What is an Espalier?

Espalier is the horticultural technique of training trees through pruning and grafting in order to create formal "two-dimensional" or single plane patterns by the branches of the tree. The technique was popular in the Middle Ages in Europe to decorate solid walls by such trees planted near them, although evidence exists suggesting that the technique dates back much farther, perhaps even to ancient Egypt. The word espalier initially referred to the actual trellis on which the plant was trained to grow, but over time has come to be used to describe the technique. An espalier collects almost as much sunlight as a regular tree, yet has far less mass. This makes them ideal not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. They may also be planted next to a wall, which can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight, or be planted so that they are facing south and absorb maximum sunlight. These two facts allow an espalier to succeed in cooler climates, ...  more

It is any tree or shrub pruned and formed (trained) to an unnatural but aesthetically pleasing form. An espalier can be free-standing or trained against a wall (the French would say paliss). Espalier differs from topiary in that in espalier forms the skeleton of the tree, while topiary only forms the silhouette by pruning alone. Espalier is traditionally practiced for fruit trees, although some ornamental species, such as magnolia and witchhazel, can adapt to the practice as well. While I am no fan of foundation shrubs pruned into restricted gumdrops, I find espaliered plants as graceful as those shorn-off yews are clumsy. Espaliers can take scores, even hundreds, of different forms that adapt them to different aesthetic and functional purposes. But not only that, the practice of espalier has numerous benefits for the fruit tree. Benefits of espalier. First of all, espaliers save space. An espaliered fruit tree provides loads of fruit in a fraction of the volume of a natural tree. In ...  more

The art of espalier gardening began in the 16th century. The need for growing fruit within marginal spaces became necessary, giving the French the idea to promote various growth patterns with their trees. The trees were grown along a specific fence or wall, providing thicker shelters and radiating heat for those who lived inside. They were also used to grow fruit on the inside of castle walls. The word, espalier, originally pertained to the frame on which the tree was planted against. However, now it is often referred to the training of the plant's growth and the type of plant itself. Espalier plants were used as a form of insulation and to provide food hundreds of years ago. Now they are more commonly used as a decorative feature in a person's landscape. Before growing and cultivating any espalier tree, you need to take into consideration the size of the tree you wish to grow compared to the space you have. Growing espalier trees take time and patience, and a person should start out ...  more