{"product_id":"cephalotaxus-harringtonia-fastigiata-ball-japanese-plum-yew","title":"Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' Ball – Japanese Plum Yew","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCephalotaxus harringtonia\u003c\/em\u003e 'Fastigiata' Ball is a pre-clipped formal topiary ball of the Japanese Plum Yew, ready to place. The dark green needle-like foliage is dense and fine-textured, holds a clean rounded edge, and stays looking the same in every season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat sets this apart from most topiary balls is shade tolerance. Buxus, Camellia and Bay balls all want reasonable light. Cephalotaxus is an understorey plant and will hold form and colour in part shade, and even under an established tree canopy where other clipped forms thin out and go patchy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is slow growing, which is exactly why it holds its shape between trims. Two light clips a year is enough. It is very frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, and handles a wide range of soils provided drainage is adequate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse it in shaded courtyards, beneath canopy trees, on the dark side of a building, or paired at an entry that does not get direct sun. It is one of the few genuinely formal options for those positions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin:44px 0 16px;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:1.5px;margin:0 0 8px;padding-top:32px;border-top:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);text-transform:uppercase;color:currentColor;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 24px;color:currentColor;opacity:0.65;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;\"\u003eAbout Cephalotaxus 'Fastigiata' Ball\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhat is Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata'?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eCephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' is a cultivar of the Japanese Plum Yew, native to Japan and China. It is a slow-growing evergreen with dark green needle-like foliage. Grown naturally it forms an upright column, and trained as topiary it makes a dense formal ball.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWill it grow in shade?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eYes, and this is the main reason to choose it. Cephalotaxus is an understorey plant and holds form and colour in part to full shade, including under established tree canopies. Most topiary subjects such as Buxus, Camellia and Bay thin out and go patchy in those positions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eHow often does it need clipping?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eTwo light clips a year, in spring and again in late summer. The growth rate is slow, so it holds shape well between trims. Avoid cutting hard into bare old wood, which reshoots slowly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eIs it frost hardy?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eYes. Cephalotaxus is one of the most cold-hardy evergreens available and handles heavy and frequent frost without damage. It suits inland tablelands and cool districts as well as temperate coastal areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eHow is it different from a Buxus ball?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eFoliage and shade tolerance. Buxus has small rounded leaves and gives a tighter, finer surface, but wants reasonable light. Cephalotaxus has longer needle-like foliage giving a softer texture, and performs in shade where Buxus struggles. It is also not susceptible to box blight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eWhere does it grow best in Australia?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eCool to temperate districts including Melbourne, Adelaide, the tablelands, Gippsland, cool coastal NSW and Tasmania. It handles a wide range of soils provided drainage is adequate. Avoid tropical Queensland and hot dry inland positions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-bottom:1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25);padding:18px 0;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;line-height:1.4;padding-right:12px;font-size:16px;color:currentColor;\"\u003eHow do I care for it?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:14px 0 0;line-height:1.7;color:currentColor;opacity:0.85;\"\u003eWater deeply through the first growing season, then only during extended dry periods. Apply a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Clip twice a year to hold the ball. Mulch annually, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Evergreen Trees Direct","offers":[{"title":"110L","offer_id":47068461072583,"sku":"CEPHARFASBAL110L","price":2170.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.evergreentrees.com.au\/products\/cephalotaxus-harringtonia-fastigiata-ball-japanese-plum-yew","provider":"Evergreen Trees Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}