Topiary

Topiary - Body

Topiary is the clipping of woody plants (trees and shrubs) into shapes. These shapes can be simple or complex, geometric or organic. The goal is to create clearly defined shapes and forms that would not occur naturally in living plant material. In this way, topiary is very different than bonsai or penjing.

topiary

Topiary is common at The Huntington, especially in the Children’s Garden. Watch this video of Jesse Campos, a gardener and topiary artist at The Huntington’s Children’s Garden. Where do you see topiary in the garden? What does Jesse do to care for the topiary? If you could ask Jesse one question about his work with topiary, what would you ask?

Pink wire shaped into the form of an elephant.

Creating Topiary

The principles of topiary are the same as for regular hedges. Topiary requires planning beforehand and sometimes it requires special tools. Some topiary begin with a frame like this elephant. With time and care from topiary artists, plants could grow over the entire frame in the shape of an elephant.

Topiary requires time and patience. It is important for topiary artists to consider not just what the topiary looks like now, but what it will look like in decades to come.

Geometric forms are very important in topiary. Topiary artists use shapes like spheres, pyramids, domes, cylinders, and cubes. They can use these forms on their own or combine multiple forms to create interesting and fantastical plant sculptures.

Topiary frame. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Looking Closely at Topiary

A leafy plant grows in the shape of a large letter H.

Topiary sculpture, Jesse Campos, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

A turtle-shaped bush grows close to the ground.

Topiary sculpture, Jesse Campos, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Three large bushes in spiral shapes.

Topiary sculpture, Jesse Campos, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

House-like wire structure outlined by a leafy plant.

Topiary sculpture, Jesse Campos, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

A leafy plant in a garden grows in the shape of an animal's head.

Topiary sculpture, Jesse Campos, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Questions & Prompts

For any topiary

  • Trace your eyes or finger along the edges of the topiary. What geometric forms do you see?

  • Try to pose like the topiary. What does it feel like?

  • Imagine you have X-ray vision. What do you think the inside of the topiary looks like?

  • Which is your favorite topiary of the ones you can see? Why is this your favorite?

Design a Topiary

In order to create a topiary sculpture, the artist needs to consider the weight and growth of the plant and create a plan for the sculpture. This plan often includes a frame made of wire or metal. Design your own topiary: Be the artist and the engineer!

  1. Brainstorm and sketch to come up with a vision for your topiary.

  1. Once you have your idea, sketch your design. Try to include dimensions. How will you plan for weight and stability support?

  1. Design a scale model frame for the topiary (you might use wire or pipe cleaners for this).

References and Resources

Buckley, Elizabeth. 2004. Ultimate Topiaries: The Most Magnificent Horticultural Art through the Years. Philadelphia, PA: Courage Books.

Clevely, A. M. 1988. Topiary: The Art of Clipping Trees and Ornamental Hedges. Topsfield, MA: Salem House Publishers.

Curtis, Charles H., and W. Gibson. 1985. The Book of Topiary. Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle Co.

Lombardi, M., Cristiana Serra Zannetti, and John Elsley. 1999. Topiary Basics: The Art of Shaping Plants in Gardens & Containers. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.