The Southern Highlands guide to Home & Garden

Southern Highlands Menu
Home / New South Wales / Southern Highlands / The Guide / Home & Garden / BEHIND THE BIZ // Colo Topiary Farm

BEHIND THE BIZ // Colo Topiary Farm

Meet Max, the man behind Colo Topiary Farm’s picture-perfect plants.

SHARE

We’re suckers for a bit of topiary.

There’s just something about those clean lines, classic shapes and year-round greenery that gives us major garden envy.

That’s why we were pretty excited to meet Max. He’s the friendly local growing beautiful box topiary, perfect for gardens big and small, right here in the Highlands.

We sat down with Max, the owner of Colo Topiary Farm, to chat about how he swapped the chef’s apron for secateurs and started growing topiary from scratch.

1 ::Hi, Max! Tell us how Colo Topiary Farm started?

I’ve always been a gardener and loved growing topiary on a small scale, but it was more of a hobby for years. Before this, I was a restaurateur for around 40 years!

Eventually, I decided to hang up the apron, but I wasn’t ready to retire. I thought about what I really enjoyed, and the topiary kept coming up. So I made the decision to become a topiarist.

I spent a lot of time learning first, including a two-year horticulture course at TAFE. Then, about ten years ago, I planted 3,000 plants, and that’s how Colo Topiary Farm got started.

2 :: Wow…3,000 plants! What was it like starting out?

It was a lot of hard yakka! First, I had to prep the soil, which meant ploughing the ground and bringing in truckloads of manure. When the plants were smaller, it was all about weeding, feeding, and watering. That went on for the first three years.

And it was in the middle of a drought back then, so keeping them watered was pretty tricky. Even though buxus are tough once they get going, they need a lot of TLC in the early days.

3 :: How long does it take before they’re ready to sell?

Topiary is not a quick thing! It takes years for the plants to grow and develop a good shape. I’ve only started selling them in the last couple of years because I wanted them to be well-established before offering them to customers.

If you don’t take the time to do it properly, the shape and quality just aren’t there.

4 :: What makes a great topiary?

Regular trimming is key. If you let a plant grow to full size before shaping it, it can get woody inside and won’t be dense or compact. It takes time, care, and love to get it right.

The beauty of topiary is that it provides structure in the garden all year round. In winter, when the deciduous trees have lost their leaves and there are fewer flowers, your topiary is still there making a statement.

5 :: What kinds of topiary do you grow at Colo Topiary Farm?

I grow English and Japanese buxus. They’re compact, evergreen shrubs that have been used for centuries to create formal shapes in gardens.

The Highlands climate is perfect for them as it suits English and French-style gardens, which are pretty popular around here.

But topiary doesn’t have to be super formal. My own garden is more semi-formal, and the topiary still adds great shape and structure.

6 :: Are they hard to look after once they’re in a garden?

Not at all! Once they’re established, buxus are hardy and don’t need a lot of work. They’re a great investment for that reason. Plus, when you buy from Colo Topiary Farm, you’re getting plants grown right here in the Highlands.

They’re used to the local conditions, which makes them more likely to thrive.

If you get plants from interstate or a greenhouse, they might struggle to adapt. So buying local really makes a difference.

7 :: What shapes are the most popular with Highlanders?

The large bowls and large cones are the favourites here in the Highlands. People also love the spirals but they take a longer time to create.

8 :: So you went from running restaurants to growing topiary.  Do you think there’s a creative link between the two?

Definitely! It’s all about creativity and making something beautiful. When I was in the restaurant game, it was about creating dishes people would love. Now I’m creating gardens people can enjoy.

I also spend half my day painting in my studio and the other half in the garden. It’s a real yin-yang balance.

In France, they say ‘bon vivant’ – someone who loves good living. That’s me. Whether it’s food, art, or the garden, it’s all about enjoying life and sharing that with others.

9 :: And we’ve gotta know, what do you love about living in the Highlands?

It’s home. I love cycling, bushwalking, and just being outside. It’s such a beautiful place.

And I’m a big fan of breakfast or brunch at The Hospital Shop or Josh’s Café. For dinner, I love Toshi’s, Bistro Sociale, and Flour Bar. There’s plenty of good food around!

10 :: How can people check out Colo Vale Topiary Farm?

The farm is open by appointment, so just give me a call to organise a visit. I also work with landscapers, developers, and private gardeners who are setting up beautiful gardens for homes and estates in the area.

If you’re ready to add some year-round locally grown beauty to your garden then Colo Topiary Farm is the place to visit.

Or if you’re a local landscape gardener, developer or horticulturalist then make sure to add Colo Topiary Farm to your list.

Max’s plants are ready to give our gardens year-round shape and style and will make a wonderful addition to any Highlands landscape.

 

***

 

This article features friends and advertisers of The Fold Media.

We strongly believe in the businesses and information we share with you on The Fold and we fully endorse the content we create and share.

We’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses, and it is our sincere hope is that it helps create more awareness for these local businesses, helps keep them top of mind when locals and visitors next need their products or service, and most of all, contributes to creating a strong and thriving local community and economy.

We are so grateful to the local businesses who choose to work with The Fold Media. Without their belief and support in what we do, we wouldn’t be able to keep doing what it is that we love to do. Which is to create and share information about people, places and businesses in our wonderful region. We want to help everyone #LoveLivingLocal and make the most of this wonderful place we are lucky enough to call home.

And to you, our readers? We want to say a big THANK YOU to you. Firstly for taking the time to read this article, but also for supporting local businesses in general, as well as our sponsors who help make The Fold Media possible.

Together, let’s continue to support our local business community, in turn supporting their team, and our wonderful community overall. So let’s all choose local, whenever we possibly can.

Sign-up
Follow Southern Highlands

Don't Miss Out On

10 July 2025
Southern Highlands
Southern Highlands Open Homes This Weekend – 12th July 2025
Property

First National Bowral 10:00am – 10:30am: 10a Myrtle Creek Avenue, Tahmoor 10:00am – 10:30am: 30 Thompson Street, Bowral  10:00am – 10:30am: 19 Reeyana Place, Moss Vale  11:00am – 11:30am: 61 Young Road, Moss Vale  11:15am – 11:45am: 40 Kamilaroi Crescent, Braemar  11:15am – 11:45am: 13 Cherry Tree Close, Moss Vale 12:00pm – 12:30pm: 13 Elm […]

10 July 2025
Southern Highlands
What’s On In The Highlands This Weekend
Events
Looking for things to do this weekend in the Southern Highlands? From exploring, shopping at local markets, and enjoying live music to art exhibitions, workshops, and more – we’ve got your weekend sorted!
10 July 2025
Southern Highlands
EXPLORE // Lake Alexandra
Outdoor & Adventure
A popular spot for locals and wildlife, Lake Alexandra in Mittagong offers up plenty to do from walking, scootering or riding around the lake to barbecues, picnics and playgrounds and walking the dog!

More latest reads

23 June 2025
Southern Highlands
Ditch The Toxic Sprays And Let Nature Do Its Thing
Home & Garden

Gardening can be such a fulfilling and rewarding hobby – but it’s not without its challenges. One of the biggest? Pest control. [Oh, we can hear the collective cry of gardeners across the Highlands!] It’s frustrating, right? To see all your hard work crumble overnight – attacked by the smallest [and often unseen] enemy. They […]

4 June 2025
Southern Highlands
BEHIND THE BIZ // Waterite Plumbing & Sealing
Home & Garden
New to the Southern Highlands but backed by years of experience, Waterite Plumbing & Sealing delivers honest advice, clear communication and great service. Meet Ewan, the friendly local face raising the bar for plumbing in the region.
11 May 2025
Southern Highlands
THE FOLD LOVES A STICKY BEAK // Fulford Folly
Home & Garden
Take a peek inside Bundanoon’s glorious Fulford Folly, a stunning home that combines liveability with luxury

Get the best straight to your inbox

Article topics