Topiary is a special section of horticulture. The main point of it is cutting plants in a certain shape, and to make them grown in this shape in the future. Its history is dating back to ancient Roman times, Pliny the elder mentioned it in his Natural History also. Its next boom was during the Renaissance then in the Victorian era.
The plants used for topiary are evergreen perennials: shrubs, suffrutexes or trees. Those with small-leafed and bushy foliages, and which growing in a columnar and/or compact way are the best for this purpose. Both the foliage and the branches are cut to shape. It is a type of art now, called living sculpture. Actually, any kind of „sculpture” can be made, even if it has geometrical or organic shape.
Plants are best for topiary which can be purchased in Hungary also: common box (Buxus sempervirens), thujas (Thuja …), bay tree (Laurus nobilis), myrtles (Myrtus …), yews (Taxus …) and privets (Ligustrum …).
Modern topiary uses wire braces and shape-baskets for help, but the bases of the real old-school topiary are steady hands, seateurs and patience. Making a spectacular plant-sculpture can last for years. We can say, the simplest topiaries are the cut hedges used as fences and bedding hems.
It is a popular gardening form nowadays also, even in interiors as potted plants. These works of art decorate not only the gardens of castles, manors and cottages. For example, it is a frequent decorating element in Disney parks also. Nowadays there are ready-made, pre-cut, potted versions to purchase which only have to be „kept in shape”.