Standard plants, otherwise known as ‘balls on sticks’, are not hard to train. Standards make great container plants and are usually expensive to buy, but it is very easy to create your own. Some standards are grafted but this is not necessary for many plants.
Plants that are easy to standardise include bay, fuchsias, rosemary, Marguerite daisies, potato vine, azaleas, duranta, lavender, citrus, lilly pillies, box and hydrangeas.
Easy standard
- Start with a plant that has a single, straight stem and plenty of growth at the top. Don used Duranta ‘Geisha Girl’. A stake is useful in supporting the stem.
- Pinch out the growing tip at the top of the plant and the growing tips from any side branches of the ‘mop top’ to be. This will encourage more bushy growth.
- Remove any branches that may be growing up the stem.
- Rub off any growth growing up the stem to the height where you want to create the mop top. (Tip: take care not to tear the bark.)
- When the mop head of the standard is eventually bushy enough, clip it back to form a ball or allow it to take a natural umbrella-like shape. Plants with a weeping habit like Duranta ‘Geisha Girl’ do not need to be clipped as tightly. Clip when flowers have finished.
- To maintain the look simply cut off any shoots growing from the trunk or at ground level and clip the mop head as required.
Plant details
Duranta ‘Geisha Girl’ will reach around 1.5 – 2 metres tall, with a graceful, weeping habit. From spring to autumn it produces deep blue flowers with white centres and wavy borders. It grows best in a sunny position. Prune and fertilise after flowering.
Getting started
Look for Duranta ‘Geisha Girl’ at your local nursery. Expect to pay around $16 for a 200mm (8″) pot.
