Ornamental Planting of Trees
Ornamental Planting of Trees
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Early Pleasure Gardens in Mesopotamia
Early Pleasure Gardens in Mesopotamia
Pleasure gardens are believed to have originated in Mesopotamia. The Gilgamesh Epic, which refers to events in 2700 BCE, describes what may have been early ornamental gardens.
Elegant gardens depicted in Egyptian tombs of the 18th Dynasty (ca. 1415 BCE) consisted, as far as we can tell, of multiple-use plants. Among those that have been identified are date palms, grapes, pomegranates, papyruses, and figs.
The first unmistakable evidence of plants cultivated for pleasure is from Assyria, where kings had hunting preserves and tree parks. Tiglath-Pileser I (reigning c. 1115 BCE to c. 1077 BCE) brought back cedar trees and box hedges from lands he conquered. Other Assyrian kings left records of parks planted with palms, cypresses, and myrrh.
In the 6th century BCE, Nebuchadrezzar II created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his Persian wife, who was homesick for the mountains of her childhood. Babylon was situated on a river plain, and the terraced gardens, covering three or fours acres, were said to resemble a green mountain.
Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire in Iran (6th century BCE) planted an ornamental garden in Pasargadae, which featured trees and shrubs planted symmetrically in plots. The remains of this ornamental garden can still be visited in Iran today.
Mesopotamian parks and gardens emphasised trees rather than flowers, likely because they provide shade, a necessity in that part of the world, therefore ornamental trees held an important practical value rather than just for appearance.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon (1850 interpretation)
- One of the Wonders of the World in its time.
- One of the Wonders of the World in its time.
Asia
Asia
In ancient China, ornamental landscapes were already highly developed by the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE), where trees were arranged to represent harmony between humans and nature – a principle still central to East Asian garden design.
In Japan, Cherry Blossom trees (Sakura) are a classic example of trees planted for a brief but intense seasonal moment. The beautiful tradition of hanami (flower viewing) dates back to the Nara period (710–794 CE). Occurring from late March to early May, this two-week celebration represents the appreciation of life's fleeting beauty, often involving food, drinks, and socialising.
Sakura trees may be replanted every few decades, even if the tree could last for many years more, so that the blossom density remains visually consistent, demonstrating the significant ornamental value of the tree.
In Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868), numerous cherry blossom varieties were hybridised to maximise flower size at the expense of fruit production. These trees are effectively living sculptures, designed for appearance rather than ecological function - an example of an ornamental tree cultivated by humans which does not actually exist in the wild.
Ornamental Trees in Diplomacy
Ornamental Trees in Diplomacy
Ornamental trees have been offered as a gifts several times during exchanges between Indian Buddhist monks / envoys and the Chinese court. The Bodhi tree was a highly desired tree in Asia for ornamental purposes and was considered to be sacred and spiritually important, since the Buddha attained nirvana under the Bodhi tree.
In 647 CE, the envoys of Emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj (now in Northern India) offered saplings of the Bodhi tree to the Chinese Emperor.
In 982 CE, an Indian monk carrying a message from an Indian king called Mo-xi-nang, travelled to the Chinese court and took seven leaves from the Bodhi tree with him as presents.
In 998 CE, a monk from Central India called Ni-wei-ni was granted an audience by the Chinese emperor, to whom the monk gifted leaves and seeds of the Bodhi tree along with Sanskrit manuscripts.
In 1005 CE, a monk from Kashmir presented the emperor with Sanskrit cannons and Bodhi leaves.
The religious and diplomatic importance of ornamental trees such as the Bodhi and Sal trees has endured over nearly 2000 years and continues to advance cultural interaction between India and China in the modern-day.
The Development of Modern-Day Pleasure Gardens
The Development of Modern-Day Pleasure Gardens
During the 17th century, French formal gardens treated trees as part of the architecture. At the Palace of Versailles, trees were planted in straight rows to create forced perspective, making paths appear longer and grander than they actually are!
Designer Capability Brown famously planted trees to hide and reveal views as visitors moved through the landscape, a technique strikingly similar to cinematic blocking!
In the late 20th century, some authorities widely planted male ginkgo trees in urban areas to avoid the strong-smelling fruit produced by females. However, this aesthetic decision (known as botanical sexism) had unintended ecological consequences. Male trees release more allergenic pollen, and without female trees nearby to trap it, the residents were affected by the high-pollen environment.
Tree Church
Tree Cathedral
Tree Church
Tree Church
In Ohaupo, New Zealand, there is a living breathing monument dedicated to trees. The Tree Church, completed in 2014, was created by Barry Cox to serve as a sanctuary - a "retreat from society" - rather than a place of religious worship.
Inspired by European architecture and nature, the tranquil green space, church and pergola, can seat up to 100 guests for weddings and special events.
Tree Cathedral
Tree Cathedral
Designer Giuliano Mauri created a beautiful Cattedrale Vegetale (vegetation cathedral) of a variety of beautiful trees. The garden was located in a remote valley near Bergamo, Italy. It was composed of columns of tree branches to help them grow straight, with the structure containing 1,800 fir poles, 6,000 metres of hazel branches, and 600 chestnut branches.
Mauri began designing the garden in 2002, but he never got to see his creation, since he passed away in 2009, and the garden was completed in 2010.
The trees in the garden continued to grow for years after, but the garden has now closed permanently.
Branching Out
Branching Out
These incredible trees are specially grafted to grow into sophisticated shapes by Peter and Becky Cook of Queensland, Australia.
Peter once wondered if he could grow a chair, and, over many years, his idea came to fruition.
The Cooks meticulously plan all their creations, and among their shaped living trees are action figures that have green leaves sprouting from their heads as hair, and the amazing living wooden chair that is strong enough to support a fully grown man.
The history of ornamental trees spans over 4,000 years, evolving from ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian pleasure gardens built for royalty to the curated arboretums of modern society. Early civilisations planted exotic trees purely for aesthetics and prestige. In the 17th century, global exploration became popular, and over time, foreign tree species such as Ginkgo and Sakura were regular features of the most beautiful gardens across Europe.
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