What do I plant in this big gap

If you want a ball shape, like you would have with box, then Hebe buxifolia is probably the best one- clue's in the title
H. Rakiensis is certainly very similar in that respect though, but there are so many Hebes, so if you go down that route, take time to consider them. Wet cold is their enemy though - I've often lost them, but that may not be a problem for you.
The flowering depends a lot on weather, and soil, and timing of pruning, but if you're looking at it from a topiary point of view, it's less of a consideration.
I don't think I've ever used I. crenata, but it's also good for shaping.
I'd agree with @pete re the golden yew. It's naturally more columnar. If you like that golden colouring - another Hebe that often gets overlooked, but is very tough, is H. ochracea James Stirling. Not rounded like the other ones, but very, very easy to maintain.

 

I love Hebe buxifolia but it’s very small so I don’t think it will give you the amount of structure you want?

Yew can grow up to 30cm a year, faster growing than people give it credit for.

 

@fairygirl I think my biggest issue at the moment with all the Hebe options is that they really don’t get big enough. When I look at the images I posted before, the topiary there is 1 - 1.2m high and although my garden is relatively small I think if you’re going to do it you need to go relatively big or it’ll get lost as @Butterfly6 said.

A lot of this comes from the frustration at the view from my favourite chair, especially in spring once everything is cut back. There’s just very little structural interest particularly in the foreground.



This is the front garden of one of our neighbours and I love this look. It’s this kind of shaped structure I want to add to offset then a more free cottage garden kind of planting.



I wonder if I reign myself back in a bit, get as big a yew ball as I can afford to put in the front corner and then either a golden yew or a beech which can be topiaried towards the back. Then look at other shrubs to fill the middle that can grow naturally to a size I want.

I do feel the middle of the bed needs something more low maintenance as I’m having to trample all the way in there to cut back perennials etc. I probably made this bed much bigger than I should have.

 

Looking at the photo of your garden with the balls sketched in, these look a smaller scale than the 1m you’re thinking of? I wonder if 4 balls at 1m diameter plus the column could be too much?

In my experience of having yew balls, it’s easy to keep them neat and in shape (assuming you can access them LOL) but probably very slow going if you want them to increase in size as you need to clip them tightly to retain the neat shape.

If you did treat yourself to one it would then give you some initial impact and seeing it in situ you would probably be able to quickly decide on the number/size of any additional structure.

Pittosporum can be kept clipped to form a reasonably tight shape, my friend has trained several into cones. I can’t recall which one she used, but they did get hit quite badly winter of 22-23.

 

You could be right. The bed is around 6m in length so I really just eyeballed it.

I think access is the big issue, one that would probably be exacerbated if I did pittosporum as from what I’ve read they need clipping 2-3 times a year to keep them neat.

In really stumped as to what to do.

 

Just posting this as another example to myself

 

Having been in the garden today, my hebe rakaiensis are probably 1m wise by about 80cm high.

I’ll check with my friend how often she clips here pittosporum and which variety she prefers for topiary

 

You’re a star @Butterfly6! Thank you so much

 

It’s Arundel Green and clipped twice a year, only word of caution would be the damage they suffered last winter (22-23)

 

Thanks @Butterfly6 I’ll take a look and heed the warning!

 

My H. buxifolias get to a good height - aorund 2 to 3 feet. H. b. Nana is a smaller type, but most buxifolias are a decent size.
I think there's a very large difference between those two pix you've shown @latimer. An edging of large Photinias around a lawn is quite different from a group of box balls, or something similar, within other planting as shown in your pic from Wednesday.
A group of them is always better in uneven numbers too- 3, 5 etc, if not being used as in that pic.
Whatever you decide to do, take your time. If you have some large containers, try placing them roughly in the positions you'd like for viewing from your house.
Another idea is to simply have some other planting and/or features near the window you look out from most through winter. Statues, bird baths, sundials or similar, combined with pots of mixed evergreen and early planting, along with bulbs for that early part of the year.
You can do a mix of both, and that gives you time to consider the main border.

 

I think I was probably thinking of Nana @fairygirl, it’s probably the one I see most often. Although maybe I don’t recognise bigger ones as being a buxifolia, never ending loop reinforcing my misconception

 

@fairygirl Although I know what you mean about those being 2 very different looks it was more the idea of the “formality” of topiary without it looking formal. An informal formality

I think you’re right though, I’m going to try putting some large containers in different spots and try a few things. Then take a deep breath and remember this all takes some time!

i noticed as i was driving out today that the entrance to our estate has a large hebe in amongst some other shrubs that may or may not be topiarised. I’ll grab a photo when I get home

 

Re Hebes - there are hundreds of varieties, and they vary enormously is shape size and colour.
That ochracea one I mentioned is a good example, but many of them have large, ovate foliage and quite big flowers, and some are small and ground covering.
The thing about topiary is- whatever you choose, it has to suit you and your space, and the time you have to spare in maintenance. I understand the slight frustration with it all though, because you want to get the look you like, but it simply isn't as quick and easy as those makeover shows would have us all believe, unless you have deep pockets!

I love formal gardens too, and often thought it would be nice to have one, but it wasn't feasible when I was working and had a house to run and my children to raise, and no money to do it. Now that I'm retired - I still have a house to run [ and those pesky kids still aren't cheap! ] and I often think it would be nice to have some topiary now that I have time, but then I reconsider, and feel it's easier to just have a few plants that have a formal shape, without needing too much attention - and trimming...
When I started this garden, I wanted a slightly formal look - more of a symmetrical look than topiary though, because it's a very irregular shape, but then I got fed up with it and changed it.
I'm not really a gardener at heart - I like creating a 'look' then I get bored and want something different. It's just how I am

 

A lot of the fun of gardening is creating a look and then changing it, or is for me anyway. I’m forever moving plants and shaking things up