25 Types of Gardens- Which One Would You Want to Grow Most?
When you think of a garden, you probably imagine roses climbing an archway, sunflowers over 6 feet tall, and pumpkins as large as the one Cinderella rode in when she went to the ball…colorful, large, and dreamy. But, gardens aren’t always full of roses in abundance, towering sunflowers, and Cinderella-sized pumpkins. Gardens come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and types. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of a garden- “A plot of ground where herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are cultivated”- is evidence of this. A garden is basically an area (or “plot”) that holds any living vegetation. In today’s blog post, I’m going to be showing you 25 different types of gardens that come in all different shapes, sizes, and types.
A Note on Companion Planting
Generally speaking, you can usually grow whatever you want wherever you want. However, plants usually thrive better when they’re planted next to different species that “get along” with them. Companion planting is a common practice that most gardeners– especially vegetable gardeners– use to produce more copious crops. This, in a way, is what directs them to the type of garden that they’re cultivating. Please leave a comment below if you would like me to do a more detailed blog post on companion planting.
The 25 Different Types of Gardens
Gardens can be inside, outside, or both! I’m going to break this into three separate sections. The first will be the types of gardens outdoors. The second will be types of gardens that can be indoors or outdoors. And, the last will be types of gardens indoors.
Types of Gardens Outdoors
Raised Beds
Photo Credit: Delia Creates
Who said that seeds had to be sown at ground level only? Raised garden beds take it up a notch. Literally. Instead of growing your plants at ground level, you grow them on top of the ground-level soil. They can be anywhere from a few inches to several feet tall. The best part about raised bed gardening is that you get to control how much and what type of soil/compost is in the garden bed. You aren’t relying on the dirt that your surroundings provide. By having control of how much and what types of soil/compost the raised garden beds have, you have better control over what nutrients are provided to the plants. If you don’t like having an achy back or you have poor soil quality around your home, then a raised garden bed would be a great investment.
Herb Gardens
Photo Credit: Townmouse Patterns
Basil, thyme, oregano, sage, lavender… herb gardens are super fun and super easy to grow. Herbs are a chef’s and a doctor’s best friend. They add tons of flavor and have many medicinal properties. If you love flavorful food or the idea of diving into the world of herbal medicine, then nothing could be more beneficial to you than starting an herb garden.
Shrub Gardens
Shrub gardens are made of, well, shrubs. These shrubs can come in a variety of different colors, shapes, and sizes. Some have flowers, while others don’t. Some have a more conical shape, while others are spherical… so many different options! Shrub gardens provide shade and privacy while adding life and greenery to your yard. And, they’re a great option to consider if you’re looking for a more permanent, large landscape design. The only thing you must keep in mind with a shrub garden is (similar to a rose garden) it’s not an overnight, easy-to-maintain type of garden. Most of the time, much patience and pruning are required to reach that perfect shrub garden look. But, once your shrub garden has matured, all of that comes to a halt. And, all that the shrubs require in their “adult” years is occasional pruning and water. If you want a shrub garden and are willing to put in short-term pain for long-term gain, then go for it!
Rose Gardens
Beautiful, bright, romantic, fragrant… roses are one of those flowers that deserve to have their own plot of land. Although those thorns can be painful when you brush against them, it’s worth it. A rose garden can look like just having a few individual bushes to having hundreds of different varieties and colors. So many different options, and so much room for creativity! With climbing, shrub, and even wild roses available, the combinations you can create are limitless. The only thing to keep in mind with roses is that they take time to grow- unless you buy already-matured plants. So, if you are considering adding a rose garden to your yard, then you’ll want to account for the years it’ll take for your roses to fully mature.
Wildflower Gardens
Do you know those pretty Instagram photos that people take in the beds of wildflowers? Well, they were obviously taken in a wildflower garden of course! Wildflower gardens are made of different flower species that self-reproduce and are hardy. A wildflower garden’s only maintenance request is that you keep it under control. As they are self-reproducing, they can take over your yard in a hurry (just like weeds). But, other than needing to occasionally thin a wildflower garden back, minimal maintenance is needed for a wildflower garden. Do you have a spot in your yard with poor, sandy soil? Throw some wildflower seeds down and watch them grow wild!
English Gardens
Photo Credit: Girl Who Travels the World
Unlike traditional structural gardening where there’s repetition in shapes, sizes, and color, English gardens push all of the refined beauty aside. Instead, they let nature provide its natural beauty. An English garden can house any and all plants. Trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables… you name it, and an English garden can have it. English Gardens can look different for everybody. You get to pick what kinds of plants you want and how large of a plot you are comfortable maintaining. Wild and beautiful is the look you want to achieve. Adding different colors, textures, and plant varieties is the key to having a successful English Garden. If you love the idea of having a more wooded, natural landscape design, then an English garden would be a perfect choice.
Architectural Gardens
Photo Credit: Tara Dillard
The exact opposite of English gardening, architectural gardening is all about those clean, refined shapes and lines. Repetitions in shape, color, and even plant variety rule an architectural garden. Instead of nature controlling man, man controls nature with this gardening approach. The natural beauty of nature is taken and turned into a geometric, repetitive design. It is a fault of humans to love repetition and structure instead of wild and unknown. And, that’s how architectural gardening became a practice. All of that said, there are times when you may find an architectural garden to suit your home’s design better than an English garden would. Afraid your modern home may clash with the wild look of an English Garden design? Then this is a sign that an architectural garden is the route to go.
Tropical
Green, green, and more green! Tropical gardens are a vibrant collection of any plant that grows in a tropical climate. Palms, ferns, philodendrons, and many other plants are labeled as tropical. Oh no, you live in a climate that can’t have beautiful tropical plants outdoors? Don’t worry! Most tropical plants can be grown indoors. I recommend researching beforehand though to make sure that the tropical plants you’re getting will thrive in containers. Most larger palms and ferns have dwarf species that grow well in containers, but the regular species often don’t. You wouldn’t want your palm tree growing through the ceiling in your house!
Bamboo Gardens
Photo Credit: Christine Krause Design Studio
A panda’s heaven, bamboo gardens are made of as many different bamboo varieties as possible. Bamboo is such a vital food source for many different creatures (not just pandas), and it’s essential that we conserve as many varieties as possible. If conservation is important to you (or you really love pandas), then a small-scale bamboo garden would be a fun adventure for you.
Botanical Gardens
Photo Credit: Sand in My Suitcase
Conservation, research, and education are a botanical garden’s main purposes. They aren’t grown for food or money, but rather for pleasure and enjoyment. Many botanical gardens have rare, exquisite plants brought from all over the world. Instead of being personal gardens, most botanical gardens are community-based. The whole community collects, cultivates, and maintains the plot. If the conservation of nature is a huge passion of yours, then do some research and see if you have any botanical gardens near you. If you don’t have one nearby, then maybe consider starting one that your entire community can benefit from.
Butterfly Gardens
Photo Credit: Fine Gardening Magazine
Butterflies are angelic, beautiful, and mysterious. How can such a creature be so light and thin but fly so incredibly far? I don’t think you or I will ever know. Nothing is more enjoyable than watching butterflies fly from one flower to the next in the warm summer months. Butterfly gardens host all different varieties of plants that attract butterflies. Butterfly bushes, marigolds, phlox, indigo… the list is large and plentiful. In fact, most tags when you go to buy a plant at a greenhouse will tell you if a plant attracts bees, butterflies, or birds. Do you want to spend your summer sitting in the shade watching butterflies float around? Start a butterfly garden and your dreams will come true.
Rock Gardens
Photo Credit: The Seattle Times
You may be thinking of a pile of rocks right now and wondering how they’re associated with the definition of “garden.” After all, rocks aren’t an herb, a flower, a fruit, or a vegetable. But, rock gardens aren’t made of only rocks and stones. They’re carefully planned, curated gardens with different types of plants separated by pebbles, rocks, and stones. Rocks add definition, character, and interest to any garden. They’re also a great way to fill gaps or holes between certain plants or plots. To be honest, I recommend adding rocks to any of the types of gardens mentioned above. But, if you’re looking to do a carefully designed rock garden, then I recommend checking out the website I have linked below.
Tire Gardens
Photo Credit: Bless My Weeds
When you think of different types of gardens, tires probably don’t come to mind. But, guess what? Tires can create a unique, quirky garden design. All you need is some old tires and plants to go in the center of them. And, bam! You have a tire garden. If you like stepping outside of the box (or the tire, I should say), then tire gardens were made for you!
Fairy Gardens
Photo Credit: Kristie Beckman
Adorable, mysterious, and intricate. Fairy gardens are fun to have no matter your age. They can be planted anywhere around your home. The base of a tree, in a pot, near a fence… your creativity has permission to go wild. Fairy gardens normally host small varieties of succulents, mosses, and grasses. Surrounding the living plants, there normally lies a “fairy house” made of any natural material imaginable. The fairy house often has a winding pebble stone pathway and many different sculptures ornamenting the little yard. You’re basically creating a miniature model of a quaint cottage in the woods. If you have children or you want to step back in time, a fairy garden is a great way to use your creativity wheels.
Types of Gardens That Can Be Indoors or Outdoors
Greenhouses
Photo Credit: My Happy Homestead
Greenhouses are glass structures that allow sunlight to filter through to the plants that live inside. They’re especially beneficial to have if you live in a colder climate. Very few plants are able to survive harsh, cold weather conditions. Greenhouses act as a “barrier” between the harsh, cold winter weather and the plants inside. In a way, a greenhouse creates its own miniature climate. Greenhouses come in a wide range of sizes with many different feature options- including heat and electricity. If you’re tired of having to wait until July to have fresh produce, then a greenhouse will be the best purchase you ever make.
Container Gardens
Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens
Sometimes it isn’t possible for you to have an outside garden due to lack of space. And, that’s okay! Gardens don’t have to be large to be charming. No acreage or wood is needed for this type of garden! All you need is some pots, potting soil, and plants! Container gardening can be anything from having a large tub full of annuals to having a tropical plant in a terracotta pot. Most plants do well when grown in containers. The only exception is climbing varieties that need some sort of vertical space to climb. Whether you’re looking to add life to your apartment balcony, or you really want that banana tree even though you live in Michigan, then container gardening is for you.
Succulent Gardens
Photo Credit: Serra Gardens
Naturally found in arid, dry climates, succulents are low-maintenance plants that require minimal effort and water to grow. Succulent gardens are made of multiple different kinds of succulents that come in different shapes, sizes, and textures. You can grow a succulent garden both indoors and outdoors. It all depends on which species you choose to plant. If finding time to maintain a garden is a struggle for you, then a succulent garden is a great way to get your gardening fix…minus the effort normally required of a garden.
Green Walls
Photo Credit: Hometalk
Instead of the typical horizontal approach to gardening, green walls are vertical. Plants are grown on a shelf-like structure in compact rows. These rows often become so full and green that they almost look like one large plant. Similar to greenhouses, there are endless options that all come with different features and designs. If you love the idea of having leafy greens and fresh herbs all season long (or you want an eye-catching focal point in your living room) a green wall is an awesome garden option!
Moss Walls
Photo Credit: Good Earth and Plants
Moss grows on pretty much any and all surfaces. Yes, that includes a wall if you allow it to. Moss walls add color, texture, and life to any and all spaces. People or buildings that are located in congested cities often find moss walls to be a wonderful substitute for the lack of natural beauty in congested cities. If you’re looking for a unique feature to set your home apart from others (or you’re deprived of nature) something as low-maintenance as a moss wall is a great addition to consider adding to your home.
Types of Gardens Indoors
Hydroponic Gardens
Photo Credit: Mashable
Hydroponic gardens are an unusual, different method of gardening that recently became more popular. Typically, a plant gleans nutrients and minerals from the soil. But, in a hydroponic garden, plants glean nutrients from a nutrient-dense solution that the roots sit in. There’s lots to learn and lots to consider when going the hydroponic garden route. But, if fresh produce is a must in your book, then hydroponic systems are the best indoor option for having year-round crops.
Aquaponic Gardens
Photo Credit: No1 Ideas
Similar to hydroponic systems, aquaponic systems don’t rely on soil. Instead, they rely on water… and fish. The plants and fish have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship (i.e., a relationship where both specimens benefit from each other). The plants provide food for the fish, and the fish provide food for the plants. Nothing is more fascinating than getting a firsthand view of such a natural wonder. If you love science, fish, and plants, then an aquaponic system is a must-have.
Sprout Gardens
Photo Credit: Mommypotamus
Quick, easy, and delicious, sprout gardens are an all-around win. Sprouts make excellent indoor gardens because they don’t take up much space or require much effort. You can grow sprouts in trays, mason jars with special sprout lids, or even a bowl! There are many different kinds of sprouts you can try your hand at growing, and they make wonderful salad toppings. If you find yourself to be a rather impatient gardener, then a sprout garden is the route to go.
Hanging Gardens
Photo Credit: Southern Living
So, we’ve discussed horizontal and vertical gardens. But, what about hanging gardens? Hanging gardens are the epitome of boho design. Ivy, pothos, philodendrons, and so many other plants make beautiful hanging garden designs. The trick to creating a hanging garden that looks professional is to hang many different hanging plants all at different heights. Some plants should hang rather low and others should hang rather high. Add as many plants to your little hanging garden as you would like. And, ta-da! You just made your home all-out boho.
Mini Cacti Gardens
Photo Credit: Oyo-gelo Cueco
Did you know that there are varieties of cacti smaller than the cups of your hands? Well, there is. And, there are a lot of different kinds too! What’s more adorable than miniature things? Mini cacti gardens are a collection of small cacti plants all planted in the same container or pot. They make an excellent piece of living decor. And, they don’t require much space. I told you they’re too cute to resist! What are you waiting for? Go hunt for some mini cacti and a pot.
Terrariums
Photo Credit: Destiny Autumn
Self-maintaining, beautiful, and impressive, terrariums are mini gardens grown under sealed glass. African violets, prayer plants, polka dot plants, and many other small varieties do well in terrariums. They’re super fun to design, and they look excellent sitting on a coffee table or side table. The best part? Terrariums are super low-maintenance. All they require is an occasional watering with a spray bottle and a plucking of dead leaves every now and then. Other than that, allow the plants to “breathe” once a month (or if condensation builds up), and you should be all set. The plants do most of the work for you.
Want to Learn More About Different Plants That Do Well Grown Indoors? Go Check Out Some of My Other Indoor Gardening Blog Posts!!
- The Complete Guide to Indoor Vegetable Gardening- Grow Fresh Veggies All Year Long!
- 10 Common House Plants that Require Minimal Care and Effort to Grow
Conclusion
Having a garden is one of the most rewarding, relaxing adventures you’ll ever undertake. They bring life, joy, and beauty to any home no matter the shape, size, or style. Spring will soon be in the air, and it’s time to get those summer goals in order. And, with spring comes flowers, greenery, and the opportunity to plant another garden. I hope this blog post helps you realize that gardens don’t have to be rectangular plots with tomatoes and lettuce. They can be any area where “herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables are cultivated.” So, whether you like the idea of going “wild” with some wildflowers or adding an architectural garden to your modern home on the hill, pull up your gloves. It’s time to get growing!
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