Espaliered pear tree in the garden of the Cloisters in upper Manhattan

Espalier is the horticultural technique of training trees through pruning and grafting in order to create formal "two-dimensional" or single plane patterns by the branches of the tree. The technique was popular in the Middle Ages in Europe to decorate solid walls by such trees planted near them, although evidence exists suggesting that the technique dates back much farther, perhaps even to ancient Egypt. The word espalier initially referred to the actual trellis on which the plant was trained to grow, but over time has come to be used to describe the technique. Espaliered pear tree, in the garden of the Cloisters in upper Manhattan. ... Espaliered pear tree, in the garden of the Cloisters in upper Manhattan. ... Species About 30 species; see text Pears are trees of the genus Pyrus and the juicy fruit of that tree, edible in some species. ... The Cloisters as seen from the Hudson River The Cloisters is one of the museums of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. ... The Borough of Manhattan, highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ... The Latin words hortus (garden plant) and cultura (culture) together form horticulture, classically defined as the culture or growing of garden plants. ... Grafted apple tree Grafting is a method of plant propagation widely used in horticulture, where the tissues of one plant are encouraged to fuse with those of another. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ...

Free-standing espaliered fruit tree at Standen, West Sussex, England May 2006

An espalier collects almost as much sunlight as a regular tree, yet has far less mass. This makes them ideal not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. They may also be planted next to a wall, which can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight, or be planted so that they are facing south and absorb maximum sunlight. These two facts allow an espalier to succeed in cooler climates, where a non-espaliered tree of the same variety would fail. They also mature fruit more quickly. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1203 KB) Espalier fruit tree at Standen, West Sussex, England May 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1203 KB) Espalier fruit tree at Standen, West Sussex, England May 2006. ... Standen is a house in West Sussex, near East Grinstead. ... West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... It has been suggested that solar radiation be merged into this article or section. ...

Certain types of trees adapt better to this technique than others, although any fruit tree will theoretically work. The branches of the plant must be long and flexible. Examples of trees that take well to espalier are the Ficus carica, or fig tree, Malus (apples), and Pyrus (pears). Binomial name Ficus carica L. The Common Fig (Ficus carica) is a large shrub or small tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean region (Greece east to Afghanistan). ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese... Species Malus angustifolia - Southern Crab Malus baccata - Siberian Crabapple Malus bracteata Malus brevipes Malus coronaria - Sweet Crabapple Malus domestica - Apple Malus florentina Malus floribunda - Japanese Crabapple Malus formosana Malus fusca - Oregon Crab, Pacific Crab Malus glabrata Malus glaucescens Malus halliana Malus honanensis Malus hupehensis - Chinese Crabapple Malus ioensis - Prairie Crab... Binomial name Malus domestica Borkh. ... Species Pyrus calleryana P. pyrifolia et al Pears are trees of the genus Pyrus and the edible fruit of that tree. ...

There are several types of espalier, including horizontal (branches grow horizontally out of one central trunk), palmette (branches grow in a fan shaped pattern), and cordon (the tree resembles a menorah). A Belgian fence is a form of espaliering that weaves a string of espaliers into a fence. There is also the Baldassari Palmette, lepage espalier, verrier candelabra, U double, and drapeau marchand. A coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus, c. ... In computer science, weaving describes the process of combining different aspects into a complete application. ...

External links

• Espalier: North Carolina State University