Topiary is the art of trimming and shaping bushes and trees into decorative forms. A skilled gardener might sculpt a hedge into the shape of an animal, a spiral, a geometric pattern, or even a chess piece. The bushes at fancy estates or theme parks that look like elephants, dinosaurs, or giant teapots are examples of topiary.

Creating topiary takes patience and planning. Gardeners carefully prune branches over months or years, guiding the plant's growth into the desired shape. Some topiaries are simple balls or cones, while others are elaborate sculptures that look almost alive.

You might see topiary in formal gardens, where rows of cone-shaped evergreens line walkways, or at places like theme parks, where characters are sculpted from living plants. Some people create small topiaries at home using boxwood or rosemary plants in pots. Unlike a regular hedge that's just trimmed flat, a topiary is shaped with artistic intention, transforming an ordinary shrub into a living sculpture.