295 and a metre of The Warm Meadow is £330. For clipped formality, a metre of The Formal Edge is £275 with the Ilex ball or £405 with the bay lollipop. For the months nothing else performs, a metre of The Winter Structure is £400; for scent beside a path, a metre of The Fragrant Path is £520. Longer runs are priced individually, so check the length you want on its own listing.

What do I do about corners, curves and awkward gaps?

At a corner, stop thinking of it as one border. Measure the two arms separately, round each up to its own whole metre and order them as two runs — that way the join lands where you chose it, with an evergreen anchor near the turn to hold the angle, rather than wherever the arithmetic ran out. For a curved front edge, lay a hosepipe along the line you want, adjust it until it looks right from the house, then measure the hosepipe rather than the straight line behind it. And for a gap too small to take another whole metre, do not stretch the scheme to fill it: a single clipped specimen from the topiary collection closes a short gap far better than thinned-out planting, and matches the anchors already in the run.

How is it spaced and planted, and what happens afterwards?

The spacing inside the metre comes drawn on the plan, so there is nothing to work out: clear the bed of perennial weeds, fork over the full 0.6m band with compost rather than digging individual holes, then set the evergreen anchor first — it fixes the rhythm of the whole run — and stand the rest out in their pots to the plan before anything goes in the ground. Most people plant a metre in under an hour. Afterwards: soak deeply once or twice a week through the first summer rather than sprinkling daily, cut the perennials and grasses to the ground in one pass in late winter, and give the anchors one or two short trims a year. That is the entire calendar. The step-by-step method is in our planting guide.

How does a border scheme get delivered?

Kerbside, on its own pallet, by a specialist plant haulier, UK-wide. The plants travel upright and are never boxed, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there when he arrives. Allow 14–21 working days from order — your scheme is being selected, photographed and documented in that window, and you get 24 hours to review the photographs before the pallet is built. Because delivery is to the kerb, work out the carry before the lorry lands: a five-metre scheme is forty to fifty pots, and the taller anchors are two-handed. Full terms are at delivery & returns.

What happens if a plant fails in the first six months?

Tell us early. The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee works plant by plant, which is what a multi-plant scheme needs: if an individual plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's own single price — half what that one plant costs on its own, anchor or perennial. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk with the subject “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]” and eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours. If a whole stretch fails together rather than one plant here and there, say so — that usually points at the ground rather than the stock, and replacing plant for plant would only repeat it. That is 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

Measured once.Planted in an afternoon.

Ten schemes, each one worked out to the plant — so the only decision left to you is how long the bed is.

Structure in every metre

A clipped evergreen anchor in every module — the border still reads in January.

Backed plant by plant

The 6-month Thrive Guarantee covers each plant in the scheme through establishment.

Growers for life

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