Blog | Amelia Marriette

A visual timeline showcasing the evolution of acanthus leaf designs. Four panels represent distinct historical styles: 1. A stylised black-and-white drawing labelled "Callimachus" (circa 450 BCE), referencing the origin of acanthus in Greek architecture. 2. A Corinthian column capital from the Roman era (1st century BCE) with gilded acanthus leaves. 3. A 19th-century decorative green leaf design inspired by Arts & Crafts aesthetics. 4. A realistic photograph of a blooming garden acanthus, with lush green foliage and white flower spikes. A horizontal timeline below marks each period.

Why Am I So Obsessed with the Acanthus Plant Right Now?

The blooming of our acanthus plant today in the garden that my partner and I have created together now connects us to the vast tapestry of the acanthus' history, stretching back through millennia. In that single bloom, I see the mythology of the plant, the echoes of Corinthian columns, Arts & Crafts wallpaper, now alive and flourishing in our garden in Southern Austria.