Exploring Garden Styles: Part 3: Out-of-Zone Garden Styles
- Robyn Cates
- Nov 10, 2025
- 7 min read
This series is La Madrina's guide to 16 distinct garden styles, each paired with a mini design lesson to help you translate inspiration into action. From layout and plant selection to climate considerations and maintenance tips, we’ll walk through the elements that make each style work—and how to adapt them for Indiana’s growing conditions.
Landscape Design 101
Climates & Microclimates
Understanding climate and microclimate is the foundation of smart, sustainable landscape design. These factors determine what plants will thrive, how your space feels throughout the year, and where to place every tree, flower, and patio.
Climate is the broad, long-term weather pattern of your region — including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and seasonal changes and fall within USDA zone 6b.
A microclimate is a small area with unique temperature, light, or moisture condition. An urban heat pocket created by pavement creates the conditions needed for yucca. The clay soil in Carmel frequently forms basins that are great for plants that love wet feet.
The site will tell you what to plant, if you watch it closely.
Out-of-Zone Garden Styles
Desert Garden Tropical Garden Coastal Garden Rock Garden (Alpine)
These gardens originate from deserts, tropical rainforests, alpine slopes, and coastal zones, climates very different from Indiana's. While visually stunning, they require extra planning, soil modification, or seasonal protection to succeed in the Midwest.
Specific microclimates could allow these non-zone-6b plants to thrive, but also consider alternative plantings that portray similar color, scale, and texture. The descriptions below have substituted ill-suited plantings with alternatives that are tried and true in Indiana's climate.
Desert Landscaping
Desert landscaping, distinct from xeriscaping, specifically celebrates the unique beauty and resilience of arid environments. It focuses on plants naturally adapted to extreme heat and prolonged drought, showcasing the dramatic forms and muted colors of desert flora. This style is ideal for true desert regions where embracing the native landscape aesthetic is both practical and beautiful, creating a rugged yet elegant outdoor space.
Key Design Elements: Dominant features include large rock formations (boulders, gravel, decomposed granite), and minimal, strategically placed hardscaping that blends with the natural environment. Pathways are often made of crushed rock or natural stone. Plants are often solitary or grouped in sculptural arrangements. Color palettes are typically earthy, incorporating shades of brown, tan, gray, and subtle greens, with occasional bursts of vibrant flower color.
Plant Recommendations for Indiana: While true desert plants are not hardy in Indiana, the aesthetic can be achieved with extremely drought-tolerant, hardy alternatives. Iconic Indiana-hardy desert-like plants include Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa), various Yucca (Yucca filamentosa 'Adam's Needle', Yucca gloriosa), and sculptural Agave relatives like 'Manfreda x Agave 'Macho Mocha' (often grown as annuals or container plants in colder zones). Drought-tolerant ornamental grasses such as Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) work well. Other options include Sedum, Sempervivum, Lavender, and Russian Sage. For trees, Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) has a desert-like form and is very hardy.
Best Climates/Regions & Historical Background: This style is best suited for genuine desert climates, such as the American Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, Southern California), parts of Mexico, and the Middle East. It has ancient roots in indigenous cultures that adapted their living spaces to harsh desert conditions, and has seen a modern resurgence with increased appreciation for native flora and water conservation.
Practical Implementation Tips: Focus on proper drainage; plants selected for this style will rot if their "feet" stay wet. Incorporate rocks and boulders, which provide microclimates and visual interest. Consider using gravel or decomposed granite as a ground cover to mimic natural desert floor. Research native plants specific to your immediate area for the best success and ecological benefit.
Tropical Landscaping
Tropical landscaping transforms an outdoor space into a vibrant, lush, and exotic paradise. Characterized by bold foliage, vivid colors, and a sense of abundance, this style thrives in humid environments. It’s perfect for those who want to create a resort-like ambiance with a focus on large-leafed plants and bright, dramatic blooms, often coupled with relaxing water features.
Key Design Elements: Dense planting layers create a jungle-like feel. Pathways are often winding, made of natural stone or wood, and may disappear into the foliage. Water features like waterfalls, ponds with koi, or swimming pools are common. Outdoor living spaces with rattan furniture, tiki torches, and natural materials complete the look. Expect vibrant colors in both foliage and flowers, and strong contrasts in plant textures.
Plant Recommendations for Indiana: To achieve a tropical look in Indiana, rely on hardy plants that mimic tropical aesthetics or use tropicals as annuals. Large-leafed plants essential for the look include hardy Banana (Musa basjoo), Giant Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta) (often grown as annuals or overwintered indoors), and various hardy Palms (e.g., Needle Palm - Rhapidophyllum hystrix). Vibrant flowering plants include hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos or syriacus), Cannas, and Dahlias. Hardy Bamboo (clumping Fargesia species) adds vertical interest. Ferns (e.g., Ostrich Fern, Japanese Painted Fern) and Hostas fill in lower layers, providing lush foliage.
Best Climates/Regions & Historical Background: This style naturally flourishes in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Florida, Hawaii, parts of Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. In cooler climates, many tropical plants can be grown as annuals or overwintered indoors. The aesthetic draws from the natural exuberance of rainforests and tropical islands.
Practical Implementation Tips: Focus on creating layers of plants, with taller specimens in the back and smaller ones in front. Incorporate a variety of leaf shapes and sizes to add visual interest. Consider hardiness zones if you're outside a truly tropical climate and select plants that can tolerate cooler temperatures or be easily protected. Good drainage is crucial, despite the need for moisture.
Coastal Landscaping
Coastal landscaping is designed to thrive in the unique and challenging conditions of seaside environments, including salt spray, high winds, and sandy soil. This style focuses on resilient, salt-tolerant plants and durable materials that evoke a breezy, relaxed, and natural beachside aesthetic. It's ideal for properties near the ocean, where adapting to the elements is key to a successful and beautiful landscape.
Key Design Elements: Emphasis is placed on robust, weathering materials like natural stone, driftwood, weathered timber, and coarse gravel. Pathways are often informal, made of crushed shell, sand, or permeable pavers. Seating areas are typically open to sea breezes and views. Design often incorporates elements that provide windbreaks or privacy without obstructing views, such as strategically placed hardy shrubs or fences. Colors tend to be muted, natural tones with pops of blue or white.
Plant Recommendations for Indiana: While Indiana is not coastal, the principles of selecting hardy, wind-resistant, and adaptable plants can be applied for similar aesthetic effect, especially in windy, exposed areas or those with sandy soil. Examples include various ornamental grasses like Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Fescue (Festuca species), and Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis). Certain varieties of Creeping Juniper, Rosemary (hardy varieties like 'Arp'), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and Oleander (as an annual or container plant in Indiana) can work. Some types of Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' or 'Little Lime') are very hardy. Succulents like Sedum and Agave also perform well. Native plants like Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) can be adapted for Indiana's tougher spots, and Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Best Climates/Regions & Historical Background: This style is, by definition, best suited for coastal regions worldwide. Its history is tied to the practical necessity of gardening in challenging maritime conditions, evolving from utilitarian plantings to an aesthetic that celebrates the unique beauty of the coast.
Practical Implementation Tips: Prioritize plants that are proven to be salt and wind tolerant in your specific coastal zone. Consider installing windbreaks (e.g., hardy shrubs, fences) to protect more delicate plants. Improve sandy soil by adding organic matter to help with water retention. Design with erosion control in mind, especially on slopes. Choose low-maintenance plants to spend more time enjoying the view and less time gardening.
Rock Garden (Alpine)
A rock garden, particularly an alpine rock garden, is designed to emulate the rugged, natural beauty of high-altitude mountain environments. It features a collection of small, hardy plants nestled among carefully placed rocks, often with excellent drainage provided by gravel or scree. This style is perfect for showcasing unique, resilient plants and creating a dramatic, textural landscape in challenging conditions or sloped areas.
Key Design Elements: The backbone of a rock garden is the rocks themselves—choose weathered, natural-looking stones of varying sizes. These are arranged to create crevices, pockets, and mini-terraces for plants. Drainage is paramount, often achieved with a lean, gritty soil mix. Pathways are typically narrow, made of gravel or stepping stones. Water features, if any, are subtle and naturalistic, like small trickles.
Plant Recommendations for Indiana: Plants are typically compact, slow-growing, and highly drought-tolerant, mimicking alpine conditions and thriving in Indiana's variable weather. Examples include various Sedums (e.g., 'Dragon's Blood', 'Autumn Joy') and Sempervivums ("Hen and Chicks"), Thyme (Thymus serpyllum), Dianthus (Pinks), Dwarf Conifers (e.g., Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Mugo Pine), small Saxifrages, and species like Aubrieta. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) and Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia - a native groundcover) are also excellent choices for color and texture.
Best Climates/Regions & Historical Background: Rock gardens are popular in cooler temperate climates but can be adapted to many regions as long as excellent drainage is provided. They originated in 18th-century Europe as botanists brought back unique species from mountain expeditions, leading to a desire to replicate their natural habitats in gardens.
Practical Implementation Tips: Ensure impeccable drainage by incorporating plenty of grit, sand, or small stones into the soil mix. Place rocks first, burying at least a third of each rock for a natural look, then fill with soil and plant. Orient rocks to create shadows and microclimates for different plants. Consider the angle of slopes and use rocks to prevent erosion.
Up next: Regional Rooted Style
Woodland, Native, and Prairie Garden Styles share a common foundation in ecological design. All three emphasize the use of native plants, habitat value, and naturalistic design principles.
Let’s keep growing.
Comments