Rediscover urban landscapes through the vision of a designer focused on enhancing city aesthetics
Wambui Ippolito: A Pioneer in Sustainable Landscape Design
Wambui Ippolito, a celebrated landscape designer, is making waves in the world of horticulture with her imaginative and nature-inspired approach to garden and landscape design. Her work, which emphasizes blending beauty and functionality by embracing natural elements, has earned her numerous accolades and recognition in the field.
Born to a diplomat mother who was an avid gardener, Wambui's love for plants began at an early age. She fondly remembers the plant-buying trips she took with her mother, which sparked her interest in the world of horticulture. One of the last plants she chose as a child was a bougainvillea, which is still growing at her mother's property.
Wambui's professional journey took a turn when she studied international development and worked as a democracy consultant in Washington, D.C. However, she found herself yearning to be outside and away from the confines of an office. This led her to pursue a career in landscape design.
She completed her studies at the New York Botanical Garden School of Professional Horticulture and has since worked on various projects, including Martha Stewart's garden in Bedford, New York, and David Letterman's estate. Her current projects include working on large estates in the Westchester area, north of New York City, and her mother's garden in Nairobi, one of the few remaining pockets of original forestland.
Wambui's work can be seen in numerous private and public garden settings. She has been invited to design a courtyard garden at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, and was honoured with a Gold Award and Best in Show at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Philadelphia Flower Show in 2021.
In addition to her design work, Wambui is also in demand on the lecture circuit and as a consultant helping institutions and museums to develop horticultural programming. She has been named by Veranda magazine as one of '11 revolutionary female landscape designers and architects' in 2021.
Wambui attributes her success to her roots in East Africa, where her childhood was spent outside, particularly on her family farm in Uasin Gishu, Kenya. She is passionate about creating gardens that reflect the beauty and diversity of the natural world, and her book, titled Terra Nova, will highlight the influence of immigrants' gardens on the American landscape, to be published by Timber Press in 2026.
Looking ahead, Wambui has wider ambitions to work with cities and municipalities for beautification and reforestation. She is planning to set up nurseries for propagating native plants, creating jobs for young people, particularly women. While her influence in landscape design is well documented, there is less evidence of her direct role in global reforestation initiatives in municipal contexts according to the current sources. However, her commitment to sustainability and ecological aesthetics suggests that she may play a significant role in this area in the future.
You can learn more about Wambui's work and projects on her professional website, wambuidesign.com.
- Wambui Ippolito, a pioneer in sustainable landscape design, incorporates natural elements in her garden and landscape designs, blending beauty and functionality.
- Her childhood experiences in East Africa, particularly on her family farm in Uasin Gishu, Kenya, have fueled her passion for creating gardens that reflect the beauty and diversity of nature.
- Wambui's work in the world of horticulture has been celebrated in numerous homes-and-garden and lifestyle magazines, such as Veranda, where she was named one of '11 revolutionary female landscape designers and architects' in 2021.
- Her book, Terra Nova, to be published by Timber Press in 2026, will highlight the influence of immigrants' gardens on the American landscape.
- In addition to her design work, Wambui is active on the lecture circuit and as a consultant helping institutions and museums develop horticultural programming.
- Wambui plans to expand her work beyond individual gardens and property design, looking to collaborate with cities and municipalities for beautification and reforestation initiatives, setting up nurseries for propagating native plants and creating jobs.
