Topiary facts for kids

Topiary is the art of creating sculptures by clipping trees and bushes (shrubs). The shrubs used in topiary are evergreen, have small leaves, and produce dense foliage. Common plants used in topiary include bay laurel, holly bushes, myrtle and privet hedges. Shaped wire cages are sometimes used in modern topiary but traditional topiary depends on using special scissors with patience and a steady hand.

History

The word derives from the Latin word for an ornamental landscape gardener. A friend of Julius Caesar introduced Rome to the topiary. In Japan and China they have “cloud pruning” where they cut bushes into the shapes of clouds and “Karikomi”, where they cut large shrubs into curved shapes and objects. Bonsai is a form of topiary. During the 16th century in Europe typical traditional topiary included geometric shapes: balls, pyramids, cones, and spirals. In the 20th century Walt Disney used topiaries in the form of his cartoon characters to decorate his theme parks.

Images for kids

Squirrel topiary, Rufford Old Hall, Rufford, Lancashire, England.
York Gate Garden, Leeds, Yorkshire, England.
Castelo Branco Portugal.
Cloud-pruning in Hallyeo Haesang National Park, Geoje, South Korea
Topiary at Fingask Castle, Tayside. Second half of the 19th century
Levens Hall's Elizabethan topiary in 1833
Beckley Park, Oxfordshire: cottage garden topiary formulas taken up in an early 20th-century elite English garden in a historic house setting
Topiary birds at Hidcote Manor Garden
The topiary garden at Manor d'Eyrignac, France
A topiary at Railton, Town of Topiary, Tasmania, Australia
Topiary elephants at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
Topiary at Wonderful topiary at Kingston Lacy, UK
St Peter's Church in Henfield the path to Church is guarded by topiary
Topiary house
A topiary pig in Halton, Northumberland
All seasons close-up of the Tsubo-en (Netherlands) O-karikomi, hako-zukuri topiary.
Topiary Château de Hautefort