Every landscape has a space that serves as the central hub of activity, often including areas for al fresco dining, socializing, and hobbies. These outdoor living spaces call for a certain level of privacy and intimacy as achieved through incorporation of fences, pergolas or other hardscape elements. Plant material can also be used to enclose a space while offering various degrees of seclusion.
The Courtyard Garden includes both built structure and plant material to create an inviting but private living space. Richly layered foliage serves to soften the fence encircling the garden on two sides. Plant materials step down from the tree canopy to an understory of shrubs in varying heights. The façade of the house, which lines the other two sides of the courtyard, is again softened through layering of plant material, including a specimen tree. Outdoor rooms often have hard floors, such as stone or paving, which can be lightened with textural groundcovers.
Plant List
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Beyond Blue™ Festuca Soft texture and cool color create a luxurious carpet that unifies the space and softens the stone floor. |
| Design-a-Line Cordiline Rich, evergreen color and unique architecture create a strong anchor for the adjacent flower bed and offer winter interest when the flowers fade. |
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Jubilation™ Gardenia A compact version of the Southern favorite fits perfectly in the courtyard’s confines. Fragrant flowers add to the room’s ambiance. |
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‘Meerlo’ Lavender A more adaptable lavender for mixed beds, the intense fragrance helps homeowners unwind after a long day. |
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Yewtopia® Plum Yew Provides a perfect deep green backdrop for the adjacent silver-, white- and blue-foliaged plants in the bed. |
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Platinum Beauty™ Lomandra A mass of graceful foliage creates a soft bed for the focal point while also brightening the shaded garden floor. |
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Miss Scarlett® Illicium Height and evergreen foliage contribute to the courtyard’s privacy while vibrant blooms provide seasonal color. |
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Southgate® Breeze™ Rhododendron Some plants fill multiple roles in the garden. This heat-tolerant Rhododendron provides enclosure and offers stunning spring blooms. |
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Chef’s Choice Rosemary Threaded from one bed to the next, this plant visually unites the four distinct sections of the garden. |
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Mojo® Pittosporum Bounded by heat-absorbing stone, this space calls for a tough plant and Mojo® fits the bill. The compact habit ensures a perfect fit. |
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Terra Oakleaf Hydrangea |
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Dwarf Fothergilla |
