How Did a Topiary F1 Car Win Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show? Here Paul King, owner of King and Co, has walked through the intricacies of our Gold Medal-winning topiary creation!

The Topiary F1 Car

King and Co partnered with Williams F1 to create this ambitious installation celebrating the team’s 35-year history. The award-winning display turned heads with its life-size scale and precise detailing.

First unveiled in 2012, the project took three years to complete. The topiary car featured a fully formed pit-stop backdrop and included authentic parts from Williams Racing. The team sculpted the entire piece from Ligustrum delavayanum.

‘From a professional point of view it’s utopia. ‘We thought the judges may not feel it was a Chelsea-type thing but we’re so happy we’ve achieved a level of excellence that’s so hard to achieve.’

Designer and Owner of King and Co, Paul King

The display’s pit scene was shaped using Chinese privet, a fast-growing species ideal for detailed topiary work. Regular clipping of Ligustrum delavayanum encourages dense, compact foliage. This was perfect for sculpting complex shapes like the intricate curves of F1 tyre side pods. The plant’s versatility made it a natural choice for this unique challenge!

A Visit from Sir Frank Williams

Sir Frank Williams, founder of Williams F1, visited the show on Monday, 21st May. Shortly after his team’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.

We were fortunate enough to get a gold medal for it, which Sir Frank was delighted about, because he likes winning things.”

Designer and Owner of King and Co, Paul King

Following the display’s success at Chelsea, several topiary pit scenes have since been installed at the Williams Racing factory in Oxfordshire!

Topiary at King and Co

Back at our nursery, we offer a wide selection of topiary plants for immediate collection or next-day delivery across the UK. Whether you’re after instant impact with ready-made hedging, cones, spirals, balls, pleached trees, or dramatic arches, we provide topiary options to suit every style. We also stock high-quality alternatives to traditional Box plants, as well as Yew hedging, long favoured in classic topiary design.

Featured In:

BBC – Williams F1 Car Topiary Exhibit Wins Chelsea gold

The Telegraph – Hedges Cut Like Williams Formula 1 Car

Top Gear – F1 Garden Wins Chelsea Flower Show

Daily Mail – British Racing Green: The Hedge Shaped Like a Formula 1 Car

Financial Times – Formula One: Racing Green