19 Beautiful Garden Styles for Your Outdoor Landscape

Whether starting from scratch or reinventing an existing space, choosing a style is one of the first steps in making a garden. Style (or styles) inform design decisions; they help stay on course with the overall garden concept. Garden style guides the layout and organization of the space for a dynamic landscape that meets your aesthetic and functional goals.

Garden styles are personal, creative endeavors. They complement the style of the home, evoke mood, create functional spaces, beautify and enrich the site, or all of the above. Styles provide guiding principles, but more importantly, they work within site conditions. Plants suited to your garden’s sun and shade conditions, soil types, and water levels are essential to any style you choose.

Select a primary garden style or blend styles using different garden zones to organize themes cohesively. Contrast abundant wildflowers, for example, with sheared boxwood borders, or plant a kitchen garden in one area and a cutting garden in another. You probably already have a keen garden style — Here is how to embrace its overarching themes and get inspired to add your own embellishments.

Wild

The naturalistic garden is one of the loosest and most carefree styles. If designed correctly, it is among the prettiest and most ecologically-sound. While natural landscapes lend a wild aesthetic, it takes finesse to distinguish between naturalistic and unmaintained. Draw inspiration from prairies, meadows, and lush perennial plantings.

Wild gardens reflect a return to nature in style and function. They often incorporate native plants or cultivars and minimize turf areas, converting lawns to planting beds or alternate groundcovers. With a focus on perennials, naturalistic gardens involve plants with varying textures and colors.

Chaos gardening is a form of wildscaping where one scatters seeds and plants freely to see what thrives. This naturalized garden experiment is a fun way to learn which plants are the most successful in a specific garden situation.

Naturalistic garden beds create an informal look, though the overall style depends on the garden layout. With beds defined by their borders, create a lovely aesthetic by establishing a boundary between naturalized zones and those used for daily living. Borders of mown grassy areas, a low wall, ornamental fence, or hardscape path give order to naturalistic spaces.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Dogwood	Cornus florida
Redbud	Cercis spp.
Serviceberry	Amelanchier spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Inkberry holly	Ilex glabra
Oakleaf hydrangea	Hydrangea quercifolia
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Ornamental grasses	Pennisetum spp.
Salvia	Salvia spp.
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium

Contemporary

Contemporary landscapes embrace simplicity, efficiency, and functionality, often through linear planting beds, tiers, and hardscaping. Sculptural plants balance the design with color, form, and texture. Modern landscapes aren’t all about rigidity; they use soft textures to balance the high structure. Flowering perennials and ornamental grasses enliven contemporary spaces.

Fewer plant varieties yield a more significant impact in modernist gardens. Repeat plants to achieve patterns in layout, form, and texture. 

Keep the color palette streamlined but recurrent, relying on green, white, and silver foliage as the base and punctuating with additional seasonal interest. Contemporary and futuristic gardens often use metallic hues and unusual colors.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cypress	Cupressus spp.
Japanese maple	Acer palmatum
Birch	Betula spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Yew	Taxus baccata
Podocarpus	Podocarpus macrophyllus
Boxwood	Buxus sempervirens

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Ornamental grasses	Pennisetum spp.
Stonecrop	Sedum spp.
Agapanthus	Agapanthus africanus

Tropical

You don’t have to live in the tropics to evoke the energy, vibrancy, and relaxing warmth of paradise. Many plants give a tropically inspired feel to fit your climate zone and sun/shade conditions.

Tropical gardens transport us with their distinct plant features like broad leaves, upright or trailing forms, wild blooms, and rich foliage colors. From lime green to dark purple, tropical hues enhance the experience.

If you live in a colder climate, plant true tropicals like palms, bromeliad, bird’s nest ferns, orchids, and bird of paradise in containers to enjoy indoors during winter months. Return them to the garden as temperatures warm. Embellish with blooms like bougainvillea, tropical hibiscus, and ginger.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Sabal palm	Sabal palmetto
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba
Crape myrtle	Lagerstroemia indica

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Fatsia	Fatsia japonica
Hibiscus	Hibiscus moscheutos
Pineapple guava	Acca sellowiana

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cast iron plant	Aspidistra elatior
Elephant ear	Colocasia spp.
Canna lily	Canna spp.

Formal

Gardens with a formal tone are timeless. They evoke a clean, peaceful quality through organized linear spaces and repetition. Evergreen hedges, often sheared, create natural borders for planting beds and walkways. A low boxwood hedge filled with roses or hydrangeas balances lushness with order. 

White is a natural color choice for formal gardens, but color isn’t limited as long as you stick to a scheme. Select a single color to repeat in the garden, or incorporate a few complementary or contrasting hues. Simplifying color arrangements creates an inviting space while minimizing overly busy ones. Repeat plant forms and colors consistently for formal unity.

Embellish the formal garden with containers and traditional hardscape materials like stone and brickwork. Play with loose plantings among the stylized evergreen structural plants.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Italian cypress	Cupressus sempervirens
Maple	Acer spp.
Linden	Tilia spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Boxwood	Buxus spp.
Roses	Rosa spp.
Hydrangea	Hydrangea spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Foxglove	Digitalis purpurea
Heuchera	Heuchera
Hosta	Hosta spp.

Woodland

Woodland gardens provide tranquil immersion into nature. A woodland is a layered landscape showcasing different plant heights and features, from vertical elements of tall trees with attractive bark and branching down to soft groundcovers for infill and seasonal interest. 

In planning a woodland retreat, focus on trees as the specimens and work around them by adding shrubs and groundcovers in groupings.

Use color to brighten up the shade through blooms and foliage. Incorporate natural materials like wood and stone for hardscaping and outdoor seating. 

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Oak	Quercus spp.
Elm	Ulmus spp.
Pine	Pinus spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Azalea	Rhododendron spp.
Sweetbox	Sarcococca spp.
Viburnum	Viburnum spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Hellebore	Helleborus spp.
Astilbe	Astilbe spp.
Japanese painted fern	Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

English Cottage

English cottage gardens imbue charm through classic flowering plants in loose arrangements. There is no need to overdesign the cottage garden – leave room for whimsy and nature to set the stage. A range of pastels and spring colors with pops of bright colors add to this romantic style, as do varying plant textures.

Use curved bed lines and pathways for informal circulation and let plants trail and overflow. Rustic, natural structures like picket fences and arbors bring a fitting vertical element for climbing vines and roses.

Cottage gardens feel exuberant and spontaneous. As your garden matures, cultivate the star performers and weed out unwanted volunteers to maintain a bounty of blooms.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Fig	Ficus carica
Silverbell	Halesia carolina
Chaste tree	Vitex agnus-castus

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Climbing Roses	Rosa spp.
Hydrangea	Hydrangea spp.
Camellia	Camellia spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Heuchera	Heuchera
Delphinium	Delphinium
Peonies	Paeonia

Kitchen

Edible landscapes provide unique opportunities for beauty, pollinator resources, and, of course, growing fresh food. The potager is a French-inspired kitchen garden where vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers grow together. It’s the romantic cottage garden style in food-producing form. Aside from the potager, edible landscapes range from container gardens to homesteads and everything in between.

Since kitchen gardens provide a function, they must be accessible for tending crops and seasonal turnover. Artfully arranged raised beds and planted rows cushioned with beneficial companion plantings create aesthetically pleasing and diverse gardens. Companion plants attract beneficial insects and promote healthy food crops.

Perennials and structural plants provide multi-season appeal and unify the edible garden. In keeping the potager’s loose style, incorporate climbing vines, wildflower borders, and rustic elements like trellises and gates.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Citrus (lemon, lime, orange, mandarin)	Varies
Stone fruits (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries)	Varies
Apple	Malus spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Blueberry	Vaccinium corymbosum
Tea camellia	Camellia sinensis
Pineapple guava	Acca sellowiana

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Lavender	Lavendula spp.
Salvia	Salvia spp.
Rosemary	Salvia rosmarinus

Sensory

Sensory gardens delight the senses through plants and features that engage sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Our senses awaken when we experience nature in a variety of ways, with therapeutic contributions to our overall well-being.

Engage the sense of sight through plant colors and textures, using high-contrast tones and leaf types. Blues, purples, and whites evoke a sense of calm, while hot colors in reds, yellows, and oranges energize a space. An upright bloom spike against feathery foliage draws the eye. The fine blades of ornamental grasses add rich texture and movement, rustling in the breeze for an element of sound.

Incorporate fragrant plants for additional sensory delight and rely on herbs like lavender and rosemary for smell, touch, and taste. Pluck edible flowers, fruits, and veggies to engage the taste buds. Enjoy the buzz of bees and songbirds with pollinator-attracting plants.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Willow	Salix spp.
Aspen	Populus tremuloides
Strawberry tree	Arbutus unedo

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Witch hazel	Hamamelis virginiana
Soft touch holly	Ilex crenata ‘Soft Touch’
Banana shrub	Magnolia figo

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Lavender	Lavendula spp.
Rosemary	Salvia rosmarinus
Lamb’s ear	Stachys byzantina

Courtyard

Courtyards and balconies bring wonderful opportunities for intimate garden spaces. Employ potted specimens and accents to add overall style.

Containers are mobile architectural elements that enliven gardens of any size. Use potted arrangements to feature plants for color, fragrance, and form – all adding seasonal interest to the beholder. Showcase trees, shrubs, and perennials, and move them around at will to vary your aesthetic. Play with planting designs to keep them exciting.

Consider container placement, creating a single focal point or a clustered grouping of varying sizes. Hanging baskets and trellises introduce a vertical element for a sense of enclosure.

To vary the seasonal displays, use annuals, anchoring evergreens, and perennials. Containers are valuable, too, in quiet times like winter. Use them for specialty interests.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Japanese maple	Acer palmatum
‘Bonfire’ patio peach	Prunus persica ‘Bonfire’
Kousa dogwood	Cornus kousa

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Climbing roses	Rosa spp.
Gardenia	Gardenia jasminoides
‘Little Ollie’ Dwarf olive	Olea Europaea ‘Montra’

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Lavendar	Lavendula spp.
Agastache	Agastache foeniculum
Peony	Paeonia spp.

Mediterranean

I recently moved to a Mediterranean climate in California, and it’s so much fun seeing what blooms and thrives year-round. With warm, arid summers and cool, wet winters, plants bridge the tropics and the desert. There are five true Mediterranean climate zones worldwide, but with the proper plant selection, this laid-back, sun-soaked garden style adapts anywhere.

Mediterranean plants are often drought-tolerant, going for long seasons without rain and with low maintenance requirements. Drought-tolerant plants suit a variety of landscape needs these days, making the Mediterranean a fitting style. Incorporate succulents and cacti, drought-adapted perennials, and specimens like fruit, olive, and palm trees.

Extractions of natural hues dominate the Mediterranean style, from the azure blues of the seaside to deep red, earthen tones. Use terracotta and ceramic planters to embellish and overwinter tender plants in protected areas. Invite color through vibrant plantings and accessories like tiled pieces or a painted wall. Gravel makes a prime surface for outdoor seating areas and minimizes lawns.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cypress	Cupressus spp.
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus spp.
Olive	Olea europaea

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Bottlebrush	Callistemon citrinus
Bougainvillea	Bougainvillea spp.
Oleander	Nerium oleander

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Agave	Agave americana
Mexican bush sage	Salvia leucantha
Echeveria	Echeveria elegans

Desert

Like the Mediterranean style, the desert garden style is relevant for water-conscious landscapes (and for many of us, the need for naturally drought-adapted plants is increasing). Desert gardens teem with life despite their rugged durability to withstand temperature and water extremes. If you don’t live in a desert but want an xeric garden, consider incorporating elements of the sun-drenched desert style through native plants adapted to your climate zone and nature-based features.

Desert gardens combine structure and plantings to organize the space. Walls and arbors provide needed shade; use rich, earthy colors and materials to blend them with the landscape. Use boulders and gravel surfaces as accents. Extract desert tones like red, sienna, deep purple, mustard, and copper to bring in vivid color through paint and accessories. 

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Palo verde	Parkinsonia florida
Ironwood	Olneya tesota
Cedar	Cedrus spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Desert rose	Adenium arabicum
Yucca	Yucca spp.
Pencil cactus	Euphorbia tirucalli

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Agave	Agave americana
Ornamental grasses	Pennisetum spp.
Bougainvillea	Bougainvillea spp.

Coastal

Coastal gardens inspire leisurely evenings watching the summer sunset. These low-maintenance gardens must withstand varying soil types, water levels, salt spray, sun, and winds. The hardy, adaptable plants for coastal regions also make a splash in the landlocked garden, bringing seaside tranquility inland.

Use plants that sway and move in the garden, like ornamental grasses and palms. For interest, rely on muted hues of blues and peach with pops of brighter color. 

Incorporate light-colored pebbles or gravel and stonework for a seaside feel. Consider oyster shell hardscapes (tabby) for natural authenticity.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Oak	Quercus spp.
Crape myrtle	Lagerstroemia indica
Sabal palm	Sabal palmetto

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Camellia	Camellia spp.
Gardenia	Gardenia jasminoides
Azalea	Rhododendron spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Muhly grass	Muhlenbergia capillaris
Agapanthus	Agapanthus africanus
Multiflora roses	Rosa multiflora

Asian-Inspired

Asian-inspired gardens create contemplative, peaceful places seeking balance in nature and the man-made. The landscape is an extension of the home or the surrounding landscape. With roots in Shintoism, Buddhism, and Daoism, these gardens reflect a blended experience in the spiritual, aesthetic, and natural. Rocks, water, plants, and art unify the style.

With gardens as distillations of the larger natural landscape, water represents rivers and lakes. Add a water feature for soothing sound and reflection. Rocks are the mountains that punctuate the garden. Incorporate smooth stones for touch and a pleasing aesthetic (even better if the water runs over the stones).

Plants reflect the forest. Revere specimen trees and layer plantings down to detailed ferns and mosses. Plan for multi-season color and transition. The artful details of the garden control its natural feel.

Asian-inspired gardens often incorporate artful ornaments like carved woodwork, ceramics, and walls. A bamboo fence or trellis gives texture and verticality and frames a view. Create focal points with pops of red, a pergola, well-placed containers, or structural bonsai.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Pine	Pinus spp.
Flowering cherry	Prunus serrulata
Japanese maple	Acer palmatum

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Yew	Taxus baccata
Azalea	Rhododendron spp.
Pieris	Pieris japonica

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Astilbe	Astilbe spp.
Japanese painted fern	Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
Japanese forest grass	Hakonechloa macra

Cutting

Like kitchen gardens, cut flower gardens serve a production role. Beauty meets bounty with a ready harvest at hand. Creating a designated cutting garden allows us to snip and plunder freely without distracting from garden aesthetics or valuable visitors (i.e., pollinators). Cutting gardens increase biodiversity by attracting beneficial garden insects and birds.

Whether you’re a professional gardener or growing for personal enjoyment, cutting gardens work well at any scale. Planting in rows — crop-style — allows easy access and organization, whether by species, height, mass planting; whatever works best for you. Mix textures and heights for variety,

Perennials bring reliable beauty to the cutting garden, including seed heads that persist into winter. Combine them with seasonal annuals for a constant source of display-ready blooms. Don’t forget flowering shrubs and trees to add interest to floral arrangements. 

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Flowering cherry	Prunus serrulata
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus spp.
Magonolia	Magnolia grandiflora

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Hydrangea	Hydrangea spp.
Viburnum	Viburnum spp.
Roses	Rosa spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Lily	Lillium spp.
Peony	Paeonia spp.
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium

Rock

Whether you’re looking to support a slope, utilize existing boulders, go xeric, or showcase the stately geologic elements of your area, rock gardens create dynamic solutions to problem areas and provide high visual interest as landscape features. Many plants thrive in rock gardens; look to those well-suited to your zone and rock garden theme (high altitude, dry basin, slope, desert, Asian-inspired, etc.).

Rock gardens allow the incorporation of plants of varying scales, from tall shrubs and perennials to low-growing groundcovers and miniature varieties. Include plants to nestle between rocks and to soften edges. Layer plants for a naturalistic look, or opt for high structure with clean lines and strong plant forms (agave, cacti, ornamental grasses) that highlight the rocks.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Spruce	Picea spp.
Cedar	Cedrus spp.
Strawberry tree	Arbutus unedo

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Creeping juniper	Juniperus horizontalis
Rock rose	Cistus spp.
Manzanita	Arctostaphylos manzanita

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Sedum	Sedum spp.
Sempervivum	Sempervivum tectorum
Creeping phlox	Phlox subulata

Gothic

The gothic style conjures a garden of relics; a Victorian-era theme imbuing mystery and drama around every turn. Dark and moody plantings frame gargoyles, antique statues, and sculptures. Repurposed materials (think antique iron gates, brickwork, and stone) find new use in this reimagined style.

Arranging a gothic garden is like designing a delightful, nostalgic set. Indulge in the delight of dark plants, from blooms to foliage. Look for trees with exciting leaves or unique bark, and shrubs with dramatic foliage or flowers (like black roses). Unleash the world of purple-black perennials and annuals. 

Create focal points of whimsy and incorporate a water feature: a small reflective pool or bog garden is perfect, with carnivorous plants and accompanying fish and frogs. The overall effect is tranquility with a flair for the eerily beautiful.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Smoke tree	Cotinus coggygria
Cryptomeria	Cryptomeria japonica
Crabapple	Malus sylvestris

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Weigela	Weigela florida
Witch hazel	Hamamelis virginiana
Yew	Taxus baccata

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Black mondo grass	Ophiopogon planiscapus
Heuchera	Heuchera spp.
Dahlia ‘Dark Angel Dracula’	Dahlia ‘Dark Angel Dracula’

Insectary

Insectary gardens attract an array of pollinators and beneficial insects. Beneficial insects include ladybugs, lacewings, dragonflies, and others that prey on garden pests, improving the overall health of the garden system. Beneficial insects improve plant vigor without chemical treatments.

Rely on native plants to provide pollen, nectar, and shelter to pollinators and beneficial insects. Many plants host caterpillars and larvae of the insects we want to attract to the garden, so let them nibble away on this informal planting theme.

Plant a variety of plant forms for diversity, including heights, textures, and bloom types. Use leaf litter as natural mulch – it enriches the soil and provides shelter and overwintering habitat for bees and other insects. Incorporate a pebble-and-sand-lined water dish or birdbath to mimic a natural puddling pool for drinking and mineral absorption.

The insectary garden is a beautiful way to enrich the overall ecosystem of your garden at large. Enjoy the energy of the buzzing birds, butterflies, and bees, the movement and sway of the plants, and all the other sensory goodness the insectary invites.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Birch	Betula spp.
Tulip tree	Liriodendron tulipifera
Thuja	Thuja occidentalis

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Pussy willow	Salix discolor
Beautyberry	Callicarpa americana
Spicebush	Calycanthus floridus

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
New England aster	Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Goldenrod	Solidago spp.
Butterfly milkweed	Asclepias spp.

Color-Inspired

Color is one of the most exciting parts of garden-making. It’s also the first component to draw the eye. Victorian-era inspirations, color-themed gardens revolve around hues of a particular color arrangement. The Gilded Age revived this concept and never went out of style. Blues, pinks, and whites became central themes of a single planting arrangement. 

Blue gardens appeal to sight and smell and attract butterflies and bees. White gardens provide cooling respite and peace, a break from more colorful and frivolous garden areas. White gardens highlight silver, gray, white, and green shades, brightening summer evenings. Pink and pastel shades create a romantic look to soothe the senses. Reds bring in hummingbirds.

Color-themed gardens fit any overarching garden style. They can be:

• Monochromatic (single-color shades)
• Analogous (blended shades in the same color range)
• Complementary (opposite shades for contrast) 

Choose a hue that appeals to you and your garden mood for a color garden, and build plant selection around it. For high contrast, choose two opposite shades on the color wheel. Use a variety of plant forms and textures that you would in any other garden arrangement – with so many plant varieties available, designing for color is limitless.

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
Magnolia	Magnolia grandiflora
Crape myrtle	Lagerstroemia indica
Redbud	Cercis spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Hydrangea	Hydrangea spp.
Camellia	Camellia spp.
Lilac	Syringa spp.

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
‘Powis Castle’ Artemesia	Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’
Heuchera	Heuchera spp.
Russian sage	Perovskia atriplicifolia

Eco-Conscious

Eco-conscious elements suit any garden style. As gardeners, we often work to balance nature and aesthetics and to enrich site conditions. Ecological methods adapt and evolve:  here are a few to frame an ecologically friendly garden.

A key factor in eco-conscious gardens is water management. Rainwater is critical – capturing it, recirculating it, working with it through natural diversions and rain gardens, and with appropriate plant selection. Incorporate permeable hardscapes like gravel and decomposed granite to reduce runoff.

Foster biodiversity and create habitat with native plants and others that produce nectar and pollen. Use companion plantings to support beneficial insects and overall plant vigor. Leave seeds as blooms fade for wildlife forage, and let fall leaves become mulch.

Use local materials and plants, especially those that can grow without neonicotinoids (affecting pollinators at bloom time) or other pesticides. Minimize lawns, equipment-intensive zones, and plants reliant on chemical applications. 

Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name
River birch	Betula nigra
Oak	Quercus spp.
Hawthorn	Crataegus spp.

Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name
Star anise	Illicium floridanum
Inkberry holly	Ilex glabra
Sweetspire	Itea virginica

Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta
Echinacea	Echinacea purpurea
Blanketflower	Gaillardia spp.