Contemporary Gardens – The Porsche Gardens by Flemons & Warland (cloud trees supplied by Paramount Plants)
We’re pretty sure you don’t need us to tell you that modern life is stressful. We live in a fast-paced world, where everybody wants something and they want it now! With this in mind, it is all the more important to have a quiet place that you can escape to.
A contemporary garden design is ideal for those who have limited time to carry out gardening. A modern garden is low maintenance, drought-tolerant and most importantly, a haven of calm amongst all of the mayhem.
To help you create a sleek, streamlined garden, here at Paramount Plants we’ve put together our tips and favourite plants for adding a touch of sophistication to your garden.
John Davies designed contemporary garden with Black Bamboo and Tree Ferns
Seclusion
Privacy from nosey neighbours is a top priority. The aim is to make your garden feel contained as though it is an extra room; an extension of your home. A simple and effective way to add seclusion to your garden is with evergreen screening. Bamboo is a fantastic choice for a contemporary look. This versatile and hardy plant is very popular for adding privacy without being too ‘heavy’. Bamboo leaves also produce a soothing, yet gentle rustling sound in the breeze – you’ll be so relaxed, you won’t want to go inside!
Phyllostachys Aurea or Golden Bamboo is a large evergreen bamboo with bright green canes that turn a wonderful yellow-gold with age. If you want to add a shaded element to your garden, then Yellow Groove Bamboo or Phyllostachys Aureosulcata is a good choice, as this bamboo thrives in full sun. This dense and bushy bamboo with warm yellow-orange canes is ideal for adding around a seated area to provide respite from the sun.
Heights and Textures
A key component of the contemporary garden is planning. Decide in advance which areas of your garden you would like to add plants to and have a simple layout in mind. The beauty of a modern garden is that it is supposed to look organised and controlled. This way every aspect of your garden is tailored to fit your needs, not the other way around. Once you have decided where you would like to strategically place focal foliage points, think about mixing different heights and textures for a striking look.
For a touch of eye-catching greenery and for a plant that works well with other varieties, take a look at our vast collection of Ferns. From the delicate Japanese Painted Fern to the bold Tasmanian Tree Fern, these are an excellent choice for any modern garden.
Evergreen Palm Trees are ideal for adding architectural dimensions to gardens. These exotic plants are striking and come in a variety of sizes, meaning that you can easily add height diversity to your plant collection.
Ornamental Grasses are sleek and hardy, making them ideal for a low-maintenance garden. These plants can provide an interesting texture and a splash of colour if you opt for Phormiums.
We have some amazing offers on Phormiums right now – read our latest blog for details
Contemporary Urban Garden with topiary
Topiary
Fundamental to contemporary garden design is the Topiary Plant. As topiary specialists, we pride ourselves on our collection of stunning sculpted plants, including, Cloud Trees, topiary Bay Trees & Cones, topiary Spirals and Globes
Buxus Globes and other topiary plants feature regularly in contemporary gardens
Topiary adds structure and order to garden design and this is a staple of modern man-made landscapes. The addition of one or more topiary plants is essential for a minimalist look whilst still adding an ‘artistic’ edge to any garden.
Will you be following our tips for a contemporary garden? We would love to hear from you, please leave us a comment in the comment section below!
