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Roman gardens were greatly inspired by Greek gardens and were usually in the peristyles. Roman Gardens were indoor. Ornamental horticulture became highly developed during the development of Roman civilization.

The administrators of the Roman Empire (c.100 BC - AD 500) actively exchanged information on agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, hydraulics, and botany.

Seeds and plants were widely shared. The Gardens of Lucullus on the Pinion Hill at the edge of Rome introduced the Persian garden to Europe, around 60 BC. The garden was a place of peace and tranquility-- a refuge from urban life-- and a place filled with religious and symbolic meanings.

As Roman culture developed and became increasingly influenced by foreign civilizations through trade, the use of gardens expanded and gardens ultimately thrived in Ancient Rome.

Influences:
Roman gardens were influenced by Egyptian, Persian, and Greek gardening techniques. Formal gardens existed in Egypt as early as 2800 BC. During the 18th dynasty in Egypt, gardening techniques were fully developed and beautified the homes of the wealthy.

Porticos were developed to connect the home with the outdoors and created outdoor living spaces. Persian gardens developed according to the needs of the infertile land. The gardens were enclosed to protect from drought and were rich and fertile in contrast to the dry and arid Persian terrain.

Pleasure gardens originated from Greek farm gardens which served the functional purpose of growing fruit.

Uses of Gardens:
Gardens were not reserved for the extremely wealthy. Excavations in Pompeii show that gardens attaching to residences were scaled down to meet the space constraints of the home of the average Roman.

Modified versions of Roman garden designs were adopted in Roman settlements in Africa, Gaul, and Britannia. As town houses were replaced by tall apartment buildings, these urban gardens were replaced by window boxes or rooftop gardens.