How to Espalier Trees: What You Need to Know (And 5 Trees Perfect For This Technique)

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Published on 06/25/24

Espaliered Pear Tree on Brick Wall

Espalier is a distinct, decorative, gardening art form introduced in ancient Rome as a technique for controlling the woody growth of a plant specifically to grow fruit in small gardens, usually against a wall or fence, or along a trellis.

Espalier creates a two-dimensional plant in height and width and designs range from simple to complicated patterns that involve extensive pruning and weaving.

Here we'll look at a simple design to give you an idea of what's involved in espalier and how to master it.

espalier trained apple tree

What Is Espalier?

Espalier is not a practice suited to low-maintenance landscapes and usually just one design is used in a garden. Plenty of traditional espalier patterns exist from the most basic to labor-intensive forms that take a long time to establish. Simpler designs can take form in three to four years.

Here are a few examples of popular design patterns.

Cordon: This is the easiest and most traditional form based on a single trunk with branches trained to grow horizontally. Branches can be trained into a single tier or multiple tiers of three to five sets of ascending horizontal growth. Cordon is used to form living fences and to increase yields in small orchards.
Palmetto Verrier: This form starts with a single trunk with horizontal branches trained into a U-shape at their ends.
Fan: Branches of a single central trunk are trained out to a 45-degree angle in a fan pattern.
Candelabra: Branches are trained to grow vertically from a low horizontal branch at evenly spaced intervals to form a candelabra shape.
Belgian Fence: Weaving together three or more V-shaped espaliers create a latticed fence with trees on either end using a modified V for a completed look.

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espalier trained tree

How to Espalier Trees

The easiest trees to espalier are fruit trees. Dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties work best in small spaces and you'll want a variety that bears fruit on spurs for the biggest yield. Here's how to espalier a tree in a basic pattern:

Find the pattern you like or draw one on paper to fit the available space.
Use the pattern to establish a set of supports for training the branches.
Place rust-proof eye hooks, masonry, or galvanized nails evenly spaced in the wall your espalier will grow on or you can attach a lattice or bar-type trellis to the wall.
If you are using eye hooks or nails, string thin galvanized or copper wire between all hardware linking it above, below, and to either side.
Plant your tree 6 to 8 inches in front of your structure and give it time to establish and produce some new growth. One to two-year-old trees are the most pliable and easiest to bend to shape.
Start by removing all branches that do not fit your design pattern and gently attach the remaining branches to the appropriate wire using garden or twist ties.
As the branches develop continue to attach them in intervals to create your pattern.
At the same time prune off branches and twigs that don't fit the pattern.
Remove developing fruit until year seven of growth to promote vigorous branching.
Summer is a good time to prune while your form is still taking shape. Before the first fruit-bearing in year eight, prune in late winter or early spring.

5 Best Trees to Espalier

The best trees to espalier have long, flexible branches with ornamental flowers or fruits. Fruit trees, like apple and pear, that are self-fertile with vigorous, rapid growth and disease resistance are practical.

Flowering trees and shrubs along with woody vines join fruit trees as good candidates for espalier. Select a plant that is well-suited to your climate and hardy in your USDA growing zone.

Cherry

chinese garden with cherry tree

Cherry trees, (Prunus cerasus), work best espaliered in a fan pattern. Choose a sour cherry variety rather than a sweet cherry. Sour cherries are less demanding with a greater yield. Sour cherries, also sold as tart cherries, thrive in USDA growing zones 4 to 8.

Fig

Organic fig tree with large lobed leaves on thin stems and small figs hanging

Fig trees, (Ficus carica), feature flexible branches easily pruned and trained into espalier design. Almost any variety works, however ones with rapid growth mean less work and an earlier harvest. Most figs are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10. Espaliered fig trees receive extra winter protection when grown against a south-facing wall.

Crabapple

Flowering crab apple trees.

Sargent crabapple, (Malus sargentii), is a dwarf variety that can be espaliered into a beautiful living fence. Crabapples offer year-round interest with fragrant spring blooms followed by berries that last through winter. This variety is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7.

Magnolia

Betty magnolia tree in bloom, with pink flowers.

Magnolia trees, (Magnolia spp.), grow rapidly and and are good candidates for ornamental espalier. They produce large, often fragrant blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple, and many have attractive waxy leaves. Magnolias thrive in USDA growing zone 5 to 9.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel shrub with long twisted branches with yellow spidery blooms

Native to North America, Witch Hazel, (Hamamelis), has been hybridized with bigger blooms in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Considered a large shrub, it can also be trained into a tree shape and adds early color to the landscape when espaliered. This flowering ornamental blooms as early as February. The showier types are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8.

What is the difference between espalier and trellis?

Both are used to help manage plant growth however espalier has more potential for decorative design. A trellis can be used to espalier a plant, however trellising alone is used more for support than for training a plant into a distinct pattern.

Do espalier trees have more fruit?

Once the espalier form has developed a mature shape, fruit yields are higher in comparable smaller spaces and many types continue to produce for dozens of years.

Do espalier trees need full sun?

It depends on tree variety however light reflected back from a white wall can also give trees the exposure required in a partly shaded location.

Article Sources

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Espalier. Wisconsin Horticulture, Division of Extension

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