Mediterranean, Tropical, Contemporary & Formal: A Guide to Garden Styles for Brisbane
Garden style is not about following rules — it's about creating a coherent visual language that reflects your lifestyle, your home's architecture, and your relationship with the outdoor space. Brisbane's subtropical climate and diverse architectural styles create opportunities for a wide range of garden aesthetics, from Mediterranean warmth to tropical exuberance to contemporary minimalism.
This guide explores four distinct garden styles that work particularly well in Brisbane, examining the characteristics, materials, planting, and maintenance requirements of each. Whether you're drawn to one style or considering a hybrid approach, this guide will help you clarify your vision and communicate it to your designer.
Mediterranean Garden Style
Characteristics
Mediterranean gardens evoke the warmth, colour, and sensuality of southern Europe — the Mediterranean coast, Tuscany, southern Spain. They are characterised by:
- Warm, earthy colour palettes: terracotta, ochre, warm stone
- Fragrant planting: lavender, rosemary, jasmine
- Water features: fountains, pools, channels
- Textured surfaces: gravel, terracotta tiles, rough stone
- Relaxed, informal planting style
- Strong connection to outdoor entertaining
Materials
Paving: Terracotta tiles, warm-toned stone (travertine, limestone), gravel, clay bricks
Structures: Pergolas with climbing vines, stone walls, terracotta pots, timber screens
Water features: Central fountains, channels, basins
Furniture: Wrought iron, timber, terracotta
Planting Palette
Feature plants: Olive trees (Olea europaea), Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Lemon and Orange trees, Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Fragrant shrubs: Lavender (Lavandula species), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Jasmine (Jasminum officinale), Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Groundcovers: Thyme (Thymus species), Oregano (Origanum species), Santolina
Climbing plants: Clematis, Wisteria, Climbing Jasmine
Brisbane Suitability
Mediterranean gardens work well in Brisbane's inner western suburbs (Paddington, Bardon, Kenmore) where the climate is slightly cooler and drier than the inner city. They are less suitable for bayside suburbs, where the humidity can stress Mediterranean plants.
The key to success is selecting plants that tolerate Brisbane's humidity and heat while maintaining the Mediterranean aesthetic. Substituting native Australian plants (Grevillea, Callistemon) for traditional Mediterranean species can create a hybrid style that is both authentic and climatically appropriate.
Maintenance Level
Moderate to High. Mediterranean gardens require regular pruning to maintain shape, deadheading to encourage flowering, and careful irrigation management. Lavender and Rosemary require well-drained soil and can suffer in Brisbane's wet conditions if drainage is not carefully managed.
Tropical Garden Style
Characteristics
Tropical gardens celebrate the exuberance of subtropical and tropical planting — bold foliage, vibrant colours, lush density. They are characterised by:
- Bold, architectural foliage: large leaves, dramatic forms
- Vibrant flower colours: reds, oranges, purples
- Dense, layered planting
- Water features: pools, streams, fountains
- Strong connection to nature and wildlife
- Relaxed, informal aesthetic
Materials
Paving: Natural stone, timber decking, gravel, stepping stones
Structures: Timber pergolas, stone walls, water features, timber screens
Furniture: Timber, natural materials
Decorative elements: Large-leaf plants in containers, sculptural elements
Planting Palette
Canopy layer: Ficus species, Palms (Archontophoenix, Howea), Mango, Avocado
Mid-storey: Heliconia, Strelitzia, Alocasia, Philodendron, Calathea
Groundcovers: Liriope, Mondo grass, Ferns, Begonias
Water-edge plants: Cyperus, Iris, Cannas
Brisbane Suitability
Tropical gardens are ideally suited to Brisbane's bayside suburbs (Manly, Wynnum, Cleveland) and inner-city areas (New Farm, Paddington, Teneriffe) where humidity is high and frost is rare. They are less suitable for outer western suburbs where occasional frosts can damage tropical plants.
Maintenance Level
Moderate. Tropical gardens require regular pruning to manage dense growth, consistent watering during dry periods, and regular feeding to support vigorous growth. However, once established, they are relatively low-maintenance compared to formal gardens.
Contemporary / Minimalist Garden Style
Characteristics
Contemporary gardens strip away ornament and focus on essential elements — clean lines, limited colour palettes, architectural planting, sculptural hardscape. They are characterised by:
- Minimal colour palette: blacks, greys, whites, greens
- Clean lines and geometric forms
- Architectural planting: grasses, structured shrubs
- Sculptural hardscape: concrete, corten steel, stone
- Strong connection to the architecture
- Reduced maintenance requirements
Materials
Paving: Polished concrete, porcelain pavers, natural stone in limited colours
Structures: Corten steel screens, off-form concrete walls, timber screens, minimalist pergolas
Furniture: Modern, sculptural pieces in metal and timber
Decorative elements: Sculptural plants, water features as sculptural elements
Planting Palette
Feature plants: Ornamental grasses (Pennisetum, Miscanthus, Stipa), Architectural shrubs (Buxus, Viburnum, Leptospermum)
Accent plants: Agapanthus, Dianella, Phormium
Groundcovers: Mondo grass, Ajuga, Liriope in limited varieties
Colour accents: Limited use of flowering plants — often single colour (white, purple, or yellow)
Brisbane Suitability
Contemporary gardens work well across all Brisbane suburbs. The minimalist approach and focus on architectural elements rather than dense planting make them particularly suitable for smaller urban gardens and for homes where maintenance is a priority.
Maintenance Level
Low to Moderate. Contemporary gardens are designed to be low-maintenance, with limited planting and hard-wearing materials. However, ornamental grasses require seasonal cutting, and architectural plants require occasional pruning to maintain form.
Formal Garden Style
Characteristics
Formal gardens emphasise order, symmetry, and control — geometric forms, structured planting, classical proportions. They are characterised by:
- Symmetrical layouts
- Geometric forms: squares, rectangles, circles
- Structured planting: hedging, topiary, clipped forms
- Classical materials: stone, gravel, formal water features
- Strong architectural presence
- High maintenance requirements
Materials
Paving: Formal stone in regular patterns, gravel, formal brick
Structures: Stone walls, formal hedging, topiary, classical water features, pergolas in regular forms
Furniture: Classical or formal contemporary pieces
Decorative elements: Sculpture, urns, formal plantings
Planting Palette
Hedging: Buxus, Ilex, Ligustrum, Yew (where climate permits)
Topiary: Buxus, Ilex, Ligustrum
Feature plants: Formal trees in regular forms, specimen plants
Groundcovers: Formal patterns of limited plant varieties
Accent plants: Roses, Lavender, Formal perennials
Brisbane Suitability
Formal gardens are less common in Brisbane than in cooler climates, but they can work well in the western suburbs where the climate is slightly cooler. They are less suitable for bayside areas where the informal, relaxed aesthetic is more culturally appropriate.
Maintenance Level
High. Formal gardens require regular pruning to maintain geometric forms, frequent deadheading, and careful irrigation management. Topiary and hedging require professional maintenance to look their best.
Hybrid Approaches
Many of the most successful Brisbane gardens combine elements of multiple styles. For example:
Contemporary Tropical: Clean lines and minimalist hardscape combined with bold tropical foliage. Ideal for modern homes with a connection to nature.
Mediterranean Contemporary: Warm materials and fragrant planting combined with clean lines and geometric forms. Ideal for homes seeking warmth and order.
Formal Contemporary: Classical proportions and structured planting combined with modern materials and minimalist aesthetic. Ideal for homes seeking sophistication and low maintenance.
Choosing Your Style
The best garden style is the one that reflects your lifestyle, your home's architecture, and your climate. Consider:
- Your home's architecture: Does it suggest a particular style? Mediterranean homes suit Mediterranean gardens. Modern homes suit contemporary gardens.
- Your climate zone: Are you in a warm, humid area (tropical style) or a cooler, drier area (Mediterranean style)?
- Your lifestyle: Do you entertain frequently (Mediterranean or tropical)? Do you prefer low maintenance (contemporary)? Do you enjoy gardening (formal)?
- Your aesthetic preferences: What colours, forms, and atmospheres appeal to you?
At DG Gardens, we work with you to clarify your style preferences and translate them into a landscape design that is both beautiful and appropriate for your specific site and circumstances.
Key Takeaways
- Mediterranean gardens work best in Brisbane's western suburbs; tropical gardens in bayside and inner-city areas
- Contemporary gardens are suitable across all Brisbane suburbs and are ideal for low-maintenance requirements
- Formal gardens require high maintenance and are less common in Brisbane's subtropical climate
- The best garden style is one that reflects your home's architecture, your lifestyle, and your climate zone
- Hybrid approaches combining elements of multiple styles can create unique, personal gardens
- Professional design helps translate style preferences into a coherent, buildable landscape
Ready to Define Your Garden Style?
Whether you're drawn to one style or considering a hybrid approach, DG Gardens can help you translate your vision into a landscape design that is both beautiful and appropriate for your Brisbane home.
Book a design consultation to discuss your style preferences. We work across Brisbane and South East Queensland, and we'd be delighted to help you create a garden that reflects your vision.
