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The Shape Garden


This garden includes plants that can grow naturally in a specific shape or be trimmed to create one. Shapes in this garden include columns, circles, squares, pyramids, and more. A prominent plant is the dwarf yaupon (llex vomitoria nana). As the Latin name suggests, this native plant has toxic berries, though birds can eat them with no ill effects. Native Americans also used various parts of the plant for medicinal purposes – a tea made with the leaves has an extremely high caffeine content. When planted spaciously and left alone, the dwarf yaupon will form nicely rounded masses that can be pruned into perfect spheres.