Are you watching colour trends, and do you like to experiment not only indoors but also in your garden or on your terrace?
The very latest is Transformative Teal, often described as teal or turquoise. Some plants naturally display this colour, mainly in their foliage and more rarely in their flowers. This can be used in the garden with a few colourful pots set against a more neutral palette.
See how to introduce this teal outside the home!
What is this new trend? How to use it in the garden?
Blue and green are cool colours on the colour wheel. Combining the two gives a very aquatic note, which can almost seem artificial in a garden setting. The English term 'teal' appears from the 1950s in interior design, where it is most often seen. This blue‑green is the colour that highlights the eyes of teals, the small freshwater ducks. Here, the expression 'bleu canard' seems best to express this intense shade.
It is mainly foliage that approaches this colour, described in botany as a glaucous blue: it is often found in hostas, many blue‑tinged conifers or some perennials, and in the pruinose leaves of certain shrubs. Among the rare flowers, look to distant beauties such as the Chilean Puya or the Asian Strongylodon macrobotrys.
The most flattering combinations for flowers or pots are white, very soft yellows and orange or brick tones, as well as all shades flirting with chartreuse green (see green flowers).
Avoid saturating the scene with overly cool tones like grey or silver; instead, enliven it with neighbouring colours on the colour wheel such as sulphur yellow, acid green or jade green.
Finally, rely on accessories: choose glazed pots in matching hues to reflect the light effectively, or furniture and seating in aniseed tones.
In an exotic‑style garden
This is perhaps the easiest way to reveal the subtleties of teal, since the exotic plant palette – tropical or dry exotic – offers several options for sunny areas. With centre stage given to the extraordinary flowers of Puya berteroniana, Puya alpestris or the jade vine in the least frost‑prone gardens, and the white spikes on glaucous foliage of some Yucca (notably Yucca aloifolia or Yucca rostrata), count on the striking blue‑green foliage of Melianthus major and the bluer, greyer leaves of Eucalyptus and Pinus parviflora. A bicolour arum, white and green, Zantedeschia 'Green Goddess' planted in sufficiently cool soil will wrap the scene in its refreshing trumpets.
In a dry exotic garden, an unusually blue senecio, Senecio serpens 'Dwarf Blue', can take pride of place and nearly steal the show from Dasylirion, such as Dasylirion glaucophyllum.
In a mixed border or English garden
Different mood, different style: a cottage‑style garden planted with large borders is also well suited to playing the teal note, as several attractive perennials carry this almost turquoise shade, often in a lighter tone. Representative plants include Mertensia maritima (also called oysterleaf), Crambe beloved in cottage gardens, rue (Ruta graveolens) and Cerinthe major.
A few selected flowers in soft tones, from white to mauve‑pink, will provide the necessary link so the planting does not slip into a dull bluish monochrome: catananche for a rustic touch, Erigeron karvinskianus, mauve or white hosta spikes, etc.
Bring in almond‑green and yellow‑greens such as the downy Ballota pseudodictamnus or the inflorescences of giant Cephalaria. A graceful grass such as Sesleria nitida will add the lightness suited to this ambience.
In a pot garden of succulents
Here, opt for tone‑on‑tone plants in matching pots. The result is perfect on a south‑facing balcony or a terrace that basks in hot summer sun. Many cacti and succulents have that characteristic pruinose blue that protects them from heat. Start with agaves and some handsome echeverias, such as Echeveria 'Miranda', Echeveria peacockii 'Urban Orange' and Echeveria 'Blue Curls'. Don't forget Euphorbia x pseudovirgata 'Redwing' 'Charam' with its bluish young shoots.
An aloe completes this mini dry garden perfectly, for example Aloe marlothii, or, for small spaces, a dwarf aloe such as 'Aloe nain' (Aloe aristata).
Terracotta pots, raw or glazed, will provide either a flattering orange contrast or a very chic monochrome. In this small world, adding a few orange blooms is perfect: Bulbine or dwarf day‑lilies, for example.
In shade for an aquatic feel
It is in shade or partial shade that glaucous green holds up best against heat in certain perennials such as hostas. There they show colours whose subtle nuances are especially highlighted in standout varieties like Hosta 'Canadian Blue', Hosta 'Drinking Gourd' and Hosta 'Waterslide' with greyer tones. Add some equally bluish sedges (Carex 'Bunny Blue'), evergreen ferns (Polystichum polyblepharum), white flower spikes to pair ideally with astilbes, a water trough used as a drinking bowl or fountain… and enjoy this very relaxing atmosphere.
Discover many more plants to achieve this turquoise palette in our "Transformative Teal" selection online, and in our 2026 trend booklet!
Do you love blue and green in the garden? Great — we explain everything you need to know about designing a blue garden and using blue in Elevate your garden with indigo blue. Marion also shares useful tips in How to create the illusion of water with plants?
Are you watching colour trends, and do you like to experiment not only indoors but also in your garden or on your terrace?The very latest is Transformative Teal, often described as teal or turquoise. Some plants naturally display this colour, mainly in their foliage and more rarely in their flowers. This
Bali, Island of the Gods, is a unique place in Indonesian archipelago. A paradisiacal vision of distant horizons, it has inspired many landscapers seeking exoticism and refinement in the garden. The Balinese garden is one of the current trends to explore for gardeners looking for paradise on earth!
By opting for plants that withstand climatic conditions of our northern-hemisphere gardens, the Balinese garden becomes an atypical inspiration to adapt at home, interesting for dedicated, sheltered areas. Let’s see how to deploy lush foliage that transports us to the ends of the earth, from water garden to enclosed garden and poolside areas.
Design codes of Balinese garden: colours and decorative elements
Anyone who has visited Bali knows this tiny Hindu enclave within vast Indonesia gathers architectural and natural treasures that have made it an extremely popular destination in recent years.
It can be described as a concentrate of nature, impressive rice terraces, but also a pervasive mineral quality due to its volcanic character, and a spirituality combined with a unique aesthetic. Everything here is refinement, and gardens hide, behind lush greenery, stone statues, omnipresent deities receiving daily offerings. Decorative elements also come from dark stone, local basalt, and polished black pebbles. Water in ponds or fountains, wooden terraces, rattan, bamboo or exotic wood furniture, carved Indian doors are all invitations to simulate, at home, entrance to a second imaginary garden. Lava stone and basalt can easily be replaced by slate, schist or suitable ceramics. Large pots and basins punctuate the spaces, and where possible a canopy adds an Asian spirit. The contrast between green foliage and dark mineral is often enhanced by a brightly coloured Balinese parasol with fringes. Finally, a mobile evoking sound of local gamelan (traditional Balinese orchestra) completes Balinese atmosphere.
The jungle garden
This garden, essentially made up of foliage, fits perfectly with Balinese garden where lush foliage takes precedence over flowering, which is present but remains secondary to plant abundance.
The Balinese garden integrates perfectly into an exotic or jungle garden: choose a sheltered part of the garden to transform into a Balinese green lounge, where hardy palm trees, giant ferns, Tetrapanax and other plants suited to our harsher climates will take place, planted en masse, around a few perennials chosen for their XXL foliage or dissected leaves: evergreen ferns such as Asplenium scolopendrium and Matteuccia struthiopteris, Cyathea medullaris, variegated Arundo donax 'Variegata', and Petasites with large leaves. Here and there plant some Crinum asiaticum bulbs in damp soil to add delicate blooms.
Around a pool in a seaside garden
Framing a reserved garden area such as a pool is a great way to imagine being in Bali. Tropical plants from the island are too tender for our climate, so choose substitutes to recreate Balinese postcard. In our example, simplicity is expressed with evergreen plants required around pool, and splendid foliage.
Banana trees, cordylines, bamboo palm provide the structure, enhanced by Coleus in aniseed tones such as 'Copinto Caipirinha' or 'Margarita' and a black-leaved Colocasia.
Be sparing in contemporary layouts with three or four plants maximum, slightly more generous in a denser garden. Here, Balinese parasol and wooden sun lounger become must-have accessories for hot summer days.
In a sheltered garden with mild climate
This is certainly the most suitable place to establish a Balinese garden, especially if you live on Brittany and Atlantic coast benefiting from sufficient humidity to approach island’s humid tropical climate, or around Mediterranean basin by adapting some plants. You can enjoy plants with beautiful foliage, a little tender but that will survive mild winters in these regions or that can be planted in large pots: Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata', showy variegated gingers, replacing colours of local Cordylines. A queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), a frangipani (Plumeria obtusa) chosen for its delicacy and intoxicating fragrance can join the scene.
In Mediterranean areas, a traveller's tree and tropical palm trees can even be considered! Also think of a beautiful exotic climber such as pink bignonia and some ismenes for an extra exotic touch.
By planting densely, you recover the jungle effect described above. Decorative elements complete scene such as an ornate door or a painted shutter, and a bamboo chime.
Water garden in Balinese style
Water is omnipresent in Bali and in its finest gardens. You can easily imagine a Balinese garden centred on a water scene, whether a mini-pond or larger wet area. Plant species that like damp soil or can be partly submerged such as papyrus, lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and water lilies are perfect. Arums, rodgersias and ligularias work well with their large foliage to infuse tropical atmosphere beyond their white or yellow blooms. For a larger area add a Gunnera, Brazilian rhubarb, impressive once established, or Astilboides tabularis. Here we like variegated foliage of Fatsia japonica 'Spider Web' near the water to add more exceptional foliage.
Decor is important here too: a single Hindu statuette, some pebbles or black paving and a rain chain are perfect!
Tropical escape in a courtyard, patio or enclosed garden
These very sheltered spots allow installation of plants that would not survive elsewhere. Presence of walls creates microclimate beneficial to Balinese garden. Selection below suits a sunny spot, and all these plants also grow well in pots and can be overwintered if necessary.
By replacing Cordyline fruticosa found in Bali with Cordyline banksii, equally colourful but hardier, you bring maximum colour, enhanced for example by bright red or pink of a common Rose mallow that performs well in a pot when substrate is kept moist. Beside them an essential banana, Musa 'Basjoo', interesting for cold tolerance and eventual size, or large unicolour cannas that also bring exotic feel. A compact climber can also slip in, such as Gloriosa rothschildiana. Bring out a Monstera or bird of paradise from the living room for summer and install a small temporary fountain to perfect tropical ambience.
Find Find our selection of plants suited to exotic spirit on our online nursery as well as our Balinese Garden inspiration page in our 2026 trend booklet !
Do you enjoy these lush, transporting atmospheres? Discover other inspiring scenes in these articles that address the theme:
- Design a garden inspired by Madeira, the island of flowers
- A banana tree in a small garden? our tips for integrating it well
- How to create a tropical atmosphere in a small garden?
- How to create a refreshing oasis in the garden or on the terrace?
And all our tips to create at home an atmosphere of exotic or tropical gardens:
Bali, Island of the Gods, is a unique place in Indonesian archipelago. A paradisiacal vision of distant horizons, it has inspired many landscapers seeking exoticism and refinement in the garden. The Balinese garden is one of the current trends to explore for gardeners looking for paradise on earth!By opting for plants that withstand climatic conditions […]
Terraces, courtyards, patios and small bohemian balconies are the new stars of summer! This very colourful "boho" trend that has invaded our interiors and wardrobes also appears in our summer green retreats. It matches the sunny cheerfulness of a season when we spend a lot of time outdoors.
Let’s take inspiration from the gypsy world to prepare bright alcoves on balconies, terraces and inner courtyards from the first fine days, with planting ideas and decorative elements. We explore this Boho Patio in three scenes easy to recreate at home!
Boho Patio codes
The bohemian atmosphere dresses itself in vivid, deep and variegated colours that answer one another, but also in associations of warm tones in the blooms: intense reds, deep violets, Indian pinks and spicy oranges, not forgetting bicoloured flowers. Bluish, golden or purplish foliage helps to reinforce this playful mood, bringing red or variegated splashes.
This mixed-up planting borrows from gypsy culture a festive, hybrid universe that laughs at convention and pairs a whole spectrum of colours, provided they are warm and bright.
This style is also based on improvisation, like manouche music, and on bold accents. This temperament appears in the garden in temporary scenes created especially for the summer months, and in the accumulation of mismatched small objects (side tables, stools, small cushions, etc.).
On the décor side, important for dining and relaxation areas, have fun with mismatched pairings: rustic furniture repainted turquoise or green, rattan chairs, fabric pouffes, Provençal floral and ethnic patterns juxtaposed with strong colours: turquoise, pink, orange and bright yellow. The advantage of this bohemian décor is that you can mix disparate objects and accessories, using what you already have at home or stored in the attic, to give them a second life: bring out granny’s lace and embroidery for the summer, macramé and trimmings, old rattan armchairs, baskets and fruit crates, airy curtains. In a joyful mix of materials, the décor is done!
On a sun-drenched terrace
Terrace or balcony are often west- or south-facing. They can be radically transformed into an ultra-cheerful cocoon with sun-tolerant plants that do well in pots. Explore a plant colour palette ranging from saffron yellow to violet for a truly bohemian vibe.
Alstroemerias 'Indian Summer', orange and yellow contrasting against bronze foliage, will look stunning alongside Coreopsis 'Cosmic Eye', a bright yellow spotted with purple, or the pretty all-yellow 'Full Moon Madness'. Add other long-flowering plants such as a common Rose mallow 'Pink Passion' with giant flowers and dark purple foliage, and provide more foliage interest with a pomegranate that can be grown in a pot, such as Punica granatum 'Nana', whose brilliant flowers will pair beautifully with the other perennials. For snacking at aperitif time, invite, for example, the surprising cherry tomatoes 'Akoya', whose fruits turn almost black.
In a semi-shaded urban patio
Small city courtyards benefit from focusing on colour and variegated or golden foliage to lift them out of the shade. In a semi-shaded patio receiving enough light and warmth in summer, opt for sunny flowers and a few "indestructibles":
Hosta 'The King', Hakonechloa macra and an Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia' for their golden and variegated foliage (Aucuba will reward you with pretty red berries a little earlier) together with the bold flowers of Hibiscus syriacus 'Hibisa rosada', and the Peruvian lily 'Duc d'Anjou'.
The bohemian spirit will also be present in accessories, essential in less bright areas and in smaller spaces.
Beyond plants, bring colour without fearing the boldest mixes. Dare genre-mixing: antique rug + Italian ceramics + small disparate or oversized objects and a cosy bench, etc. Here, the evening atmosphere will be especially worked on: lanterns, paper lanterns and candles, and don’t forget a crochet throw in these patios that are often cooler at night.
Garden refuge as an improvised alcove
This bohemian trend can also be expressed in a corner of the garden used as an improvised summer retreat.
In front of a shed, garden shelter or at the foot of a fine tree from which a rattan chair is hung, set up a summer hideaway using bohemian codes. A temporary terrace, improvised with clip-together wooden decking tiles readily available from DIY stores, is easy to install. In summer it becomes a true green cocoon perfect for relaxing on a garden sofa made of a few stacked pallets or large pouffes, in a fairground style.
Here, a few colourful annuals join the party: multicoloured zinnias and orange calendulas (marigolds) sown in pots in spring, or beds of African marigold 'Mango Tango' around the area, as well as sun-loving perennials such as the charming Delosperma 'Ocean Sunset Orange Glow'. Count on two striking pots of dahlias with evocative names, the fiery 'Bohemian Spartacus' and the more restrained compact 'Melody Gipsy', for a long and remarkable display. Sunflowers 'Mongolian Giant' will bring pep and height, while a pot of basil 'Everleaf Emerald Tower' will be handy for salads at barbecues or sunny lunches.
Gather your most colourful pots, bring in lace, hangings, vintage crockery and cushions: job done!
Discover other plants ideal for composing this bohemian green décor on a terrace in our "Boho Patio" selection online and in our trend booklet!
Feeling the bohemian spirit? Find our advice on creating a bohemian garden, and our inspirational sequences: Catalane and Peach Raspberry.
This Boho Patio trend also draws on recycling second‑hand objects. Explore our topics to let your creativity run free: Decor idea: plants in unusual containers; How to make a planter from a pallet?; Recycling in the garden and How to use and properly integrate terracotta pots in the garden?
Terraces, courtyards, patios and small bohemian balconies are the new stars of summer! This very colourful “boho” trend that has invaded our interiors and wardrobes also appears in our summer green retreats. It matches the sunny cheerfulness of a season when we spend a lot of time outdoors. Let’s take inspiration from the gypsy world […]
Here’s a distinctive trend emerging in outdoor spaces, and not only among landscapers fond of conceptual gardens or in coastal areas! While a sand garden is particularly suited to coastal gardens, it proves to be an undemanding, on-trend garden, halfway between a gravel garden and a dry garden, perfectly in tune with current climate upheavals.
We invite you to discover it in three scenes that demonstrate its aesthetic appeal and sunny atmosphere!
Sand garden: a landscaping trend between frugality and aesthetics
Far from the image of the traditional Japanese zen garden with raked gravel or pale sand, the sand garden imposes itself as a new version of the garden. It retains a sense of serenity but transposes it into a warmer register, where maintenance and watering are reduced to an absolute minimum. It answers a need created by climate change: how to introduce more Mediterranean plants into northern regions? Even if rising temperatures allow it, the problem of waterlogged winter soils, often fatal to these plants, remains. The sand garden is one solution, providing effective drainage.
It is a functional garden, still experimental globally, which showcases plants that ripple in the wind, like a reminder of a sea that is not always present. It also emphasises contrasting materials and textures, often using Corten steel as a support, woven willow in tontines or sculptures, large stones or retaining walls.
Undemanding plants grow in a substrate made up of a thick layer of sand. They therefore need to draw water from deep down to survive. For this reason we choose the most drought-tolerant plants and xerophilous plants, those whose taproot systems mean they will withstand heatwave summers.
We also seek to enhance the golden aspect of the sand using a palette of warm tones available to us, both in plants and materials. Plants will generally be low-growing, mat-forming or supple, also incorporating some greyed foliage to reinforce the impression of warmth.
A holiday feel
Coastal gardens, and especially those located right on the coastline, are difficult to plant because of the omnipresence of sand on site. They are perfectly suited to the constraints of a sand garden. In a beach-return spirit, the focus is fully on the sand-and-beach duo, taking inspiration from the dune ecosystem.
Essential plants: valerian, Lagurus ovatus and oyat (Ammophila arenaria), Armeria maritima 'Vesuvius' (sea thrift), sandwort, Erigeron glaucus 'Sea Breeze' or Erigeron karvinskanius, sand carnations, Perovskia, blue fescue, sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), milk thistle, etc.
To bring back vegetal blond tones, use wooden slats as decking, mini sand fences, and pair with coppery accents such as a brazier, useful for summer evenings.
Our tip: take care not to multiply beach clichés. Restrict decoration to sand alone, without superfluous additions of pebbles, shells or other seaside trimmings to avoid caricature. Plants create the scene, not the other way round!
Contemporary sand garden
At the opposite end from the dune garden that naturally links to its environment, the idea of undemanding plants and sand also evokes minimalism and the mineral feel of modernist gardens. The sobriety of the sand, combined with an appropriate plant palette, allows creation of a sand garden that suggests a coast not necessarily nearby, in perfect harmony with contemporary architecture.
Here, colour is conceived in monochrome, or in white/black, white/mauve or purple and green duos, to name a few pertinent combinations. Plants are chosen for their prostrate habit, their original textures or the shapes of their inflorescences. Greyed tones for foliage are also favoured to blend well with often anthracite outdoor furniture. Corten steel, used for boards or attractive windbreaks, stands out as a material that enhances the sand’s sheen, as does brick, which can serve as a path.
Essential plants: silver santolina, Artemisia 'Powis Castle', Ballota pseudodictamnus, medium to tall grasses such as coppery Carex (Carex testacea), the movement of Hordeum jubatum, graphic silhouettes (Cordylines, Yuccas) on flat ground, and low to medium plants as on a shaped sand mound (sea thrift, creeping gypsophila, wild thyme, etc.).
South African atmosphere
One attractive idea with the sand garden is to travel to an arid, heat-baked world. You can plant stunning perennials and ultra-resilient grasses and lean towards a Californian vibe, or, as here, a South African feel.
Let’s take inspiration from Léon Kluge’s work, the world-renowned South African landscaper, at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire in France: few plants for a spectacular effect in this full-sun garden. The scene draws from the African bush, where red sand and oversized stylised baobab sculptures mainly make up the decor, with waves of Stipa tenuifolia and torch lilies. At home, imagine tall red-willow tontines or large woven willow spheres to add volume and blend into this atmosphere.
Key plants: succulents and light grasses (Aloes, Euphorbia myrsinites, Stipas, Sesleria argentea, Lomandra longifolia), and perennials with sunny yellow to orange blooms (Kniphofias, Euryops pectinatus, bulbines, Leonotis leonurus, gazanias…). Plants native to South Africa, Patagonia or Tasmania are favoured, some tolerating down to -8°C in sheltered conditions.
The naturalistic garden and the English garden also draw on this avant-garde technique, and we could just as well have developed scenes in these two worlds, which lend themselves to experimentation currently being carried out notably across the Channel.
Find our selection of plants suited to the Sand Garden spirit on our online nursery as well as on our inspiration page in the 2026 Trend Book !
Do you enjoy these distinctive atmospheres? Discover other inspiring scenes in related worlds:
Here’s a distinctive trend emerging in outdoor spaces, and not only among landscapers fond of conceptual gardens or in coastal areas! While a sand garden is particularly suited to coastal gardens, it proves to be an undemanding, on-trend garden, halfway between a gravel garden and a dry garden, perfectly in tune with current climate upheavals.We […]
Garden, rarely short of inspiration, suggests enticing colour trends each year to imagine new borders.
For romantics who favour softness and pastel tones in the garden, here is the Unicorn trend, a new hue devised by promesse de fleurs, blending graduated and iridescent shades from pink to straw-yellow.
What exactly is the Unicorn colour for the garden?
Inspired by the legendary white, pure animal, the "Unicorn in the garden" trend actually draws on the enchanted world of childhood, which associates pink and yellow hues, through to mauve, as if straight from a fairytale.
The garden introduces these fairy-like, very girly notes — powdered and old-rose tones, marshmallow to lavender, touched with very soft yellows — to create a decidedly romantic atmosphere. This garden universe aims to be both poetic and very feminine, approaching a "cotton candy" aesthetic but more subtle, with less acidity and more pastel nuances.
Among plants ticking all boxes of this subtle palette are many perennial plants and shrubs softly salmon, apricot and butter-fresh shaded, tones that catch the light and recall gentle spring colours.
We suggest some planting combination ideas for different garden styles and enticing borders!
In a cottage garden
This border, both rustic and sophisticated, remains very natural thanks to soothing colours from pink to apricot, with a well-measured touch of yellow. It suits a south- or west-facing position.
Here we showcase an intersectional peony Scrumdidleyumptious, indispensable in a country garden for its elegance. As its flowering is fleeting, we surround it with some long-flowering perennials and shrubs: an old-fashioned rose such as the heirloom 'Pénélope', statices and apricot wallflowers. A large drift of Coreopsis 'Uptick Cream' adds further softness…
Also consider adding a few Verbascum 'Jackie' or 'Southern Charm' in a blotting-paper pink that will make you swoon! Also think of adding some olive-green or greyed foliage.
In a spring border
A gradient of soft colours will awaken garden in early fine days with these pastel blooms. Gather in a sunny or semi-shaded border a few favourites admired for their simplicity and grace: a Michelia 'Fairy Lime', a small magnolia with evergreen foliage and delicate cream-yellow flowers with a hint of pink, Astrantia 'Florence' for a mauve bloom a little later around June, and hardy geraniums as groundcover such as Geranium 'Katherine Adele', flowering for months from May, nicely veined with dark pink. Another charming small shrub, Japanese quince Chaenomeles 'Falconnet Charlet', will bring salmon tones in March–April alongside the Michelia. A silvery evergreen foliage, for example that of Santoline chamacyparissus if border is in full sun, is an essential complement to the soft ambience.
In a secret garden
In the intimate, often shadier setting of a secret garden, invite pale luminous yellow blooms to combine with a few pastel tones, from pearly pink to iridescent mauve.
Rely on a base of climbers to screen views and some supple ornamental grasses, perfect here: Chinese fountain grass orientale 'Karley Rose', a very fragrant yellow star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), Thalictrum delavayi 'Splendide', tall and lilac-pink, and two thoroughly voluble climbers: Akebia quinata chosen in a superb bicolour form 'Cream Form', and a persistent Holboellia latifolia. To enliven the base of climbers earlier in the season, plant in autumn a few bulbs of pink or pale-blue grape hyacinths like 'Baby's Breath', some miniature daffodils and Greek anemones 'Charmer'.
In a bohemian garden
The bohemian garden that explores a wide palette of plants also fits perfectly with the Unicorn garden universe. Ultra-soft, soothing colours will be gathered in the joyful mix and abundance of the bohemian garden! It's a garden that comes alive best in summer, in a profusion of flowers and foliage.
Here we've chosen sorbet tones, old-rose and vanilla-yellow to evoke the Unicorn trend. A honeysuckle skilfully blends pink and yellow, double-flowered hollyhocks 'Chater's Double' and a climbing rose 'Papi Delbard' play the apricot notes, delightful gladioli, 'Blue Tropic', and dwarf alstroemerias 'Pitchoune Lucas' reveal a desaturated mauve. In sun, add a few pom-pom dahlias 'Isa's Favorite', preceded in spring by late double tulips 'Charming Lady'. Add a base of foliage to bridge to summer, such as common sage and a dwarf abelia: charm guaranteed!
Find our selection of plants in the Unicorn spirit on our online nursery as well as our inspiration in the Trendbook 2026!
Do you love these very soft garden tones? Discover other inspirational scenes in these closely related colour universes:
- Peach Fuzz: Colour of the Year 2024
- Soft on-trend colour: how to lay out a nude garden?
- Pinkish Lemon: the new zesty garden trend
- "Coffee colour" inspiration
- and Rose and khaki inspiration for a soft, on-trend garden.
Garden, rarely short of inspiration, suggests enticing colour trends each year to imagine new borders.For romantics who favour softness and pastel tones in the garden, here is the Unicorn trend, a new hue devised by promesse de fleurs, blending graduated and iridescent shades from pink to straw-yellow. What exactly is the Unicorn colour for the […]
Among the colour trends of the year that spark the imaginations of our most creative gardeners, Dark Academia offers an immersion into garnet, purples, crimsons and plum, edging toward an almost-black depth. These bold, dark tones originate from a baroque aesthetic, that of the hushed and mysterious world of old libraries and the hit series Wednesday.
In the garden, adopting such a romantic and melancholic palette requires a neat setting and scenes with subtle harmonies to soften the sombre colour and the intensity of the blooms and foliage.
Here are three borders imagined for you with this new trend in mind, updated for today!
How to pair it with the garden?
The dark tones, from purple to black, should always be used with great care in plantings. They can overwhelm the eye and, if misused, impart a mood that is too sombre for a garden.
We therefore often pair them with a few neutral, diaphanous touches, drawing from the palette of white, pearly, cream and green blooms, as well as bronzy, greyed foliage. Don’t forget light, ribboned foliage, iridescent or variegated to diffuse the light around the deeper tones.
Some plants are thus particularly useful, especially those that work in a pointillist manner with their inflorescences, such as some grasses and airy perennials or the plush plants. In small doses, they instantly lighten the colour composition of a border.
A naturalistic scene: the poetry of black flowers and wild grasses
Dark-toned flowers can certainly suit a section of the garden treated as a large meadow or flowering border. In this case, favour beautiful wildflowers, such as Scabiosa 'Chile Black', and Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'. A mass of Penstemon with purplish flowers such as the variety 'Raven' will visually support the border, enriching it with a multitude of blooms right through to frosts.
The perfect accompaniment to temper, without masking, the depth of purple tones will simply come from a few very light grasses such as the Hordeum jubatum, or taller Panicum, or airy fennel. In mild climates, opt without hesitation for the Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'. The presence of statice (Limonium latifolium) with tiny pale mauve flowers softens the scene and brings the essential gentleness to the dark colours.
Clockwise from top left: Penstemon 'Raven', statice, Scabiosa 'Chile Black', Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' and Hordeum jubatum
A shrub border between lilac and burgundy
Around two fine shrubs chosen, one for its burgundy flowering with double blossoms—the lilac 'Charles Joly'—the other for its striking heart-shaped foliage, Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', invite a few perennials in the same warm tones, and greyed foliage for softness. In our example, the lightness of the purplish inflorescences of a purple Eupatorium sits beside the delicate lavender-grey of a refined poppy (Papaver rhoeas 'Amazing Grey'), and the utterly graceful verticality of double-flowered hollyhocks 'Chater's Violet'.
Pensée to include some soft, greyed and silvery foliage such as Artemisia ludoviciana (Valerie Finnis) that will thread at the foot of the shrubs, and respond to the romantic colours of the poppies.
N.B. : other shrubs just as spectacular in their purple hues would work brilliantly in this border, such as certain varieties of the famous smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) and its wispy summer flowering, a black elder, a physocarpus or Magnolia 'Black Tulip' for a poetic spring effect.
Velvety sophistication in partial shade
The two previous moods are envisaged in sunny settings. The purple-to-chocolate hues can also be used in a bright partial shade in the garden. In that case, work on an enveloping ambience, softening the dark impression with discreet touches of chartreuse green, together with pearly and iridescent whites.
The purple flowers of Hellebores will be the stars of this corner, with infinite grace and a very long flowering season, akin to botanical cousins such as Helleborus foetidus and its pistachio flowers. Invest here in a few purple foliage plants, such as Strobilanthes anisophyllus 'Brunetthy', a magnificent almost-black shrub, whose pale pink late-spring flowers contrast nicely, and a groundcover with marbled leaves like Trillium cuneatum and a mass of black Ophiopogons. Finally, for a touch of volume in the scene, use the assets of an oak-leaved hydrangea: distinctive foliage that clings on well into winter, taking crimson autumn tones, and white, anise-scented flowers, ranging from white through pink, in spectacular yet light panicles.
To refine this baroque ambience, why not insert one or two refined accessories: a latticed frame with a beautiful gilded patina or a mirror to reflect the light, a romantic vintage metal lantern or a statue representing a poet, an angel or a muse? A stone bench will also invite sitting and resting.
Discover our selection of plants in the Dark Academia spirit on our online nursery, as well as inspiration in the Trend Notebook 2026!
Also read on the topic: How to combine black-flowered perennials? ; 6 border ideas for a red/purple garden, Purple foliage: how to use it and pair it in the garden, and Pairing red or purple flowers.
Among the colour trends of the year that spark the imaginations of our most creative gardeners, Dark Academia offers an immersion into garnet, purples, crimsons and plum, edging toward an almost-black depth. These bold, dark tones originate from a baroque aesthetic, that of the hushed and mysterious world of old libraries and the hit series […]
Discover exclusively our Garden Trends 2026 booklet identified by our experts! Green Generation, Retro Garden or Augmented Garden, we reveal five emerging trends that are reinventing garden practices and imaginations. Drawing on its monitoring, Promesse de fleurs shares a forward-looking perspective and field observations of tomorrow's garden.
Green generation
Millennials: new plant-loving tribe born on Instagram! Aged 28 to 44, often city-dwellers, they have turned houseplants into an art of living. Ficus lyrata, Calathea, Alocasia, Colocasia and Monstera – houseplants are becoming icons, iconic organic design pieces. Plants here become emotional, identity markers and graphic. This green frenzy is hyper-connected, Instagrammable, viral yet deeply emotional.
It’s called "Plant Parenting": 33% of Millennials talk to their plants, 19% give them a name, 29% consider them sentient beings.
People collect spectacular foliage (Monstera 'Thai Constellation', Caladium, Begonias 'Rex'), style interiors and share urban jungle on TikTok (#planttok) or Instagram (#urbanjungle, 8M posts).
Nostalgic Garden
Here is a distinctly regressive, comforting gardening trend! In the face of global uncertainty and at a time when AI generates artificial worlds, the garden evokes a nostalgic vogue reflecting a deep desire for reassurance and tenderness. People sow, take cuttings, forage and arrange homemade bouquets. Retro flowers enjoy a second youth. Double ranunculus, gladioli but above all dahlias (+12% sales) and peonies (+37%) at Promesse de fleurs, which are exploding on social networks, are the star flowers of this vintage wave. The craze for seeds has sparked a revival of cut-flower varieties, straight from garden to vase! Statice, everlasting flowers, oxeye daisies, snapdragons and phlox are already part of our collection of over 1,500 varieties of flower seeds.
Nomadic Escapes
The garden becomes itinerant, mixed, adaptive, a mirror of a world on the move. 42% of recent landscaping projects draw direct inspiration from distant cultures. They combine a longing for elsewhere with climate-consciousness, are nomadic in their evocations, resilient in their choices and economical with water. Sales of hardy succulents have risen 45% in Europe since 2023, a sign that these plants from elsewhere resonate with very local concerns. Trends spotted include:
- Balinese Garden: tropical luxuriance and sacred lotus (85k posts #lotusgarden) inspired by tropical sanctuaries of Southeast Asia.
- Antipodean Garden: euphorbias, crassulas, aloes or senecios acclimatised to extremes evoke landscapes of southern Africa.
- Chaparral Garden: Dasylirion longissimum, Echinocactus grusonii, blue Mexican palm, Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'... Species from semi-desert areas of California or Mexico shape a graphic, sun-soaked and radically frugal garden.
- Sand Garden : on 20 cm of pure sand, Gypsophila 'Rosea', blue fescue, Lomandra 'White Sands', silver santolina or Salvia 'Caradonna' create carefree scenes with no watering or feeding. Inspired by Peter Korn and climate-resilient gardens, this new-generation dry garden combines lightness, robustness and modernity.
Sanctuary Garden
In response to hyperconnectivity, the garden becomes an emotional refuge, an open-air cocoon where people slow down, wrap themselves up and breathe. Throws, cushions, natural materials, deep seating… domestic comfort is transposed into a calming plant-filled setting.
- Japandi: fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian softness, inspiring sober, vegetal, meditative atmospheres. Japanese maple 'Bloodgood', black Ophiopogon, Pittosporum tobira 'Nana', Arisaema consanguineum, Clematis 'Pistachio' flourish within a contemplative, low-maintenance garden. (+160% searches for "Japandi garden" in 3 years).
- Chill Soft: soft design, velvety palette, flowing ornamental grasses such as Pennisetum 'Lumen Gold', Perovskia 'Prime Time', Panicum 'Hot Rod'… The garden becomes fluid, sensory and enveloping.
- Boho Patio : bohemian terraces, bright colours and gypsy spirit. Giant sunflowers, dahlias, purslanes, red popcorn maize, and black pomegranate settle in for a sunny, joyful garden for lazing and impromptu partying.
Augmented Garden
The garden is entering the era of assisted gardening: tutorials, apps, connected devices, AI…
Cordless tools are becoming mainstream, mini-greenhouses are appearing in cities, and social networks popularise gardening techniques.
Uninhibited and autonomous, the garden appeals to a new urban generation. 40% of urban households are already equipped with an intelligent device.
Our podcast Branché au jardin has accumulated 18,000 listens, and our Plantfit app has 80,000 users.
Colours 2026
Emotional hues, between mineral freshness, dark romanticism and pastel dream.
- Transformative Teal: between muted blue and aquatic green, this refined, mineral hue establishes itself as the colour of 2026. It evokes deep waters and is embodied by Eucalyptus ‘Baby Blue’, Agave americana, Senecio serpens 'Dwarf Blue', or Dasylirion glaucophyllum.
- Cloud Dancer : a vapoury, restful, almost silent white, crowned Pantone's colour of the year. A chromatic antidote to saturation, Agapanthus 'Ever White', Hydrangea 'FlowerWOW', Iris 'Glacier' and Clematis 'Guernsey Flute' soothe the eye.
- Dark Academia : dramatic romanticism with Victorian accents. Purple, garnet and misty mauve blooms and wine-coloured foliage create a dark, sophisticated atmosphere. Dianthus 'Sooty', Rose 'Charles de Mills', Poppy 'Lauren’s Grape' and Lupin 'Masterpiece' embody this poetic gloom.
- Unicorn: an iridescent pastel breath on the border of digital dream. Apricot sorbet, frosted lavender, sky blue or vanilla yellow compose a dreamlike, joyfully offbeat garden populated by Wallflower ‘Classic Apricot’, Delphinium ‘Misty Lavender’, Rose ‘Koko Loko’.
Discover exclusively our Garden Trends 2026 booklet identified by our experts! Green Generation, Retro Garden or Augmented Garden, we reveal five emerging trends that are reinventing garden practices and imaginations. Drawing on its monitoring, Promesse de fleurs shares a forward-looking perspective and field observations of tomorrow’s garden. Green generation Millennials: new plant-loving tribe born on […]
The reasons to discover gardens, parks, and arboretums in our country are numerous: besides a green escape often close to home, or much further away when travelling, gardens provide opportunities for often surprising encounters and inspire us as each garden is unique. A journey into the infinitely green, from which we emerge with valuable advice and ideas. The diverse typologies transport us from the French garden to the English landscape park or the Japanese and exotic gardens.
Why is it so important to visit gardens? I will elaborate in this short article and provide some tips on how to find and visit them at the right time.
For the tranquillity they provide
Gardens, like forests, are places where we disconnect from our daily lives. The greenery, scents, and sounds allow us to escape and bring us peace. Their tranquillity offers immediate relaxation, which often lasts for the rest of the day!
For the beauty of gardens
What could be more delightful than wandering through gardens where everything is designed for the pleasure of the eyes? Visiting gardens, whether they are parks, plant gardens, botanical gardens, arboretums, public gardens, or private gardens, allows us to see plants that we may not necessarily cultivate at home. It is an opportunity to learn more about the vast world of plants and to marvel at the interplay of colours and the art of combining them.
Even if our own gardens are often smaller, visiting gardens provides us with insights into creating our own little green paradises. Visiting gardens nearby also helps us better understand the plants that thrive locally in our regions and how to showcase them.
All the plants are lovingly cared for, expertly maintained by dedicated teams in public gardens and by passionate gardeners who often conduct the tours themselves.
Strolling through a harmony of greenery, blooms, and fragrances, awakens all our senses and allows us to leave after one, two, or three hours of visiting with images in our minds, having recharged our batteries…
If we visit gardens in a completely different region, or even another country, we discover a different flora, very refreshing, sometimes translatable to another climate.
For the encounters we make
When visiting a private garden, you are not only exploring an extraordinary living space, but you also meet its owners who have often spent decades shaping their garden. It has thus become a place that reflects their personality, conducive to visits, but this process goes further, allowing for a moment of sharing with each visitor.
Some gardeners accompany you throughout the visit, explaining why they made certain choices of plants, how they have expanded the spaces over the years, while others prefer to step back and let you explore the garden freely, reuniting at the end for a friendly debrief.
Most of the gardens I have visited have sparked fascinating discussions… among passionate people! It is this human connection that I find, beyond the gardens themselves, admirable: in public gardens, gardeners are always available, pausing their work for a few minutes to enlighten you about a flower, tree, or bush you may not know, to talk about their work, or to explain the plantings the team is busy with.
In a private garden, we share tips about good nurseries in the area that we may not know, as they are a bit further from our usual circles, we discuss gardening associations we frequent, we talk about our cultivation issues with certain plants, we exchange ideas on current pruning… in short, we pass on a wealth of information and recreate the world around this environment that amazes us so much.
And when, as happened when I visited Mireille's garden, the visit stretches on, it can even lead to beautiful friendships between one-time visitors…
For inspiration
Visiting gardens is also stepping into worlds where creativity is often at play. Whether in a public or private garden, the arrangements are always a source of inspiration: the interplay of plant associations, of course, their colours, forms, and textures, the shape of the beds, the integration of a wet area, but also ideas to pick up along the way such as homemade path borders made of stones or wood, decorative ladders, cute tipis, treehouses, beautifully showcased vintage furniture, and much more.
Just for these delightful finds that enchant the DIY enthusiast within us, it is worthwhile to visit a garden!
The best times to visit gardens
Most gardens open for visits in France from April to October, a peak period for many plants, with some (rare) open all year round, particularly public gardens and plant gardens. January and February are generally months when gardens take a break from visits, but it is always advisable to check in advance on their websites to avoid disappointment (I experienced this myself this summer with a private garden that closed mid-July to reopen… next spring; my disappointment was great).
Of course, gardens featuring primarily acidic soil plants with azaleas and rhododendrons are best visited in April and May, while romantic gardens overflowing with roses are best between May and June, and grass gardens like Jardin Plume or gardens featuring many autumn foliage and maples are best visited at the end of the season, around October.
In France and Europe, do not miss the European Heritage Days, which provide an opportunity to discover certain gardens that open only for this occasion. They take place on the third weekend of September each year, for the past forty years! A filter with the word "garden" on the Ministry of Culture's website allows you to select only the gardens offering visits (free or guided, paid or free).
The other key moment, and certainly the most popular for visits, is June, a blessed month in our northern hemisphere for floral richness at this time of year. This is why the French Rendez-vous aux jardins!, the botanical counterpart of the heritage days, takes place over three days (with Friday traditionally reserved for schools), every first weekend of June. Initiated by the Ministry of Culture 21 years ago, the garden weekends propose a different theme each year and are promoted by the DRAC of each region. More than 2000 gardens now open their doors in France. After "the five senses in the garden" this year, the next edition in 2025 will take place from June 6 to 8 and will focus on the theme 'stone gardens - gardens of stone'.
Finally, a little earlier each year in May, do not miss the Open Gardens for Neurodon: the Federation for Brain Research organises a weekend to raise funds for research. This mainly concerns gardens in western France and Languedoc-Roussillon, but also a few others (more information and the map of gardens in this link), at a very accessible price.
How to find open gardens to visit in my department or region?
The advantage of gardens is that every city has at least one green space of interest. In the countryside, you often have access to gardens or vegetable patches just a few kilometres from home. Even if they are well-known, here are some useful sites to find beautiful gardens to visit near or far:
- The remarkable gardens: these are gardens labelled for their remarkable elements, particularly historical, botanical, and their plant heritage. There are many in most departments of France and overseas. There are nearly 480 in mainland France and overseas territories, and about thirty in Belgium (Wallonia). There is plenty to explore!
- Another option is the eco-garden labelled gardens committed to ecological management of green tourism.
- Gardening associations, park and garden associations, and horticultural societies are well-known and offer, for a modest membership fee, several garden visits throughout the year (in addition to a generally very interesting programme). Research online by typing "gardening associations" or "gardeners' associations" along with your department, and you will find gardens that may be unknown to you. Each region has gardening associations where many volunteers are active. Discover those in your department. For the Pays de la Loire, there is ASPEJA, which organises many activities including garden visits, as well as the JASPE association that brings together gardens from Sarthe and Mayenne, and other gardening associations in smaller municipalities (visit your town hall or its website to learn about all the associations!).
- The local press is a treasure trove for finding gardens to visit. Articles can help you discover more confidential gardens, often private gardens, true gems.
- Do not hesitate to visit tourist offices when you are travelling in France: they all have brochures and leaflets on the most beautiful gardens in the area.
- Some nurseries offer, in addition to their range of plants, beautiful trial or experimental gardens showcasing the plants they produce. Here in Anjou, I particularly like the one at Plantagenet nurseries, and in Morbihan, the nursery of Prahor. Inquire at nurseries in your region.
- It is worth noting that more and more gardens are accessible to people with reduced mobility, often with adapted paths, albeit a bit more restricted. Therapeutic gardens are beautiful places, particularly designed for people with disabilities.
At Promesse de fleurs, we provide you with monthly ideas for garden visits in our blog section: Garden visits, gardener portraits! It is constantly updated with visits conducted by our editorial team. We highlight beautiful gardens that are well-known in France and abroad, as well as more confidential gardens that also deserve a visit.
And you, what are you doing next weekend?
The reasons to discover gardens, parks, and arboretums in our country are numerous: besides a green escape often close to home, or much further away when travelling, gardens provide opportunities for often surprising encounters and inspire us as each garden is unique. A journey into the infinitely green, from which we emerge with valuable advice […]
I set off in early June for a trip to the north of England, where I hadn't returned for (too) many years. It was in this region bordering Scotland that, as a teenager, I met my English pen pal and her family, who instilled in me a love for the English language and guided my choice of studies towards fascinating linguistic studies. I wanted to combine this pilgrimage with visits to gardens, a passion now deeply rooted in my life.
Amidst the lakes and typical heaths of the north, hiking and garden visits filled the days. In early June, the gardens were abundant, much more than I had imagined, and several things caught my attention. If, like me, you have eyes only for the English garden, follow me to this country where the garden reigns supreme.
Yorkshire and its gardens: an absolute dream
In preparing for this trip, I had to make decisions about certain visits and forgo others. North England is indeed teeming with gardens, just like the rest of the country. Travelling from the west coast (the Lake District, a region of lakes in Cumbria) to the east coast (the York North Moors National Park) and down to Derbyshire, I had identified a few gardens with the help of beautiful books on the subject (The Gardens of England and Gardens of England) and by consulting various English websites listing all the beautiful places not to be missed, notably that of the RHS.
With a garden a day, the enchantment worked every time, as the gardens shared the English spirit but each had a different personality.
Notably, the Hall, this small castle or large manor typical of England, gives a unique spirit to each garden. Its architecture leaves its mark on the place, just like the Walled gardens (brick-walled gardens), where the most beautiful mixed-borders are gathered.
I preferred modest-sized gardens, as I have a taste for this type of garden. To name just a few, the gardens of Holker Hall, Burton Agnes Hall, and Newby Hall were true favourites, but the large estate of Chatsworth, a bit further down in Derbyshire, much appreciated by the English and tourists, also deserves a little detour, just like the famous Levens Hall and its topiaries in Cumbria.
The colour palette
At this end of spring, the English gardens display absolutely charming shades, all the nuances of white, blue, pink, mauve, and purple. It is this palette that acts everywhere, subtly enchanting us. The tonal variations are very well crafted, and the harmony that emerges is the result of a precise work of chromatic nuances of a distinctly British elegance.
Many gardens also feature monochromatic subspaces, a great specialty across the Channel, as seen here at Burton Agnes Hall, which includes a very successful yellow garden, blending blooms in a range of soft to vibrant yellows, with golden foliage, and offering views of the stunning Elizabethan manor.
Finally, in the Lake District, we see many ericaceous plants, as the soil here is conducive to their establishment. They are still in full bloom, like rhododendrons and azaleas. This gives, for example, in the garden of Holehird gardens, a more pronounced range of colours, equally attractive.
Mixed borders and key plants of the English garden
Throughout the gardens visited, certain perennial plants invariably reappear in the mixed borders and the walled gardens, absolutely stunning in their mastery and precision. The crambe, columbine, and astrantia, sanguisorba, cardoon, Oriental poppy, as well as Alliums, peonies still in bloom, roses, giant Thalictrums, and extravagant lupins!
The hostas that I see in most gardens are simply breathtaking here, enormous and in all colours, teasing you...
The ornaments of English gardens
Strolling through English gardens also means discovering a thousand details to inspire beautiful arrangements back home. If the English are great lovers of benches and seats, they multiply them at will in their gardens, providing the perfect resting spot with views not to be missed. I love them all: wooden, wrought iron, painted, with a vintage look, often Victorian style or in the Arts & Crafts movement.
I also love the supports placed everywhere to help sweet peas and other wonders climb, as well as the obelisks that add incredible charm to all these gardens. The largest gardens willingly use structures, like in our country, these constructions designed to enhance the garden, such as kiosks. Below, at the estate of Chatsworth, you can find these follies in the wild garden, as well as divine arches leading up the hill to the vast vegetable garden.
Mulching, no mulching
Surprisingly, English flowerbeds are little or not mulched at all. Well… not like we do in France. The horde of gardeners in each garden partly explains this, as they do considerable work all year round, continuously weeding and tracking down every adventive. The black soil, rich in humus, results from a thick layer of decomposed mulch, which the plants love.
Close mowing… or differentiated mowing!
One of my biggest surprises was the treatment of the grassy areas. England has long been known for its passion for the famous English lawn, a true pride of gardeners in large estates or private gardens. The lawn holds great aesthetic value here, symbolising the opulence of the owners for centuries. It is one of the essential elements of the English garden, beautifully highlighting the planted scenes. During my visit to a first garden on the heights of Lake Windermere, I was astonished to hear a lawnmower buzzing while I was admiring the lush, perfectly manicured carpet of the walled garden. The gardener had just started mowing, even though the green and soft carpet looked like a billiard table!
Conversely, English gardens have evolved with the times and are also adopting more ecological methods applied to large spaces. In the vast gardens or parks, often found in all the beautiful estates visited, there are now large areas treated with differentiated management: tall grasses coexist with more manicured areas, and this no longer shocks anyone... and that's a good thing!
The garden of Haddon Hall surprised me the most, with, in an area I would call prestigious, just in front of the manor, two wide strips of unmown grass in the main driveway. Surprising, isn't it?
Borders with precision
Where does this feeling of elegance, harmony, and order come from when visiting an English garden? Beyond the lawns, fine and regular carpets, maintained both by human hands and the frequent, beneficial rains, it must be said that the precise borders are a common denominator in all the gardens visited. They add this admirable precision, counterbalanced by the opulence of the plants. The edges of the flowerbeds are so neat that not a blade of grass protrudes onto the soil.
While discussing with a team of gardeners at the York Gate gardens, one of them confessed to me that the borders are redone every week! In such spaces where the flowerbeds abound, I thought they must do nothing else, since on 4000 m², they barely finish this laborious and meticulous task before having to start again! But this does not diminish the British calm, present here even in the gardens.
The rigor of these neat borders is sometimes balanced by the exuberance of a sprawling perennial, like a geranium that escapes, thereby softening an aspect that can sometimes seem almost unreal...
My advice: The Halls and castles are worth a visit in their own right, which does add a bit to the price of the garden, of course... If you have the time, don't hesitate to visit some private gardens as well. You can visit many during the summer period in England! And treat yourself to a lunch or an afternoon tea in all the tea rooms that are an integral part of the gardens in this country: the food is excellent, local, in a very British atmosphere, with superb decor...
I set off in early June for a trip to the north of England, where I hadn’t returned for (too) many years. It was in this region bordering Scotland that, as a teenager, I met my English pen pal and her family, who instilled in me a love for the English language and guided my […]
Flower Island, Atlantic Garden or the island of eternal spring… Madeira is beautifully named, and I have long wanted to explore this gem, known for its extraordinary richness of flora. Last year, I finally treated myself to a week of botanical relaxation on this enchanting island. After a three-hour flight from Nantes and a spectacular landing, Madeira is a wonderful destination for any plant enthusiast! With virtually no time difference, we are plunged into a completely tropical atmosphere.
At the beginning of spring, I invite you to soak up greenery and colour on these charming volcanic lands. My travel diary takes you on this first episode to the renowned gardens of the capital, Funchal!
Madeira, who are you?
This floating garden stretches over a small volcanic rock of 60 km by 25, covering 750 km². Madeira is part of a Portuguese archipelago consisting of four main islands, located a few thousand kilometres from the Portuguese coast. Set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago belongs more broadly to what is known as Macaronesia, which includes the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. It is situated at a latitude roughly level with Marrakech. It is the most densely populated island, as the other islands are practically uninhabited.
A dream island, renowned for the mildness of its climate, but especially for the incredible beauty of its lush vegetation, with grand gardens and flora growing along the roads. Knowing that a third of its area is situated above 1000 m, with Pico Ruivo reaching 1861 m, one immediately understands that this is a dream setting for hiking.
Its subtropical climate is characterised by a low thermal amplitude: as a result, plants grow all year round between 15 and 27°C, with these temperatures dropping as one ascends to the island's many peaks. Humidity is high, giving it a humid subtropical climate. Finally, winds are blocked in the centre by mountains, protecting the south and east, with the eastern tip being even arid. Depending on where you are on the island, the perception of heat and humidity will be quite different.
The city of Funchal, the island's capital, features numerous quintas, large mansions with sumptuous gardens, which can be visited from the outside, and two must-see gardens located on the heights of the city:
The Monte Palace tropical garden
Formerly a luxury hotel, Monte Palace is located between 475 and 570 m above sea level over the city of Funchal. It boasts no less than 10,000 species of plants across seven hectares, a must-visit for tourists who often access it via the cable car.
Here, an atmosphere is created with an Eastern influence thanks to the omnipresent red colour, with water appearing everywhere in the form of lakes, waterfalls emerging from caves, or ponds with koi carp, but the garden mixes styles, featuring fountains and Buddhist or very classical sculptures, while inviting ancient azulejos and Manueline-style doors. The overall effect is almost eclectic, but the profusion of plants and the tropical ambiance ensure an extraordinary change of scenery!
- The laurisilva: a large area at the entrance showcases the island's endemic flora. Descending a long avenue, one discovers the primary forest, the island's indigenous plants. This place is dense and wild, with few people wandering there, yet it immerses us in the island's interior, providing impressions of the many hikes Madeira has to offer.
- The oriental garden
It is impossible to overlook it, as it is at the heart of the incredible decor of Monte Palace. The red colour serves as a common thread, and the plants are not all those one might expect in a Japanese garden when hundreds of clivias catch the eye, but the exuberance is total, and the viewpoints are always different, as one descends the hill...
The collection of cycads
One of the areas features an exceptional collection of Cycadales, these plants that are halfway between ferns and palms, but belong to the gymnosperm family, like Ginkgo or conifers. They are true living fossils, with pinnate leaves, the most well-known among us being the Cycas revoluta. Here, one is left speechless in front of the enormous Encephalartos natalensis (part of the zamia family) and their prominent cones!
The orchids
An orchid nursery continues to amaze at the end of the path. They are countless, in shades of yellow, orange, white, or pink... Even without being an expert, one cannot help but be captivated by the extravagant shapes of their flowers and the exoticism they convey.
The botanical garden
A little lower than its illustrious neighbour, the Jardim Botânico is the other garden in Funchal not to be missed. Very different in atmosphere, it is like suspended at 300 m above sea level. In my opinion, the two gardens truly complement each other, and it would be a shame to favour one over the other.
The property visible at the entrance belonged to the Reid family, a famous family that built its fortune on Madeira wine, the origin of Reid’s Palace in Funchal, one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Here, 3.5 hectares await exploration, with 3,000 exotic plants to marvel at: here shade plants, there a garden of cacti and succulents, in the centre a choreographed display of plants, and lower down, elegant palms…
- The shade garden
For me, this area was a delight, a perfect tropical tableau with large leaves and a few grand blooms, even if it was a bit early in the season to enjoy it at its peak.
The garden reveals an extraordinary botanical diversity. One can see Crinums, clivias, amaryllis, and especially many beautiful foliage plants like tree ferns, Sphaeropteris cooperi (syn. Cyathea cooperi), graceful ferns (Niphidium crassifolium), epiphytic plants that colonise tree trunks, and colocasias! The plants find here the best conditions to grow: warmth and humidity, hence this profusion of vegetation.
- The succulent garden
Certainly one of the places that amazed me the most, as the shapes, textures, and colours of this garden within a garden are fascinating!
- The choreographed flowerbeds
This is one of the island's postcards: this large terrace offers a view of the bay of Funchal and an unobstructed view of the ocean, serving as the garden's belvedere. It consists of a large flowerbed in the shape of a rectangular checkerboard composed of several squares, where a series of green and purple plants are geometrically planted, resulting in a spectacular outcome. This is not the area I preferred, far from it. It even contrasts with the wild aspect of some areas of the garden, but one can admire the meticulous work of the gardeners.
But the botanical garden of Funchal still holds many wonders, such as the palm section, to be discovered at leisure, or the strelitzia, the birds of paradise, which are also emblematic...
Learn more
Monte Palace Tropical Garden, open daily except 25 December from 9:30 am to 6 pm, entry 12.50 euros
Botanical Garden, open daily except 25 December, from 9 am to 6 pm, entry 6 euros
Flower Island, Atlantic Garden or the island of eternal spring… Madeira is beautifully named, and I have long wanted to explore this gem, known for its extraordinary richness of flora. Last year, I finally treated myself to a week of botanical relaxation on this enchanting island. After a three-hour flight from Nantes and a spectacular […]