Ban Khae Topiary Centre

Ban Khae Topiary Centre is not a single attraction but a strip of family-run plant nurseries along Highway 201 near Phu Khiao district, where growers shape native shrubs into elephants, birds and geometric forms and sell them roadside. There is no gate, ticket booth or set walking route — you pull over at whichever stalls catch your eye.

The craft here uses slow-growing native species — kho, masang and tako are the names most often cited locally — chosen because their small, dense leaves hold a clipped shape well over years of training. A single well-formed elephant or bird shape can represent years of pruning, wiring and patience, and growers along the strip are usually working at their benches when you pull in, trimming with hand shears rather than power tools. Shapes range from simple geometric balls and cones to detailed animal figures and traditional Thai motifs, priced by size and the years of work behind them.

Insider Tip: This is a buying stop, not a museum — if a shape catches your eye, ask the price and haggling room rather than expecting a fixed price list. Larger pieces need a pickup truck to transport, so plan ahead if you’re serious about buying.

Watch out: There’s no shade structure over most of the stalls and little else to do here beyond browsing — treat it as a 20–30 minute roadside stop on a Chaiyaphum drive, not a half-day destination.

Because this is private smallholders’ land rather than a managed park, hours and which stalls are open depend on the individual families — some close on quiet weekdays. Highway 201 has no footpath or shade along this stretch, so keep to the roadside verge and watch for passing trucks when crossing between stalls.

The centre sits about 76 km from Chaiyaphum town along Highway 201. If you’re touring inland Chaiyaphum, it pairs naturally with a longer loop toward Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary or Chulabhorn Dam, both roughly an hour further north in Khon San district — though none of these are close enough to combine into a single short outing, so pick one focus for the day.