Obelisks can provide support for everything from climbing roses to sweet peas, but which are the best obelisks for your garden?
Author
:
Sue Bradley
Published Date:
14 April 2024
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The ancient Egyptians were the first to use obelisks, carving four-sided tapering structures in stone and placing them at the entrances of their temples, and the idea later caught the imagination of the Romans and went on to spread across their empire.
Centuries later, the French landscape gardener André Le Nȏtre popularised the use of these architectural forms in gardens throughout Europe after he included them in his designs for Versailles during the 1600s.
Used on their own, or as a support for climbing plants, obelisks add a vertical element to gardens, serving as attractive year-round focal points.
They can be placed in beds and borders or in formal knot gardens or employed to provide architectural interest to the end of paths or avenues. Sometimes four are used to mark the corners of a small space, such as a vegetable garden or a courtyard, or they’re erected in pairs to reinforce an entrance.
Depending on the strength and nature of the materials used to make them, most obelisks can provide support for everything from climbing roses and clematis to sweet peas.
Choose between stone, steel or wooden structures, or, for a cottage garden look, seek out willow versions. Many metal obelisks are topped with decorative ornamental finials.
For maximum stability, and unless an obelisk is made from stone, look for structures with legs designed to be inserted into the ground.
Tall Cone
* Ornamental and practical
* Hard-wearing
An eye-catching ball tops the rusted iron cones range from Leander Plant Supports. These strong 2m (6ft 5in)-high obelisks look great in every setting, whether covered in plants or not. The tall cone is made from 10mm (0.39ins) metal rods and are 60cm (24in) at the base.
RRP£187.50
Available from Leander Plant Supports
Priory obelisk
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* Simple design
* Sturdy
This British-made obelisk is created from heavy duty solid steed rod with a decorative finial. It’s supplied unpainted so the steel will quickly rust when placed outside to give a vintage finish, or it can be painted as desired. It measures 140cm (4ft 6in) in height and has a diameter of 27cm (11in).
Marberry Obelisk Planter
* Obelisk with integrated planter
* Made with FSC®-certified wood
The robust Marberry Obelisk Planter from Rowlinson is perfect for growing climbing plants on patios and around the house. It is 171cm (5ft 6in) tall and has a depth of 50cm (1ft 6in). Both the obelisk and planter are made from FSC ®-certified softwood that’s pressure treated against rot. The planter has a free-draining fabric liner. This obelisk planter is easy to assemble.
RRP£159
Available from Marshalls Garden
Willow Spiral Obelisk
* Rustic look
* Made from biodegradable materials
For a cottage garden look, seek out an attractive obelisk made from willow. The Willow Spiral Obelisk by Gardenesque is decorative and a great option for supporting sweet peas and other climbers. Choose between a medium obelisk measuring 120cm (3ft 9in), or a large one at 150cm (4ft 9in).
RRP£69.99
Available from Gardenesque
Spiral Willow Garden Obelisks
* Sold as a pair
* Larger versions available
Rustic-looking willow obelisks are sold in pairs by Garden Selections Ltd via B&Q’s online store. They are 120cm (3ft 9in) tall and have spiked feet so that they can placed firmly in the ground. Woven from compostable willow, they arrive ready-assembled. Along with the 120cm tall willow obelisks, a 150cm (4ft 9in) is available. These are perfect for sweet peas and other cottage garden favourites.
RRP£29.99
Available from B&Q
Charlbury obelisk plant support
Garden Trading’s Charlbury Obelisk Plant Supports boast elegant lines with a pointed top. Perfect for climbing plants, it is both a functional and decorative outdoor feature.
Elegance Queen Obelisk
* Available in several colours/finishes
* Durable solid steel
Attractive and sturdy, the Elegance Queen Obelisk strikes an impressive feature within a border, with its distinctive round finial enabling it to stand out amid a covering of foliage. Crafted from galvanised solid steel in UK workshops and standing at 1.6m (5ft 2in) before installation, it’s available in matt black, sage green and bluebell hues, with UV resistant coating to offer protection against fading, and a rustic rust finish too. The legs of this obelisk are designed to be inserted 20cm (8 in) into the ground.
RRP£139
Available from Agriframes
Fleur de lys obelisk
* Attractive design
* Exceptionally sturdy
Handsome looks ensure this exceptionally sturdy, spiral obelisk enhances the garden all year round. It is handmade in the UK from heavy-duty steel with welded joints and left unpainted to produce an attractive vintage rust-effect finish. It is topped with a decorative fleur de lys finial and comes in one piece. Other finishes available are weatherproof grey or sage green, with a pvc coating, with a 1.2m obelisk for £32.99, and black, with a 1.3m obelisk for £31.99 and 2.1m for £64.99. The black obelisk is supplied in two sections.
RRP£25.99
Available from Crocus
Coronation Obelisk
* Commemorative garden feature
* Durable solid steel
Crown memories of the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla with this regal obelisk. It has been from durable solid steel wirework to stand the test of time and given a UV resistant ‘Heritage Gold’ coating that will gleam for years to come. Enjoy as a standalone statement piece or a support for climbers. This obelisk is a limited edition piece. It is 130cm (4ft 3in) tall above the ground. No assembly is required.
RRP£170
Available from Agriframes
The Obelisk from The Carved Stone Garden Collection
* Hand carved from natural limestone
* Large version available
This ball-topped square form obelisk sits on four spheres above a panelled square base. It is hand carved from natural limestone and measures 186cm (73.23in) tall and 36cm (14.17in) wide. It’s part of the Carved Stone Garden Seating Collection by Heritage Garden Collections. A larger version measuring 249cm (98.03in) and 46cm (18.11in) wide is also available, priced £3,600 plus VAT.
RRP£2,600
Available from Heritage Handmade Garden Collections
RHS Prestige Traditional Obelisk
* Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society
* Available as natural wood or 11 paint finishes
The Traditional Cross Detail Wooden Obelisk from the RHS Prestige range is available in Western Red Cedar, Iroko or Thermowood, which can be left natural or finished in one of 11 colours using a durable European exterior paint. It’s available in two sizes, 1550mm (5ft) and 1885mm (just over 6ft) high. The obelisk arrives flat-packed for simple home assembly using a ‘button fixing’ design. The timber is guaranteed for 15 years. Garden Trellis was established in 1992.
RRP£438
Available from Garden Trellis
Climbing Tower
* Unusual design for architectural interest
* Hard-wearing
Whether clad in climbers or left bare to provide architectural interest, the climbing tower is a stylish globe sitting on a column and topped with a decorative finial. Made from rusted iron, it’s strong enough to support climbing roses. The climbing tower stands at 180cm (6ft) and the globe has a diameter of 65cm (26in).
RRP£189.50
Available from Leander Plant Supports
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Tall Lobster Pot
* Useful for protecting plants over winter
* Architectural
Lobster pots can be used for climbing roses and sweet peas as well as for containing large perennials. Made from rusted iron, they are useful for protecting more tender plants over the winter months as straw, bracken or other insulating material can be stuffed inside them, and they look good bare too. The tall lobster pot is 175cm (69in) tall and have a diameter of 80cm (32in).
RRP£172.50
Available from Leander Plant Supports
