Topiary Through History

The ancient Romans were known for their formal gardens and had a special slave, the topiarius who maintained the ornamental topia. The fashion for clipped hedging became popular again in the Middle Ages and in Renaissance Italy it was a huge craze, with skilled topiarists creating everything from donkeys, bears and sailing boats to colonnades and cardinals. In 17th century France, designers went completely over the top, especially at Versailles, and now, at the start of the 21st century it's back in vogue again, after a few decades in the wilderness. 

Topiary Today

Topiary is a fantastic way of adding evergreen structure to a garden. The list of topiarized shapes now includes abstract, geometric bobbles and discs and pyramids, arches and 'lemon juicers' and balls on cubes, steam trains and racing cars and even Sumo wrestlers. Traditionally yew and box have been used, but there are many trees and shrubs that can be shaped however you want. Topiary doesn't have to be immaculately shipshape and geometrically accurate. If a shape goes incredibly wonky, celebrate - make it into a feature.

Topiary in my Garden?

We've put together an exciting range that can be grown in containers or used to provide permanent focal points around the garden.