Meet Nathaniel Hannemann
Nathaniel Hannemann, Principal of PolyFlora Studio, is a planting designer and horticulturist based in Edmonton. He is known for combining ecological science, hands-on propagation, and artistic composition in his gardens.
Nathaniel Hannemann, Principal
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, University of Guelph
Diploma in Production Horticulture, Olds College
Nathaniel is the founder and principal of PolyFlora Studio. His background in landscape architecture, horticulture, and visual art provides the foundation for a design practice that is both creative and practical, blending aesthetic clarity with deep plant knowledge.
Nathaniel has spent years studying how plants grow, compete, and evolve from seeds to mature communities. He brings knowledge and passion to every project.
Nathaniel’s approach is rooted in:
Ecological science — understanding how plant communities function and evolve in nature
Horticultural expertise and propagation — growing and establishing resilient, high-performance plantings
Design thinking — creating gardens that are immersive, intentional, and emotionally resonant
Industry Experience: Masterplanning, Design and Planting Innovation
Before launching PolyFlora Studio, Nathaniel worked at LANDinc, an internationally recognized landscape architecture and planning firm. His work contributed to major public and private projects across Canada and the Middle East, including complex urban spaces and high-end residential environments.
Select projects include:
Ontario Place Revitalization — a high-profile redevelopment of Toronto’s waterfront that integrates ecological planting, immersive public space, and cultural destinations. This landmark project balances biodiversity, resilience, and human experience.
The Meadoway Entrance Garden — a native planting gateway for The Garden Club of Toronto, marking the start of a 16-kilometre ecological corridor. Designed to attract pollinators and raise public awareness, this garden enhances the visual and ecological identity of the Meadoway.
Belle Vie, Egypt — a new, high-end development west of Cairo. Nathaniel contributed to the planting design of its public spaces, including a heavily planted linear park called the Green Spine. This space features drifts of drought-tolerant plants, palms, shade trees, and a rock garden of succulents, offering a lush, immersive experience in a climate-adapted context.
Key experience areas:
Masterplanning and site design — creating large-scale visions that integrate planting and human use
Planting design — composing dynamic, layered systems for biodiversity and seasonal performance
Complex project management — coordinating across disciplines to deliver cohesive outcomes
Technical proficiency — skilled in producing design documentation and working across multiple CAD and graphics platforms
Deep Study in Naturalistic Planting Design
While studying landscape architecture at the University of Guelph, Nathaniel pursued an independent research project under Dr. Karen Landman, tracing the evolution of naturalistic planting design from the 18th century to the present.
This research explored how designers challenged rigid, colonial traditions, to create more expressive, ecologically grounded plantings.
Historical Pioneers
William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll — advocated looser, seasonal compositions that rejected Victorian formality
Modern Leaders
Noel Kingsbury and Thomas Rainer — advanced the use of layered, plant-driven communities focused on performance and ecological value
Nathaniel sees himself as part of this lineage, working to bring the depth and beauty of naturalistic planting to Alberta, where this approach is still relatively new.
Horticultural Expertise: Propagation and Growing
Nathaniel’s horticultural training goes far beyond the classroom. With a diploma in Production Horticulture from Olds College and hands-on experience in commercial growing, he propagated and raised thousands of plants across diverse systems. Nathaniel has:
Worked in professional greenhouse production
Created detailed growing guides for a western Canadian garden centre
Refined propagation methods using liners and plugs for reliable plant establishment
At the Hannemann Garden, Nathaniel grows nearly every plant himself, combining efficiency, adaptability, and plant performance with fine design. This level of technical grounding is rare among designers and sets PolyFlora Studio apart.
Art and Ecology: Seeing the Patterns in Life
Nathaniel’s background in visual art deeply influences his approach to planting design. His artwork has always been organismal, exploring how cells, body parts, and structures fit together to create a larger whole.
This same perspective informs how he designs landscapes — understanding the relationships between plants, space, and time to create immersive, functional ecosystems.
His work has been sold in galleries, but today, his creative focus is crafting outdoor environments that are both visually compelling and ecologically meaningful.
A Living Experiment: The Hannemann Garden
The Hannemann Garden is a private, experimental landscape — a testing ground for high-density planting, successional design, and hands-on propagation. Nathaniel leads this living experiment to refine the Studio’s techniques, trial plant combinations, and demonstrate how a garden can evolve over time with care and intention.
This site is the clearest expression of PolyFlora Studio’s approach to design.
For an in-depth look, read this feature on The Hannemann Garden.
Explore real-world projects by Nathaniel Hannemann that showcase immersive planting design rooted in ecology, horticulture, and care.
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