What is a standard shrub?

It is a shrub trained on a single clear trunk topped with a rounded head, giving it the look of a small tree.

Can you grow a standard shrub in a pot?

Yes, choose a pot wider than the root ball (Ø30 to 40 cm), stable and well drained.

What exposure does a standard shrub need?

Most prefer sun or bright part shade; check each variety's needs on its product page.

Should you keep the stake on a standard shrub?

Yes, for the first few years, checking regularly that the tie is not cutting into the trunk.

How often should you water a standard shrub in a pot?

As soon as the surface of the compost dries out, and more often in summer as pots dry out quickly.

Are standard shrubs winter hardy?

Most are hardy; in pots, protect the roots with horticultural fleece and raise the pot off the ground during hard frosts.

Which standard shrubs keep their leaves in winter?

Bay, cherry laurel, photinia, holly, euonymus, eucalyptus and rosemary are evergreen.

Which standard shrubs flower?

Hibiscus, magnolia, flowering cherry, dwarf lilac and ceanothus all flower beautifully.

Standard shrubs — small trees in pots for balconies and terraces

Q: How do you prune a standard shrub?

Trim the head once or twice a year to keep a dense ball and remove any shoots that appear on the trunk.

Trained on a single trunk topped with a rounded head, standard shrubs look like small trees while staying compact. Hibiscus, magnolias, bay, photinias, euonymus or figs: they bring height and an elegant silhouette to a balcony or terrace without taking up floor space.

A standard shrub is a shrub trained on a single clear trunk topped with a rounded or ball-shaped head. This small-tree form adds height and elegance without taking up floor space: the base stays free for low plants, and the silhouette gives structure to a balcony, frames a French window or sets the rhythm of a terrace. Mostly delivered at H90 cm in a Ø19 cm pot, our standard shrubs can be planted straight into a large pot or planter.

Flowering standards

For spectacular flowers at eye level, Hibiscus syriacus (Blue Chiffon®, Lavender Chiffon®, Magenta Chiffon®, Starburst Chiffon®, White Chiffon® and Tricolour) is covered in large blooms from July to October; find the full range in the Hibiscus syriacus — Rose of Sharon collection. In spring, Magnolia stellata and Magnolia 'Susan' open their white or purple flowers before the leaves, Prunus incisa 'Koujou-no-mai' is smothered in pinkish-white blossom on zigzag branches, dwarf lilac 'Palibin' fills the air with its mauve clusters, and Ceanothus 'Victoria' and 'Repens' turn an intense blue.

Evergreens for year-round structure

For greenery even in winter, choose bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), cherry laurel 'Etna' with bronze young shoots, Delavay privet with fine foliage that can be clipped like box, or blue holly 'Blue Maid'. Photinia 'Carré Rouge' and 'Little Red Robin' add bright red shoots in spring, while the euonymus 'Emerald Gaiety', 'Harlequin' and 'Emerald 'n' Gold' brighten the terrace with white or golden variegated foliage. Hardy, they are among the most useful cold and frost hardy plants for containers.

Coloured foliage and a Mediterranean feel

The 'Flamingo' willow (Salix integra) forms a light ball of pink, cream and green young leaves. Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' brings rounded, fragrant silver-blue foliage. The standard rosemaries, including the trailing 'Prostratus', and bay laurel are both decorative and useful in the kitchen, perfect in an urban Mediterranean garden or alongside aromatic herbs.

Standard fig trees

Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey', a hardy and productive fig, and the compact 'Little Miss Figgy' offer a small fruit tree suited to a balcony: large lobed leaves and sweet figs in late summer. All varieties are gathered in the Ficus carica collection.

Position and care

Most standard shrubs like sun or bright part shade and belong among plants for a sunny balcony. In a pot, choose a container wider than the root ball (Ø30 to 40 cm), heavy or weighted to withstand wind, and a free-draining compost. Water as soon as the surface dries: in a pot, compost dries out faster than in the ground, especially in summer. Keep the stake for the first few years and check the tie regularly. Trim the head once or twice a year to keep a dense ball, and remove any shoots that appear along the trunk or at its base.

Precautions

Some species in this selection, such as cherry laurel, euonymus, holly and privet, are toxic if the leaves or berries are eaten. Keep them out of reach of young children and pets, and do not confuse cherry laurel with bay laurel, the only one suitable for cooking.

Decorating with standard shrubs

Placed in pairs on either side of a French window, lined up along a railing or standing alone at the heart of an arrangement, standard shrubs instantly give an outdoor space a structured, polished look. Underplant them with low perennials, bulbs or trailing plants to dress the pot. Combine them with mini shrubs and urban perennials to design a balcony that looks elegant all year round.