A courtyard garden is the perfect way to upgrade unused corners outside your home. It creates a beautiful fusion between the architecture and plants, and helps to build in green spaces, even with minimal areas for planting. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash's planting idea is the perfect example.
Rather than a traditional yard, the musician's Los Angeles home boasts a sandstone courtyard garden filled with greenery. Though upon first glance, anyone would be stunned by the jungle-like level of plants, a closer look reveals something even more impressive: they are planted across a surprisingly small square footage of soil. The walled space is full of orchids, hostas, and palms, all living harmoniously in one green space. They are the perfect complement to the archways of Slash's home and the terracotta pathway cutting through the space.
Luckily, this technique isn't confined to the homes of famous rock stars; with careful planning and consideration, you can create your own courtyard garden to maximize planting space.
To help you out, Homes & Gardens spoke with horticultural experts to get to the bottom of the best plants for a courtyard garden, and how to make the look work in any home. I've also curated an edit of plants spotted in Slash's space and recommended by the experts to get you started. Below, you'll find a sneak peek into the rocker's home to kick us off.
Recreate Slash's Courtyard Garden at Home
A white orchid is one of the most beautiful and versatile live flowers you can add to your home. The verdant leaves bring in a touch of texture while the white flowers have the look's signature elegance.
This pack of 6 healthy bare-root starts is just what you need to kick off your courtyard garden. The variety of hostas will create a stunning array that you love to see each day.
This Monstera has large leaves that instantly add life to a brightly lit courtyard. It is easy to care for and classic, with greenery that will thrive in your home for years to come.
This premium windmill palm tree is carefully grown and shipped by experienced nursery professionals to ensure top quality. Cold-hardy and adaptable, it thrives in USDA zones 7-11, making it a versatile choice for many climates.
This gorgeous, classic ivy is perfect for achieving a European-inspired aesthetic. Its deep green color and climbing properties make it the ideal choice for vertical gardening in a courtyard space.
This easy care plant is a perennial, meaning it will grow back year after year. The tiny flowers are ideal for adding a pop of color to a vertical garden.
First, how can a courtyard garden help you create an urban oasis in even the smallest of planting spaces? Charlie Barrett, Garden Expert at Shedstore, explains: 'A courtyard garden can transform even the smallest and enclosed space into a calm and functional outdoor area. They are typically surrounded by four walls, so they naturally feel more private and sheltered, which makes it ideal for year-round use. Courtyard gardens also tend to be low maintenance, which is perfect for busy households or anyone working with limited space.'
He adds: 'For many homeowners, a courtyard can become a practical extension of their home. It can easily double up as a tidy and organised area for outdoor storage. Whether you are in need of a compact shed, log store, or storage unit, with the right layout, you can create a space that’s both practical and relaxing to enjoy.'
Maximizing space in your courtyard garden helps you to enjoy all of these benefits. Charlie advises: 'A courtyard garden typically has less soil and plantable floor space, so you need to consider vertical planting. Wall-mounted planting pockets, tiered planters and trellis structures are brilliant for adding greenery without sacrificing valuable space.'
From houseplants that grow vertically to small trees, Slash's courtyard garden shows that the best versions of these spaces are full of variety.
Tammy Sons, horticultural expert and founder of TN Nursery, recommends: 'When it comes to planting in a courtyard, I like lots of layers: smaller decorative trees to get some height, evergreens like boxwood or small hollies to provide shape all year long, and then more flowing perennials and ferns to soften boundaries and make the area feel cooler. Plants with a smell are especially lovely in enclosed spaces as their fragrance stays around.'
She continues: 'Light as it falls during the day, how the air moves, and drainage are all super important, because a courtyard’s design can mean it holds onto heat or damp. How you get the soil ready is more crucial than many realize, and the size of everything in relation to the walls is everything - if the plants are far too big for the walls around them, the entire place will feel off.'
As with any outdoor space, planning your courtyard garden is just as important as the planting itself.
Charlie states: 'The key is to design the space around how you’ll actually use it. Courtyards can easily become cluttered, so think carefully about layout, access, and storage from the start. If you need somewhere to keep tools, cushions, or bikes, choosing a compact shed or slimline storage unit that fits the footprint is essential. This will ensure the area stays tidy and maximizes usable space.' By following these tips, you'll have a Slash-worthy courtyard garden in no time.
A courtyard garden is more than meets the eye - it's a technique to maximize minimal planting space in the most stylish way possible.
