Espalier is a technique used to train plants flat against a vertical surface. It is an excellent space saving technique for those with small gardens.
Description: Espaliered plants make ideal privacy screens, narrow hedges along a driveway or potted specimens. Espalier is a type of pruning developed in France to expose fruit trees growing on a wall to expose them to sunshine and produce more fruit. However this technique has been used successfully with many other plants including citrus, olives and ornamental flowering shrubs such as camellias. We don't have a shortage of sun in Australia but the pruning technique can be adapted to create perfect screens in the garden or in pots. Great for screening a fence and not wasting space.
Planting Advice: Install wires on the fence line or wall, wires should be every 20cm high. Train the branches horizontally across wires or lattice attaching them with twisty ties or 'c' shaped clips. Prune any branches coming out towards the back or front off completely at the main trunk.
Position: When espaliering a camellia remember to choose Camellia sasanqua for full sun and Camellia japonica in shade. Darker coloured C. japonica such as deep pinks and reds will take more sun than lighter coloured varieties. Sasanqua flowers in autumn, while japonica camellias flower later into winter.
Best camellia to espalier are camellias with long whippy branches that can be trained flat against a wall and horizontal. Camellia sasanqua 'Bonanza' - red flowers Camellia sasanqua 'Mine no yuki' - white flowers, name means Snow on the mountain (pictured) Camellia ''Debbie - pink (pictured)
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