While searching for something else entirely, found this on the Iseli website.

Use the fast-growing Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa Intermedia’ to make ...
sea serpents ... hardy to USDA zone 4 ... http://www.iselinursery.com/colorful-conifers/chamaecyparis-false-cypress/chamaecyparis-pisifera-squarrosa-intermedia/

Cool idea! I might try this on the hill where my property borders the neighbor's. I might try ligustrum quihoi instead of box or japanese holly. It's faster growing.

I haven't. I'll do a google search.

There is a video of Pearl's work on the ACS website: A Man Named Pearl.

posted 1/31.. and no replies until today ... weird ...

be leery of peeps in warmer zones ... as they have a growing season that might be twice yours ... and that will really impact how fast you accomplish a project like this ...

otherwise.. good luck .. ken

I saw the Pearl Fryar topiary garden website. Those are some really amazing specimens.

Yeah, Ken, nobody knew the answer until I found it myself, then of course some people knew it even better ;-) Plants growing too fast is not good either, the topiary gets out of shape quickly and requires frequent maintenance. Iseli's 'fast-growing' comment of the recommended Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa Intermedia’ refers to a growth rate of only 6"-8" per year, but it may already be a bit too fast for a small (say 15'-20' long) sea dragon topiary, IMHO. If you have to clip that thing 3 or 4 times per growing season to maintain a tidy look, then that gets old very quickly. If I did that, then only in my backyard, not in my front yard. (I do have topiaries in my front yard with slow growing dwarf conifers, clip once a year or so)

Sara, the ACS database has 2 different growth rates/sizes in the entry http://conifersociety.org/conifers/conifer/chamaecyparis/pisifera/squarrosa-intermedia/ although there is some explanation given on the page.

Yes because it depends on how it is grown. A bit confusing if one doesn't read the text, but the way the fields are set up there isn't really any other way to do it.

Perhaps fields should be allowed to refer to the description in exceptional cases, e.g.

Growth Size: see description

"If you have to clip that thing 3 or 4 times per growing season to maintain a tidy look"

Most of my topiaries require clipping weekly, or sometimes every-other week. Of course, I'm working with different plants than you (buxus sempervirens, ligustrum quihoi, and juniperus virginana). I suppose it could be because you have a shorter growing season, too. I'm going to try one with either the ligustrum or the box. I'm not sure which yet. Also, if you ever do topiary with broad-leaf evergreens, fertilizing in spring and early summer will help the topiary to grow faster, and obtain its shape while almost cutting the time it would normally take in half. Although, it will require more clipping due to the faster growth.

Nobody believes that.

What don't you believe about it? I have 7 topiaries and have 5 more starts, although they are rather basic shapes.