While Topiary may have become one of the most distinct marks of English gardens, this art form originates from ancient Rome. The trend of topiary garden art was not short-lived: the first written accounts of topiaries are dated from around 44 BC.

When was topiary first used?

Topiary is said to have been invented by a friend of the ancient Roman emperor Augustus and is known to have been practiced in the 1st century ce. Earlier references to it are lacking, but the art probably evolved over a considerable period from the necessary trimming, pruning, and training of trees.

Who invented topiary?

Europe. A premier topiary garden started in the late 17th century by M. Beaumont, a French gardener who laid out the gardens of Hampton Court (which were recreated in the 1980s). Levens Hall is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as having the oldest Topiary garden in the world.