How to Choose the Best Plants for a Small Garden
Just because your garden is size-restricted, it doesn't mean it can't be filled with gorgeous plants. Here's how
A small garden is like a stage set, everything is on show – walls, paving, overhead structures and, of course, those key performers, your plants. Whether it’s a tree, shrub, groundcover, climber or flowering perennial, a plant needs to look good all year round as it will most likely be viewed from inside the house as well as the garden. Even deciduous species should, where possible, look appealing during their dormant stage.
So how do you choose which plants to use? With gardens now seen as extensions of the house, we must carefully evaluate every square-centimetre of outdoor space. It makes sense, therefore, to select plants that can fully justify their position. Here’s our top 10 for courtyards with limited space.
So how do you choose which plants to use? With gardens now seen as extensions of the house, we must carefully evaluate every square-centimetre of outdoor space. It makes sense, therefore, to select plants that can fully justify their position. Here’s our top 10 for courtyards with limited space.
2. Trees add value
All gardens, even those the size of a postage stamp, look better with a tree. Trees provide a vertical element to balance the horizontal lines of paths, lawns and fences. They can also add structure, foliage colour, fragrance, flowers, berries and a place for birds to hang out. Compact tree species can be planted in large pots if space is very limited. Consider small varieties of flowering cherries, crabapple and other prunus, citrus, Cornus, Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, Japanese maple (pictured), olive, silver birch, Magnolia stellata ‘Star magnolia’ and weeping pear.
All gardens, even those the size of a postage stamp, look better with a tree. Trees provide a vertical element to balance the horizontal lines of paths, lawns and fences. They can also add structure, foliage colour, fragrance, flowers, berries and a place for birds to hang out. Compact tree species can be planted in large pots if space is very limited. Consider small varieties of flowering cherries, crabapple and other prunus, citrus, Cornus, Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’, Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, Japanese maple (pictured), olive, silver birch, Magnolia stellata ‘Star magnolia’ and weeping pear.
3. Multi-talented
Where possible do what landscape designers do and choose plants with more than one selling point. Pretty flowers simply aren’t enough unless you are absolutely besotted with a particular bloom. The plant should have lovely foliage as well, good form (shape) and, if possible, a delicious scent or berries in winter. As well as visual attributes consider a plant’s functional capabilities. Could it be used to screen, provide shade and/or fruit (think citrus, olives, feijoa)? If it ticks at least three boxes, you’re onto a winner.
Where possible do what landscape designers do and choose plants with more than one selling point. Pretty flowers simply aren’t enough unless you are absolutely besotted with a particular bloom. The plant should have lovely foliage as well, good form (shape) and, if possible, a delicious scent or berries in winter. As well as visual attributes consider a plant’s functional capabilities. Could it be used to screen, provide shade and/or fruit (think citrus, olives, feijoa)? If it ticks at least three boxes, you’re onto a winner.
4. Screen savers
Privacy is essential in gardens, but how do you achieve that in a small space without building high, imposing walls? The answer is to plant screens that will grow upwards but be kept slim. Try Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ (above) or other non-invasive bamboo species, camellias, Podocarpus gracilior ‘Fern Pine’, pencil cypress, Portuguese laurel, Michelia figo ‘Port Wine Magnolia’ and other Michelia species, Radermachera or Schefflera.
Privacy is essential in gardens, but how do you achieve that in a small space without building high, imposing walls? The answer is to plant screens that will grow upwards but be kept slim. Try Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ (above) or other non-invasive bamboo species, camellias, Podocarpus gracilior ‘Fern Pine’, pencil cypress, Portuguese laurel, Michelia figo ‘Port Wine Magnolia’ and other Michelia species, Radermachera or Schefflera.
5. Upwardly mobile
Climbing plants are ideal for small gardens. Not only do they take up very little space on the ground but they can also provide overhead screening – perfect for small city gardens overlooked by tall buildings or balconies. In addition, you can use climbers to cover tall walls and screen out ugly views. Most will happily adapt to growing in pots and trimming to shape. There is a huge variety of climbers to choose from including the deliciously scented star jasmine (above). Consider also the winter-flowering Pyrostegia venusta ‘Flame Vine’, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Coral Pea Vine’, the unusually scented Akebia quinata ‘Chocolate Vine’ and Jasminum azoricum ‘Azores Jasmine’.
Climbing plants are ideal for small gardens. Not only do they take up very little space on the ground but they can also provide overhead screening – perfect for small city gardens overlooked by tall buildings or balconies. In addition, you can use climbers to cover tall walls and screen out ugly views. Most will happily adapt to growing in pots and trimming to shape. There is a huge variety of climbers to choose from including the deliciously scented star jasmine (above). Consider also the winter-flowering Pyrostegia venusta ‘Flame Vine’, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Coral Pea Vine’, the unusually scented Akebia quinata ‘Chocolate Vine’ and Jasminum azoricum ‘Azores Jasmine’.
6. Versatile shrubs
Shrubs like this Camellia ‘Yuletide’ are the backbone of virtually every planting scheme. They’re essential for small gardens because they provide a leafy look but won’t take up as much space as trees. Multi-tasking easy-care shrubs include box species (attractive foliage, good for hedging, low maintenance); Camellia (flowers, foliage, hedging); lavender (flowers, scent, foliage, hedging, containers); Choisya (flowers, scent, foliage, hedging) and many Viburnum (flowers, scent, berries).
Shrubs like this Camellia ‘Yuletide’ are the backbone of virtually every planting scheme. They’re essential for small gardens because they provide a leafy look but won’t take up as much space as trees. Multi-tasking easy-care shrubs include box species (attractive foliage, good for hedging, low maintenance); Camellia (flowers, foliage, hedging); lavender (flowers, scent, foliage, hedging, containers); Choisya (flowers, scent, foliage, hedging) and many Viburnum (flowers, scent, berries).
7. Pretty perennials
Layered planting is a good option for small outdoor spaces, with colourful, flowering perennials used in the lower layer and shrubs, climbers or small trees forming the upper layers. Go for one type of perennial and mass-plant in clumps along the base of walls and hedges, around the base of trees and to fill bare spaces. Try Achillea, coloured miniature flaxes, day lilies (above), Dietes, Heuchera, pinks (Dianthus), dwarf red-hot pokers, Rudbeckia and yarrow.
Layered planting is a good option for small outdoor spaces, with colourful, flowering perennials used in the lower layer and shrubs, climbers or small trees forming the upper layers. Go for one type of perennial and mass-plant in clumps along the base of walls and hedges, around the base of trees and to fill bare spaces. Try Achillea, coloured miniature flaxes, day lilies (above), Dietes, Heuchera, pinks (Dianthus), dwarf red-hot pokers, Rudbeckia and yarrow.
8. Edible gardens
Lack of space doesn’t mean you can’t have an edible garden. Many herbs and vegetables grow really well in containers. There is also an extensive range of dwarf fruit trees available today that can be grown in large pots or planters.
Find out what edibles you can grow in pots
Lack of space doesn’t mean you can’t have an edible garden. Many herbs and vegetables grow really well in containers. There is also an extensive range of dwarf fruit trees available today that can be grown in large pots or planters.
Find out what edibles you can grow in pots
9. Mixing it up
Several edible plants, such as artichoke (above left), rhubarb and lemongrass are so beautiful they are often planted for their looks alone. Mixing attractive edibles with ornamental plants, as shown here, is an excellent way to save on space in small gardens. For example, use purple-leaved cabbage, sage and basil to add colour, and edge garden beds with chives, parsley or a rosemary hedge.
Several edible plants, such as artichoke (above left), rhubarb and lemongrass are so beautiful they are often planted for their looks alone. Mixing attractive edibles with ornamental plants, as shown here, is an excellent way to save on space in small gardens. For example, use purple-leaved cabbage, sage and basil to add colour, and edge garden beds with chives, parsley or a rosemary hedge.
10. In the shade
Many small city gardens are heavily shaded by high neighbouring walls or buildings. Don’t let this put you off the whole idea of having a garden as there are many gorgeous shade-tolerant plants around including clivia (above), ferns, daphne, fuchsia, Heuchera, Hosta, impatiens, Liriope, taro and rhododendron.
MORE
10 Ways to Make Your Small Garden Feel Bigger
11 Ways to Max the Benefits of a Small Outdoor Space
Boundary Booster: Magical Ideas for Garden Walls
11 Clever Tricks with Side Gardens
Many small city gardens are heavily shaded by high neighbouring walls or buildings. Don’t let this put you off the whole idea of having a garden as there are many gorgeous shade-tolerant plants around including clivia (above), ferns, daphne, fuchsia, Heuchera, Hosta, impatiens, Liriope, taro and rhododendron.
MORE
10 Ways to Make Your Small Garden Feel Bigger
11 Ways to Max the Benefits of a Small Outdoor Space
Boundary Booster: Magical Ideas for Garden Walls
11 Clever Tricks with Side Gardens
Simplicity is key for a successful small garden whether you’re choosing hard landscaping materials (pavers, structures) or soft materials (plants). It’s essential to be really strong and try to limit your plant selection to only one species of tree, two or three shrub species and likewise for perennials. You can add extra variety with pots of annuals or bulbs, but keep the main planting palette as simple as possible as shown in this Brisbane garden.