Espalier - Gallery

Espalier - Living Art

An "espalier," (pronounced "es-PAL-yer") is any plant trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall, fence, or trellis. The word espalier also may be used to describe the technique of training a plant to this flat plane. A French word, espalier is derived from the Italian spalliera, which means "something to rest the shoulder (spalla) against." The Romans originated the technique, but later generations of Europeans refined it into an exacting but rewarding art.

Espalier has considerable merit in today´s garden. The practice originated in the old world to conserve space. The English located espaliered fruit trees against a wall with a southern exposure for cold protection. An espalier is a living sculpture especially effective against a blank wall and a natural choice for a narrow area where spreading shrubs or trees are difficult to maintain.

Source:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG273 accessed on 28/8/2008
Red and white climbing roses in North Fremantle
A Belgian Fence. These evergreen fruit trees are trained at 45 degree angles that in time will overlap each other to create a fruit producing privacy screen.
Steel poles with stainless steel wires forms a 2.4 meter high espalier frame for this orange flowering vine. This rear wall was originally .9 meter high and overlooked the neighbours rear yard.
Peach tree in White Gum Valley - Espaliered fruit trees produce more fruit due to increased air circulation and improved exposure to sunlight. Another bonus is the easy reach - eat your fruit live from the tree.
Weeping Wisteria in Mosman Park - Double horizontal cordon style selected to create a purple waterfall effect in due course
Peach tree in flower
Shade sail - espalier combo. This clever client used the shade sail poles to provide a sturdy frame for the stainless steel cables to form an espalier works in Samson Street Mosman Park
Tree line driveway taking shape
An evergreen Mandarin Tree with a privacy screen behind. This Mandarin is in coming into its third summer. The Denim colour privacy screen shields the neighbours´ view into the adjoining home.
Greenline system in South Fremantle