The History of Topiary

Topiary was gaining popularity throughout Europe by the end of the 17 th century, but its popularity came to a quick halt in the early 18 th century after an essay was published in The Guardian in England. This essay, which was penned by Alexander Pope, poked fun at this form of art.

As a result of the essay, mazes, hedges, and any hint of topiary were removed from the gardens of the elite in England. It did remain, however, in cottagers’ gardens. In fact, many contained a single specimen that was painstakingly cared for and passed on as a family heirloom from one generation to the next.

By the mid 19 th century, topiary enjoyed a come back. In 1840, John Loudon wrote about his sadness in the fact that topiary was no longer a common site. In addition, during this Victorian era, gardeners embraced the style that topiary afforded. As writer Shirley Hibberd put it, “It may be true, as I believe it is, that the natural form of a tree is the most beautiful possible for that tree, but it may happen that we do not want the most beautiful form, but one of our own designing, and expressive of our ingenuity.”

This statement fueled the return of topiary and it is still going strong today. It was also embraced during the American Renaissance, which took place from 1880 to 1920. In addition, historic gardens from these periods are continually being restored through replantings. Topiary has returned to being the highly appreciated art form that it once was and continues to present its challenges and its joys to both amateur gardeners and pro-topiary artists alike – either way, the final results are nothing short of spectacular.