Describing a tree or shrub that has been trained and pruned to grow flat against a wall or frame in a decorative pattern.
From French espalier (a framework), which comes from Italian spalliera meaning 'something to lean against,' from spalla (shoulder). The technique was developed for growing fruit trees against castle walls in medieval times.
Medieval gardeners created espaliers to maximize fruit harvests in small castle gardens and create stunning ornamental walls—it's literally three-dimensional gardening that turns plants into living art!
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