Knot Garden
A formal garden with intricate geometric patterns created by low, clipped hedges that intertwine and overlap to form decorative knot designs. Dating back to Renaissance Europe, knot gardens combine horticultural precision with artistic expression to create living tapestries that can be appreciated from both ground level and elevated viewpoints.
Key Features
Geometric Patterns
Precisely designed layouts featuring interlacing lines that create complex patterns such as Celtic knots, arabesques, or heraldic symbols.
Clipped Hedging
Low-growing evergreen plants like boxwood, germander, or lavender that are regularly trimmed to maintain crisp edges and defined shapes.
Compartmentalized Spaces
Distinct areas formed by the hedge patterns that can be filled with contrasting materials like colored gravel, flowering plants, or herbs.
Symmetrical Layout
Balanced design with a central axis and mirrored elements that create a sense of order and formality characteristic of Renaissance garden design.
Defined Boundaries
Clear edges and contained spaces that separate the knot garden from surrounding landscape elements, often with pathways or borders.
Seasonal Interest
Thoughtful plant selection within the compartments that provides changing color and texture throughout the year while maintaining the structural framework.
Design Variations
Tudor Knot Garden
Traditional English style with intricate patterns of boxwood or germander hedges filled with herbs, flowers, and medicinal plants typical of the Tudor period.
Modern Geometric Knot
Contemporary interpretation using clean lines, simplified patterns, and modern materials like steel edging, colored gravel, and architectural plants.
Herbal Knot Garden
Functional design where the compartments and sometimes the hedges themselves consist of culinary and medicinal herbs, creating a fragrant and useful garden.
Parterre Knot Garden
Elaborate variation with raised planting beds defined by the knot pattern, often incorporating topiary elements and seasonal bedding plants for color.