Traditional Garden Obelisks

Garden obelisks are beautiful additions to any flower bed or vegetable patch, but they can also help instantly solve a lot of common garden design problems.

I’ve always loved garden obelisks for the style and stature they bring to any garden space, but since adding one to my garden last summer, I’ve also come to realize that they can be essential garden design problem solvers as well. They work wonderfully as a support trellis for climbing plants, and can allow you to display your favorite trailing vines in the middle of a garden bed rather than right up against a wall. My favorite use for them is as an instant focal point for a new garden, full of young plants that haven’t quite matured yet, or in a flower bed with low plants that is in need of some height. I recently started a new English cottage-style garden bed in the back corner of our large garden area. This area would look a little sad with all the first-year plants just starting to get established, but with the obelisk, it’s already a beautiful focal point of our property. Somehow, the obelisk makes it all look a little more complete and a little more established. I would also not hesitate to use a tall obelisk in an area where plants are failing to thrive. Add an obelisk and some tough little groundcover plants, and suddenly you have a beautiful, intentional-looking garden.

I thought it would be fun to today to share a few of my favorite obelisk finds in different shapes, sizes and materials to get you inspired for all the ways these hardworking garden ornaments can help with the landscaping around your home.

Garden Obelisks for Your Home

Half-Round Garden Obelisk | This obelisk is so cleverly designed in a half-round shape to sit flat against a wall. It can work as a trellis for climbing plants or as an ornament to add architectural interest to a plain wall. I absolutely love how it ties in with the black shutter hardware on the stone house pictured above.

Willow Garden Obelisk | This is a traditional cottage garden obelisk made from willow branches. I would love to see a few of these grouped together in raised vegetable beds, or a pair of them in planters flanking a charming front door.

Gothic Trellis Obelisk | This uniquely shaped obelisk allows you to really take full advantage of climbing plants with beautiful blooms like clematis and climbing roses. The added surface area gives plants more room to grow and creates a profusion of flowers high up above the other flowering plants in your garden.

Trellis Container Obelisk | This understated trellis obelisk fits neatly into a container to make the most of delicate climbing plants like ivy on a porch or patio.

Simple Wood Obelisk | Obelisks don’t need to be expensive or complicated. This affordable option will still make a big impact when included as a focal point in a garden. It will weather beautifully within a few months and look like it has always been there.

Round Container Obelisk | Round obelisks are a unique and eye-catching addition when used in containers or directly in the garden. They give the effect of a beautiful metal orb and can be used as ornamental objects or a trellises. If you’re looking for instant impact with your containers, a pair of these round obelisks will draw both attention and compliments.

 

This slightly more detailed wood obelisk is the most similar thing I found to mine. I absolutely love this striking metal obelisk in a beautiful, weathered finish, or this more modern black obelisk that can be used in your garden or with a container on your porch. If you’re looking to attract birds to your garden, this birdhouse obelisk is so neat.

Do you use obelisks in your garden? Where is your favorite place to display them?