Katherine Aul Cervoni

Katherine "Kat" Aul Cervoni is the founder of Staghorn, a landscape design firm that has transformed countless residential outdoor spaces throughout New York City and beyond since 2014. Her passion for all things outdoor living is driven by her desire to help people reconnect to nature wherever they can. 

Kat’s creates outdoor spaces that become natural extensions of a home’s interior. She champions low-maintenance plants, especially native species, that are known for their longevity and sustainability, and emphasizes the importance of marrying seasonal beauty with daily practicality. Her authentic, approachable spaces offer respite and inspiration year-round — and for years to come.  

Born and raised in the gardens and horse farms of Georgia, Kat comes from a long line of gardening enthusiasts, including her mother, her grandmother, and her great aunt — a Daylily aficionado who bred and grew a variety of species in her own garden. After earning her bachelor’s degree in art history, Kat became captivated by the gardens of Versailles and of Japan— specifically their combination of science, engineering, and design — and decided to pursue landscape architecture. A horticulture internship with New York Botanical Gardens led to work with several renowned design-build firms and then to a master’s degree in landscape design from Columbia University.

Since starting Staghorn, Kat has built a company devoted to sustainable planting, local species, and ethical working conditions. A member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, she mentors young plant enthusiasts and upcoming designers. 

Kat loves long-distance running, writing, crossword puzzles, and geeking out over Tudor history. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, son, a small menagerie of animals, and lots and lots of plants.