Plants with a Slender or Columnar (fastigiate) Growth Habit

PLANTING SOLUTIONS

Plants with a Slender or Columnar (fastigiate) Growth Habit

Narrow spaces in the garden require slender plants that won’t impede cars or pedestrians. Some plants grow naturally in this manner whilst others may need a little coaxing and pruning to keep them in shape.

 

These are a few of the better known fastigiate (tall and slender) plants available for Kwazulu Natal gardens. Their botanical name is listed first with common names in (brackets).

Download Plant List

Shrubs & Climbers

(Medium to Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns  

  • Dracaena aletriformis
    (large-leaved dragon tree) (E) (I)
  • Dracaena reflexa
    (small-leaved dragon tree or pleomele) (E)
  • Euphorbia milii ‘Hybrid’
    (large Christ thorn) (D)
  • Euphorbia trigona
    (African milk tree) (D)
  • Ilex crenata
    (Japanese holly) (E)
  • Ilex dimorphophylla ‘Hollywood’
    (holly) (E)
  • Juniperus chinensis ‘Kaizuka’
    (Hollywood juniper) (E)
  • Juniperus communis ‘Hibernica’
    (Irish juniper) (E)
  • Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’
    (pencil juniper) (E)
  • Nandina domestica
    (Japanese sacred bamboo) (ED)
  • Platycladus orientalis ‘Golden Rocket’
    (golden arborvitae) (E)
  • Syzygium paniculatum
    (Australian brush cherry) (E)

Trees

(Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns  

  • Betula pendula
    (silver birch) (D)
  • Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Gold Crest’
    (Monterey cypress) (E)
  • Cupressus sempervirens ‘Stricta’
    (cemetery cypress) (E)
  • Cupressus sempervirens ‘Swane’s Gold’
    (golden pencil cypress) (E)
  • Polyalthia longifolia
    (false ashoka tree or Indian mast tree) (E)
  • Populus simonii ‘Fastigiata’
    (Simon’s poplar) (D)
  • Prunus serrulata ‘Amanogawa’
    (upright flowering cherry) (D)
  • Salix mexicana ‘Stricta’
    (Mexican willow) (E)

Disclaimer:

Whilst every care and caution has been taken in compiling these lists in terms of correctness and accuracy, Blackwood’s, nor any of their employees can be held liable or responsible if any of the recommendations are found to be incorrect in any way whatsoever. They are merely a guide to help gardeners and staff in finding solutions to gardening problems. All plants listed may not be available for sale at times. They do however all grow in the greater KwaZulu-Natal area and are to be found growing successfully in local gardens.