Nowhere does an atmospheric courtyard quite like Morocco. I happen to be in Marrakech as I write this, and the technicolour wonderland I had held in my mind from previous visits has not disappointed. I don’t think anywhere can beat the joyous assault on the senses that landing in Marrakech delivers after a long British winter.
Morocco has long captured the imagination of creatives, unable to resist its liberating charms, Orientalist mystique and rich culture of artisans and craft. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Tennesee Williams and famously Yves Saint Laurent have all made temporary homes here. And with them, gardens that are every bit as charming as the country they inhabit. Unabashed colour and form at every turn – otherworldly cacti against terracotta walls hidden behind gnarled teak doors that give away nothing of the magic that lies beyond. All very well in Morocco, but how to make a pocket-paradise at home?
There is a clever balance at play in these hidden courtyards; like all good gardens, it lies in the contrasts - maximalist leaf shapes, rich colours and contrasting textures, combined with a sense of calm restfulness.
Whether you’re in Marrakech or Manchester, an atmospheric courtyard relies on layers of planting – clean lines and minimalist this is not. You want everything: climbers that will scrabble up the walls and envelop the space in a web of greens; taller structural plants, the bigger the better, to give scale – it’s a common misconception that small spaces need small plants, when in fact the opposite is true; big bold plants, with generous leaf shapes will bring dramatic silhouettes and form; and then a gathering of smaller seasonal plants that inject colour and interest. Geraniums, pots of tulips, gladioli and agapanthus or ferns and hostas if in a shady spot, all work well. To bring order to the chaos, limit materials and keep the pots consistent – for example use all terracotta, or all zinc.
Intrinsic to courtyard gardens are the walls that surround them. The height and sense of enclosure that a courtyard, big or small, brings has a powerful effect on how we feel in the space. In Morocco the shade these tall walls provide offers respite from the relentless sun. In London it can feel oppressive and dark. But this can be offset by bringing light into the space. This could be a mirror on the wall - something old and tarnished with a tangle of climbers framing it, which will bounce light around the garden and create the illusion of depth. Water is another tried and tested trick to bring light into a space – something shallow and still that will reflect the sky, bring lighting down into in dark spaces. Water ticks the tranquillity box too – be it the quietude of a simple shallow pool, or the gentle babble of a small fountain, both bring peace among chaos.
Perhaps the most important ingredient to these courtyards is a sense of irreverence and willingness to ignore some of the rules and put things together for no other reason that you like them. Colours can clash, and tropicals jostle happily alongside plants from the med. The overall effect is a joyous celebration of colour and form.
Plants to try
- Musa basjoo – this hardy banana plant is incredibly architectural, fast growing and evergreen. Best in full sun but can tolerate some shade, must be kept moist.
- Yucca gloriosa – this has bold sword-like glaucous leaves not unlike an agave but much more suited to a UK climate. Showy bell-shaped cream flowers late in the season.
- Euphorbia mellifera – a Mediterranean honey-spurge, evergreen with lovely narrow leaves.
- Chamerops humilis – a dense mass of crinkle-cut crisps leaves, that give wonderful texture. Evergreen.
- Strelitzia reginae – the bird of paradise flower whose otherworldly orange beaks appear from stiff upright paddle-shaped leaves. Hardy to -3 degrees but slow to recover from frost, so fleece or bring inside if below freezing.
- Olea europea – one of the few places olives look good in the UK is in a city courtyard. It's happy potted too, but it does need sun.
- Canna ‘Tropicanna Black’ – to dial up the drama, this near-black leaved canna will produce rich scarlet flowers that fade to orange.
- Citrus – a small orange or lemon tree in a pot that can be brought inside for sustained periods of frost, this can’t fail to deliver on the holiday nostalgia, and if you’re lucky provide the much needed garnish for your G&T in the sun.
