• Topiaries come in all shapes and sizes.front lawn image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
  
  Topiaries are manipulated shapes and forms made out of plants. Shapes include animals like those found in formal gardens and theme parks; as well as geometric shapes such as circles and squares. The best plants for topiaries have small leaves and grow quickly. Prune the topiary into shape, or in the case of animals use a clip-together wire frame over the plant for it to grow through. The standard topiary is a ball of greenery or flowers on top of a tall straight stem.
  
  

Ivy

• Train small-leaved ivies, rather than large-leaved, through wire forms to become animal-shaped tabletop topiaries. Ivy takes the shape of standards, wreaths and heart shapes as well. Colors include dark and light green, variegated with yellow and white. Keep in bright light inside or the shade outside.
  
  

Miniature roses

• The flowers are about the size of a quarter and grow on bushes up to 3-feet high. Training miniature roses to become standard topiaries takes time and patience. Select a bush that has fewer tall stems rather than one that has many shorter stems. Trim the strongest tall stems, removing any branches below 12-inches. Braid the tall stems around a stake. Eventually the rose will throw out new growth at the top. When it does, trim it into a spherical shape. Roses need at least eight hours of sunlight to thrive.
  
  

Rosemary

• The small needle-shaped leaves and tiny blue blossoms make rosemary plants an ideal candidate for topiaries. They are often trimmed in the shape of a cone and sold during the holidays as a miniature Christmas tree. Rosemary either grows in a sprawling habit or upright. Choose the upright variety. Use rosemary trimmings in stews, soups and salads. The flowers are edible as well.
  
  

Dwarf Junipers

• Junipers are evergreen conifers. The needles are small. Depending on the variety the bush will grow up to 5-feet tall. Dwarf junipers grow small and compact. Select a juniper that has strong central trunk. Trim it into three spheres equidistant apart on the trunk. Leave a few inches between each sphere. Trimming a juniper into a spiral is more of a challenge. Spider mites are a common pest with junipers. Look for webbing and some browning of the needles. Spray with soapy water, let set a few minutes and then rinse well.
  
  

Coleus

• Coleus is known for its brightly colored leaves in shades of green, chartreuse, pinks, purple, yellow, maroon, red and white. The leaves are patterned and edged and often include several colors. They prefer the shade but some varieties grow well in the sunlight if afternoon shade is provided. Trim the coleus into a standard on one strong central stem or select three stems and braid them together. Hold the stems together with twistees or soft cotton twine.