How to create a maximalist style garden

Maximalism is dominating interior design trends, so why not embrace the same sense of fun in your yard by creating a maximalist style garden?

What is a maximalist style garden?

Maximalism is a design philosophy that embraces bold self-expression, colour and rich textures. When it comes to a garden in this style, think:

• A modern maximalist garden is an ‘express yourself’ space, where anything goes and personalities are allowed to shine.
• Boldness and vibrancy.
• A maximalist garden might feature fabulously overstuffed garden beds with loose arrangements of floriferous shrubs and clouds of dense foliage.

What are some key features of a maximalist garden?

A maximalist garden should feel loose and relaxed, even a little bit messy. Some of the typical features include:

• Colour and creativity. Think artistically planted garden beds, objects cleverly upcycled into planters, washes of colour on walls or pots, and loads of accessories to give the space a comfortable, lived-in look.
• A cottage garden aesthetic, full of blowsy blooms, colour and movement. Foliage can be lush and tropical, feature colourful perennials, interesting architectural trees, and even wildflowers.
• The overall impression is dynamic, loose and voluptuously full with no empty spaces. You could even take it further by trying your hand at chaos gardening, a fun garden trend that essentially involves broadcasting a mix of seeds and seeing what takes!
• Upcycled items. This is a key feature, says horticulturist Tammy Huynh. “Paint items in bold colours like magenta or electric blue to add personality and a playful touch that complements the garden’s whimsical style.” Get creative with salvaged objects and materials, which can be repurposed as planters or set up as sculptural statements through the garden.
• Being creative with furniture. Look for joyful colours or sculptural shapes – you could even channel an Alice in Wonderland aesthetic with oversized furnishings and giant pots!

Invite pollinators and wildflowers

Bees have a tough time in our urban landscapes, but a maximalist garden is a gift for busy little pollinators! A flower-filled and overstuffed garden provides not only delicious nectar for bees and butterflies, but also shelter. Add some fruit trees into the maximalist mix - the bees will happily pollinate your edibles, too, while you enjoy the literal fruits of their labours.

Take it to the next level by replacing patches of lawn with a wildflower meadow. This beautifully untamed feature will attract beneficial insects, needs very little water once established, and usually only needs mowing a couple of times a year.

What materials work well in a maximalist garden?

In most gardens, hardscaping materials are neutral, a deliberately blank canvas, but a maximalist garden is an opportunity for bold expression! Here’s what to try:

• Statement colours. Create a lively backdrop using vibrant shades of electric blue, fiery orange, sunshine yellow or deep magenta, for example – to drench a feature wall. Or use colour in zesty pops throughout the garden, in pots and furniture, for an element of surprise and delight.
• Use pattern. This is a fantastic way to express yourself in the garden. Go full Moroccan courtyard with mosaic tiles on floor and wall surfaces, add a tiled table, or add patterns (and privacy) with laser-cut screens.
• Accessorise with colour. Borrow bold ideas from indoors and translate them for an alfresco space; think patterned outdoor rugs and bright accessories that can be used to style up the space and easily packed away afterwards, like colourful cushions and throws, and decorative lanterns.

Which plants and trees work best in a maximalist garden?

“This garden style is all about drama and creativity,” says Tammy. “Think bold, statement plants: striking trees, colourful perennials, exuberant climbers and a mix of textures and forms come together in a lively dynamic display.” The ‘express yourself’ concept isn’t prescriptive – if you love it and it will grow, it has a place in your garden – but Tammy suggests these striking examples to spark inspiration.

Statement trees: Cloud-prune juniper or pine, or try a tree with a naturally interesting shape, like a weeping Japanese maple. Colour is always welcome; try blossoming trees like frangipani, crepe myrtle or flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia Summer series, e.g., ‘Summer Red’, ‘Summer Beauty’), or a Chinese toon with its Dr Seuss-ish pink foliage.

Shrubs and perennials: Fill garden beds with a mix of interesting shapes, like clipped buxus balls and tractor seat plants (Ligularia reniformis); interesting colours, like cheerful echinacea, cordyline ‘Red Star’ or ‘Electric Pink’, red hot poker (kniphofia) and Silver swan spurge (Euphorbia characias); and plants that will bring joy as they run through interesting seasonal cycles, like Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and hydrangeas.

Groundcovers: Abundant beds are a signature of the maximalist look, so fill gaps with interesting groundcovers, like blue flax lily (Dianella caerulea), star jasmine, bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), native violet, emerald cushion (Scleranthus biflorus), Sedum ‘Speckled Blob’ or ‘Purple Blob’.

Ready to design a modern maximalist garden?

Try upcycling objects into interesting planters for your vegies or flowers.

 

Image credit: Rebecca Newman, Sue Stubbs