How to Create a Spirit-lifting Sensory Garden
To boost everything from memory to wellbeing, why not create an outdoor escape that awakens all the senses?
Sarah Alcroft
4 July 2022
Houzz UK Editorial Team
If you’d love your outside space to be somewhere you can immerse yourself in nature and leave the hubbub behind, a sensory garden might be for you. With elements designed to stimulate the five senses, the benefits to wellbeing are huge.
“Whereas most gardens are designed to be visually appealing, sensory gardens are designed to draw people in to actively touch, smell and experience the garden with all their senses,” designer Jane Ashley says. “The idea is for people to become immersed in scents and sounds, textures and colours.”
So how can that be achieved in an average plot? Here, three experts share design tips, planting suggestions, and a few things to avoid.
Professional advice from: Jane Ashley of Jane Ashley Garden Design; Gayle Souter-Brown of Greenstone Design; Lee Burkhill of Garden Ninja Garden Design
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
“Whereas most gardens are designed to be visually appealing, sensory gardens are designed to draw people in to actively touch, smell and experience the garden with all their senses,” designer Jane Ashley says. “The idea is for people to become immersed in scents and sounds, textures and colours.”
So how can that be achieved in an average plot? Here, three experts share design tips, planting suggestions, and a few things to avoid.
Professional advice from: Jane Ashley of Jane Ashley Garden Design; Gayle Souter-Brown of Greenstone Design; Lee Burkhill of Garden Ninja Garden Design
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
What are the benefits of a sensory garden?
“Sensory gardens have many benefits, but the primary one is to awaken all the senses,” Lee Burkhill says. “They’re immersive and encourage you to interact and engage with them.”
They’ve also been shown to have benefits far beyond providing a relaxing space. “Sensory gardens can reduce stress while boosting wellbeing, problem solving, relationships, memory, mental clarity, playfulness, and workplace productivity,” says Gayle Souter-Brown, who researched the benefits of sensory gardens for her PhD.
“Sensory gardens have many benefits, but the primary one is to awaken all the senses,” Lee Burkhill says. “They’re immersive and encourage you to interact and engage with them.”
They’ve also been shown to have benefits far beyond providing a relaxing space. “Sensory gardens can reduce stress while boosting wellbeing, problem solving, relationships, memory, mental clarity, playfulness, and workplace productivity,” says Gayle Souter-Brown, who researched the benefits of sensory gardens for her PhD.
What should I include?
“When designing a sensory garden, it’s important to think about who will be using it and what atmosphere you want to create – vibrant, stimulating and fun, or relaxing, peaceful and calm,” Jane Ashley says.
“Fragrance, colour and seasonality are important to the effect of a sensory garden,” Gayle adds. “Having a succession of wildflowers coming into bloom, for example, or fruits ripening, provides interest and builds connection with the garden.”
Here are some plants and elements to consider:
“When designing a sensory garden, it’s important to think about who will be using it and what atmosphere you want to create – vibrant, stimulating and fun, or relaxing, peaceful and calm,” Jane Ashley says.
“Fragrance, colour and seasonality are important to the effect of a sensory garden,” Gayle adds. “Having a succession of wildflowers coming into bloom, for example, or fruits ripening, provides interest and builds connection with the garden.”
Here are some plants and elements to consider:
Sound Gentle sounds can be very soothing – and mask less appealing environmental noises, too. Water, which also brings movement, glittering light and visiting wildlife, is a key element. “Running water can be a great asset in a sensory garden, whether gently babbling over pebbles or whooshing down from a height,” Jane says. “Narrow fountain jets are fun to watch, hear, touch and run through, especially if they come on unpredictably.”
Also try plants that catch the breeze. “Bamboos and grasses, such as greater quaking grass (Briza maxima), can rustle in the wind,” Jane says.
“Some plants produce seedheads that make a rattling noise when you shake them, such as love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) and poppies (Papaver rhoeas),” she continues.
“Other ways in which plants create sound is through attracting birds and buzzing insects,” Jane adds. “Some of the best for this are teasels (Dipsacus fullonum), which attract goldfinches, and globe thistles (Echinops) and Eryngium, which attract bees.”
Inspired to refresh your plot? Find reviewed garden designers in your area on Houzz.
Also try plants that catch the breeze. “Bamboos and grasses, such as greater quaking grass (Briza maxima), can rustle in the wind,” Jane says.
“Some plants produce seedheads that make a rattling noise when you shake them, such as love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) and poppies (Papaver rhoeas),” she continues.
“Other ways in which plants create sound is through attracting birds and buzzing insects,” Jane adds. “Some of the best for this are teasels (Dipsacus fullonum), which attract goldfinches, and globe thistles (Echinops) and Eryngium, which attract bees.”
Inspired to refresh your plot? Find reviewed garden designers in your area on Houzz.
Colour When choosing a palette for your plot, think about what mood you want to create. “For a stimulating, vibrant garden, vivid reds, oranges and yellows work well,” Jane says.
Her plant suggestions include: sunflowers (Helianthus annuus); marigolds (Calendula officinalis); poppies (eg red Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’); red-hot pokers (eg Kniphofia rooperi); monbretia (eg Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’); perennial geraniums (eg magenta Geranium psilostemon), and phlox (eg red Phlox paniculata ‘Starfire’).
“For a more calming, restful garden,” she continues, “go for lilacs, mauves, whites and blues.”
Try: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’; lilac phlox eg Phlox paniculata ‘Blue evening’, and white guaura (eg Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’).
Her plant suggestions include: sunflowers (Helianthus annuus); marigolds (Calendula officinalis); poppies (eg red Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’); red-hot pokers (eg Kniphofia rooperi); monbretia (eg Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’); perennial geraniums (eg magenta Geranium psilostemon), and phlox (eg red Phlox paniculata ‘Starfire’).
“For a more calming, restful garden,” she continues, “go for lilacs, mauves, whites and blues.”
Try: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’; lilac phlox eg Phlox paniculata ‘Blue evening’, and white guaura (eg Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’).
Shape and movement These are key to the visual experience in a garden. “Structural plants with large, tropical-looking leaves, such as Fatsia japonica and the banana plant, Musa basjoo, make a striking visual impact,” Jane says, “as do interestingly shaped shrubs and small trees, such as the sumach tree (Rhus typhina), with its branched structure and large, dissected leaves, and the corkscrew hazel, Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’.
“Grasses can add interesting shape and movement, especially in late summer, when tall miscanthus (eg Miscanthus ‘Ferner Osten’, pictured) and calamagrostis (eg Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’) throw up their magnificent flower plumes.”
Gayle adds, “Movement will come from visiting birds and insects, as well as the wind in the trees.”
“Grasses can add interesting shape and movement, especially in late summer, when tall miscanthus (eg Miscanthus ‘Ferner Osten’, pictured) and calamagrostis (eg Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’) throw up their magnificent flower plumes.”
Gayle adds, “Movement will come from visiting birds and insects, as well as the wind in the trees.”
Texture “There’s a whole host of textured plants that can be used for a tactile sensory garden, so don’t just think of smell and colour, but touch, too,” Lee says.
Jane agrees. “Texture is a key element of a sensory garden,” she says. “Plants with contrasting and interesting textures include: Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantine, pictured), with soft, silvery leaves everyone wants to stroke; woolly mulleins (eg Verbascums Thapsus); licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare), with its felted leaves, and Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa), with soft, downy leaves.
“The Globe thistle (Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’) is wonderfully tactile when the globe is formed before the flowers appear,” she says, “while sea holly (eg Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’) has crinkly leaves and flowers that feel like a soft brush.
“Many coniferous plants offer a range of textures,” she continues. “Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Globosa Nana’ is one you want to reach out and touch, and Dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) has soft needles.
“Don’t forget grasses,” Jane says. “Some of the best are: Chinese fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) with soft, hairy flowerheads, and Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima), with feathery flowerheads.
“Other plants that are fun to interact with,” she adds, “are Snapdragons (Antirrhinum), which kids love to squeeze to open the flowers.”
Jane agrees. “Texture is a key element of a sensory garden,” she says. “Plants with contrasting and interesting textures include: Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantine, pictured), with soft, silvery leaves everyone wants to stroke; woolly mulleins (eg Verbascums Thapsus); licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare), with its felted leaves, and Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa), with soft, downy leaves.
“The Globe thistle (Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’) is wonderfully tactile when the globe is formed before the flowers appear,” she says, “while sea holly (eg Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’) has crinkly leaves and flowers that feel like a soft brush.
“Many coniferous plants offer a range of textures,” she continues. “Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Globosa Nana’ is one you want to reach out and touch, and Dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) has soft needles.
“Don’t forget grasses,” Jane says. “Some of the best are: Chinese fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) with soft, hairy flowerheads, and Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima), with feathery flowerheads.
“Other plants that are fun to interact with,” she adds, “are Snapdragons (Antirrhinum), which kids love to squeeze to open the flowers.”
Fragrance “Scents are one of the most powerful ways a sensory garden can stimulate the senses, both through plants that send their fragrances into the air, and those that emit a smell when crushed,” Jane says.
“Some of the best for filling the air with fragrance are: lavender; Philadelphus caucasicus ‘Aureus’; jasmine, and honeysuckle,” she says. “For winter fragrance, try Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’; Sarcococca confusa, and Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’.
“Other plants that provide interesting scent when crushed include herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint,” she adds.
“Some of the best for filling the air with fragrance are: lavender; Philadelphus caucasicus ‘Aureus’; jasmine, and honeysuckle,” she says. “For winter fragrance, try Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’; Sarcococca confusa, and Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’.
“Other plants that provide interesting scent when crushed include herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint,” she adds.
Edibles It’s fun to be able to sample flavours in the garden, though, as Jane says, “Make it clear to people which plants they can eat and which they can’t!
“Try fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and thornless blackberries; flowers such as nasturtiums and pansies, and chives (Allium schoenoprasum).”
“Try fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and thornless blackberries; flowers such as nasturtiums and pansies, and chives (Allium schoenoprasum).”
What else should I consider?
Seating “I like to use hidden seating areas within gardens, particularly in the flowerbeds themselves,” Lee says. “This really helps you feel part of the garden experience. It allows you to touch and smell the plants up close, and invites you to take a moment, rather than just travelling through.”
Gayle agrees and adds, “Think about seating to feel comfortable in, to admire a view, and that’s movable, so you can decide whether to sit in shade or sun, with others or alone.”
Pathways “Sensory gardens usually follow an informal design, with curves and flows to help guide people around,” Lee says. “By focusing on the flow, especially in a smaller space, you can make a garden feel bigger and more inviting – a curved path will invite users to explore it.”
Jane agrees. “Try to take people on a journey, so they can experience the garden in small chunks,” she says.
Elements to encourage wildlife “Have planting and maintenance regimes to attract wildlife – friable soil, a chemical-free garden, fruits and berries for a year-round food source, and nectar-rich flowers for moths and butterflies,” Gayle says.
“A pile of stones in a sunny spot offers somewhere for lizards to sunbathe,” she adds, “while a stumpery of logs provides somewhere for fungi to sprout, adding additional interest.”
“By putting out a range of bird feeders,” Jane says, “birds will flock to the garden, bringing enormous sound and visual appeal. There’s nothing like birdsong to help people relax and forget about their cares.”
Seating “I like to use hidden seating areas within gardens, particularly in the flowerbeds themselves,” Lee says. “This really helps you feel part of the garden experience. It allows you to touch and smell the plants up close, and invites you to take a moment, rather than just travelling through.”
Gayle agrees and adds, “Think about seating to feel comfortable in, to admire a view, and that’s movable, so you can decide whether to sit in shade or sun, with others or alone.”
Pathways “Sensory gardens usually follow an informal design, with curves and flows to help guide people around,” Lee says. “By focusing on the flow, especially in a smaller space, you can make a garden feel bigger and more inviting – a curved path will invite users to explore it.”
Jane agrees. “Try to take people on a journey, so they can experience the garden in small chunks,” she says.
Elements to encourage wildlife “Have planting and maintenance regimes to attract wildlife – friable soil, a chemical-free garden, fruits and berries for a year-round food source, and nectar-rich flowers for moths and butterflies,” Gayle says.
“A pile of stones in a sunny spot offers somewhere for lizards to sunbathe,” she adds, “while a stumpery of logs provides somewhere for fungi to sprout, adding additional interest.”
“By putting out a range of bird feeders,” Jane says, “birds will flock to the garden, bringing enormous sound and visual appeal. There’s nothing like birdsong to help people relax and forget about their cares.”
What about materials?
“Changes in texture can be a really good way to transition between parts of the garden,” Lee says. “A change in paving type, from flags to gravel, for instance, can slow down the way you move through the garden. It can also make you stop and take in your surroundings.”
“Try to use no more than three different materials on view in any one area, though,” Gayle says, “otherwise it can lead to visual ‘clutter’.”
For young children, have lots of different materials to play with on a ‘nature table’. Jane suggests, “Try smooth pebbles, mossy stones, crunchy gravel, bark chip, smooth sand, planed wood, pine cones and dried leaves.”
“Changes in texture can be a really good way to transition between parts of the garden,” Lee says. “A change in paving type, from flags to gravel, for instance, can slow down the way you move through the garden. It can also make you stop and take in your surroundings.”
“Try to use no more than three different materials on view in any one area, though,” Gayle says, “otherwise it can lead to visual ‘clutter’.”
For young children, have lots of different materials to play with on a ‘nature table’. Jane suggests, “Try smooth pebbles, mossy stones, crunchy gravel, bark chip, smooth sand, planed wood, pine cones and dried leaves.”
Is there such a thing as a low-maintenance sensory garden?
“Absolutely, yes,” Gayle says. “It all comes down to the design – if the right plants and materials are chosen, there’s little need to do more than 30 minutes once a week pottering to harvest produce or pluck weed seedlings.”
Lee agrees, and adds, “Using a few larger shrubs and trees can really help ground a sensory garden, giving impact without requiring huge amounts of maintenance. Using height in this way is often overlooked in smaller garden design due to space limitations, but it’s a good design trick to give even the smallest space impact.”
Jane, however, sounds a note of caution. “Few gardens are truly low maintenance,” she says, “but there’s no reason why a sensory garden needs to be high maintenance, particularly if it’s carefully planned, with plenty of structural plants and robust hard landscape materials for paths and seating.”
“Absolutely, yes,” Gayle says. “It all comes down to the design – if the right plants and materials are chosen, there’s little need to do more than 30 minutes once a week pottering to harvest produce or pluck weed seedlings.”
Lee agrees, and adds, “Using a few larger shrubs and trees can really help ground a sensory garden, giving impact without requiring huge amounts of maintenance. Using height in this way is often overlooked in smaller garden design due to space limitations, but it’s a good design trick to give even the smallest space impact.”
Jane, however, sounds a note of caution. “Few gardens are truly low maintenance,” she says, “but there’s no reason why a sensory garden needs to be high maintenance, particularly if it’s carefully planned, with plenty of structural plants and robust hard landscape materials for paths and seating.”
Any don’ts?
“The most important thing is to make sure that plants, materials and the overall design are appropriate for the intended users,” Jane says. “Be careful not to include toxic plants in a garden for young children, for instance, especially if they’re being encouraged to eat things.
“Avoid plants that could prickle, sting or irritate,” she continues. “Or site plants that people should avoid touching in places that can’t be reached. And make sure you use robust plants that can cope with interaction.”
“Don’t make it too ‘pretty’,” Gayle adds. “Nature is inherently ‘messy’, so allow plants to spill over, die down, go to seed.
“Let the grass grow long,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be the whole lawn, but mowing a path through and just leaving the rest to naturally do its thing offers a wonderful opportunity to observe what’s in the soil, and to celebrate that. Just mow the whole thing once in autumn, so winter and spring is a time for renewal.
“There’s beauty in life, decay and death,” she says. “A sensory garden is a metaphor for life.”
Tell us…
Was this advice helpful? Has it tempted you to create a sensory garden – or do you have one already? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
“The most important thing is to make sure that plants, materials and the overall design are appropriate for the intended users,” Jane says. “Be careful not to include toxic plants in a garden for young children, for instance, especially if they’re being encouraged to eat things.
“Avoid plants that could prickle, sting or irritate,” she continues. “Or site plants that people should avoid touching in places that can’t be reached. And make sure you use robust plants that can cope with interaction.”
“Don’t make it too ‘pretty’,” Gayle adds. “Nature is inherently ‘messy’, so allow plants to spill over, die down, go to seed.
“Let the grass grow long,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be the whole lawn, but mowing a path through and just leaving the rest to naturally do its thing offers a wonderful opportunity to observe what’s in the soil, and to celebrate that. Just mow the whole thing once in autumn, so winter and spring is a time for renewal.
“There’s beauty in life, decay and death,” she says. “A sensory garden is a metaphor for life.”
Tell us…
Was this advice helpful? Has it tempted you to create a sensory garden – or do you have one already? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
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Such an inspiring article. Thank you for a very well researched informative article with beautiful pics accompanying the text. Most of these would be a nature magnet too.
I've tried the bird feeders but unfortunately mice and rats loved it too
I don’t mind mice and rats so long as they stay well away from us and the house. Bird feeders at the bottom of the garden might be the answer! The only problem for us is when our cat brings one in…