Succulent wall
Small contemporary backyard garden in Orange County with a vertical garden.

A low water-use drought tolerant succulent and ornamental grasses planting project in Pasadena, California. We used contrasting colors and textures of plant material to create a curb appeal for this spec home. The aloe and Agave american's are the focal points and add a great architectural element to the project.

California Heights Craftsman Xeriscape

California Eco Design, Inc.

This is a Roberto Burle Marx- inspired design, a drought tolerant landscape that imitates the vibrant colors and patterns of the tropics. We kept the monstera and bird of paradise plants, and with the colorful trim on the house, it all works together in this eclectic mashup.

Vineyard Residence

Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture

William Carson Joyce
Inspiration for a small contemporary backyard shaded xeriscape in Santa Barbara with gravel.

Contemporary Landscape

This is an example of a small contemporary backyard garden in San Francisco.

Narrow Sausalito, CA Landscape Transformed For Outdoor Enjoyment & Usable Space

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

A variety of succulents to include Aeonium canarienses and Aeonium 'Sunburst' line the walkways. To gain more usable space in this narrow landscape and update the hardscaping and overgrown garden, my design reconfigured the pathway with poured-in-place concrete pavers accented by Mexican pebbles and a stunning variety of succulents and other site-appropriate plantings that thrive in shade and part sun. We removed the tree to create a patio area large enough to fit a table and chairs for a small group. Non-invasive/clumping Bamboo was added to help screen the patio and provide privacy. Other shade to part-shade plants were included that provide a variety of textures and colors throughout the seasons. Low-voltage lighting was installed for safety and ambiance. Design and Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Glendale Mediterranean

June Scott Design

Encircling a sleek pool, this garden for a growing family offers comfortable spaces in which to play, relax and dine. New raised planters and containers overflow with citrus, herbs and colorful Mediterranean plantings. Synthetic turf provides a soft, inviting play place in a shady area of the yard. Photo by Martin Cox

Zurich residence/Chula Vista

Promise Path Landscaping Inc

Mangaris wooden deck with Concrete finish with Top cast light etch. Water feature surrounded by succulents and low voltage lights. Concrete fire pit and vertical succulents wall. Photography by Zack Benson

niguel west mid-century modern

Moss Yaw Design studio

minimalist landscape detail at board-formed concrete wall
Photo of a small and desert look midcentury front yard full sun xeriscape in Orange County.

vertical succulent garden

Tri County Landscape

A small succulent garden in backyard.
Design ideas for a small beach style backyard full sun xeriscape in Tampa with brick pavers.

Succulent Planters

CaliScape Landscape Services

The beach often becomes your backyard when you live in Southern California, but a private outdoor space is always a necessity. This project was completed for a client residing in Newport Beach, Ca. With limited space, we were able to create a colorful outdoor patio that serves as a perfect complement to their uninterrupted view of the Pacific Ocean.

Canyon Retreat

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

Agave attenuata peeks out from a bed of Senecio mandraliscae like a green starfish. In this garden, the foliage is as beautiful as the flowers?
Photo of a small tropical backyard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with mulch.

Mixing rocks and succulents, Drought Tolerant Garden

Bosler Earth Design

Daniel Bosler photography
Photo of a small contemporary front yard xeriscape in Los Angeles.

Costa Mesa Native/Succulent Front Yard

creations landscape designs

This front yard is a mixture of California native plants, California friendly plants, brick and flagstone paving along with a hidden fire pit makes this space the envy of the neighborhood. You can read about the project with a video here http://tinyurl.com/6shpzz2

Succulent Gardens and Pots

Scenic Landscape and Design

Launa Taylor
Photo of a small eclectic rooftop partial sun garden in San Francisco with a container garden and gravel.

Succulent Garden for Small Spaces

A B

Robert Davis, Laguna Beach Secrets Photography
Small country side yard partial sun garden in Orange County with a container garden for spring.

Curb Appeal

Conscious Environments Inc.

Design ideas for a small contemporary front yard full sun driveway for summer in Orange County with with privacy feature and concrete pavers.

Succulents

Native Sun Gardens

Succulents provide a low-maintenance and low water option for your outdoor OR indoor space. They also act as amazing ground covers and are a great alternative to lawns! Photo cred: Joshua Thayer

Zurich residence/Chula Vista

Promise Path Landscaping Inc

Mangaris wooden deck with Concrete finish with Top cast light etch. Water feature surrounded by succulents and low voltage lights. Concrete fire pit and vertical succulents wall.

Contemporary Landscape

Inspiration for a small contemporary courtyard partial sun formal garden in Indianapolis with a vertical garden and natural stone pavers.

Succulent Small Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.