If you ordinary seeds in this 10-pound clay pot and let it grow for 30 days, the shrub grows to really impressive size and fullness.  After any 30 days of growth where the plant was not trimmed, a skilled gardener is able to clip and sculpt the plant into a topiary replica of any creature they have seen - But a sized small replica.  If this topiary creature is clipped from the main root in the clay pot, the released topiary creature magically transforms into an awakened shrub. Only one such topiary buddy can be free and alive at a time even if it lives past the 30 days needed for the original root to regrow and be ready to be trimmed again.

The awakened shrub is friendly toward you. Absent commands from you, it does nothing except defend itself if endangered. This Topiary Pal has a normal stat block similar to what you can wildshape into...