espalier
- noun
- /ɛˈspæljər/
- Specialized
Examples
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Pear trees grow in ladders through the art of espalier, which prunes and trains a tree to grow against a flat surface rather than spread its unruly branches in three-dimensional space.
Fiction book (1993) -
An espalier is a great way to save space in your garden by training fruit trees to grow flat against a wall.
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The gardener installed a wooden framework for the espalier, where he could grow his apple tree in a decorative manner.
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For beautiful results, an espalier can be shaped into intricate designs that enhance the appearance of outdoor spaces.
Synonyms
A wooden or metal frame of crossed strips that supports climbing plants like roses
A way to support climbing plants by training them to grow on a frame
Surface Forms
Etymology
Espalier comes from French and originally meant something put 'against the wall', like a support for plants. So an espalier is a frame or trellis used to train a tree or shrub to grow flat along a wall.