ðɪ ˈoʊldɪst tˈoʊpjɚɹiz wɜː stˈɑːɹɾᵻd fɹʌm bˈɑːkswʊd bˈʌksəs sˈɛmpɚvˌaɪɚnz sˈiːdlɪŋz ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛlv ʃˈeɪpt fɹʌm kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə pɹˈɪvɪt lˈɪɡʌstɹəm ˌoʊvɐlɪfˈoʊliəm.
The oldest topiaries were started from boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) seedlings in 1912 shaped from California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium).