Informal garden design: organic lines and natural planting groups

Why informal feels better

Informal gardens feel "more natural" - not laid out, more as if something grew organically. No mirroring, no central axes, no perfect symmetry. Instead: curved lines, irregular groupings, room for surprise.

This feels calming because it imitates natural landscape. In nature, plants do not grow in mirror images. They grow in clusters, along water courses, in irregular patterns. An informal garden thus feels familiar - as if you are in nature, not in a "designed" space.

The rule of odd numbers

The first rule of informal garden design: plant in odd numbers, not even.

NOT: 2 flowers, 4 shrubs, 6 plants BUT: 3 flowers, 5 shrubs, 7 plants

Why? Odd numbers feel more natural. Your eye finds two identical objects immediately "symmetrical" and "designed." Three form a more natural triangle. Five give more chaos and organic character.

This applies to everything:

• Plant groups of 3, 5, 7, or 9 of the same species
• Place 3 trees, not 2 or 4
• Group 5 different border plants, not 4 or 6

Curved lines and winding paths

Informal gardens have curved paths, not straight ones. This breaks the "geometric garden feeling."

The path-curl principle:

• Straight paths say "this is designed"
• Curved paths say "this grew organically"
• Ensure your path does not reveal its destination until you are almost there (mystery)

A curved path need not be a drastic bend. Even a gentle S-curve (10-15cm shift each time) breaks monotony and adds interest.

Planting groups with variation

An informal border has variety - not everything the same height, not everything the same color, not everything the same texture.

Example informal border:

• Front: low Salvia, white-flowering Geranium sanguineum, silvery Artemisia
• Middle: purple Echinacea, blue Delphiniums, pink-white Gaura
• Back: Hydrangea, dark Ilex (holly), Acer palmatum (red foliage)

This feels "composed" - not grouped in neat layers, but mixed.

Room for spontaneous growth

In informal gardens you let certain plants grow and self-seed. This adds chaos and life.

For example:

• Let Aquilegia (columbine) self-seed - they appear everywhere next year
• Let Allium self-seed - sculptural seedheads appear randomly
• Let Digitalis (foxglove) self-seed - pink or white flowers pop up far apart

This feels "naturalistic." You do not plant, nature plants for you.

Work with existing situations

Informal gardens adapt to existing conditions:

• Does a tree already grow? Plant flowers underneath.
• Is there a corner between two walls? Set a bench there and wild growth beside.
• Is there a wet spot? Plant marsh bloomers there.

This is the opposite of symmetry, where you force existing conditions to "fit" for perfection.

Texture and seasonal interest

Informal also means: variety of texture and season. No "uniform" borders, but mix of textures:

• Fine-leafed plants (Foeniculum, fennel)
• Coarse-leafed plants (Bergenia, elephant ears)
• Flowery plants (Paeonia, peonies)
• Sculptural plants (Allium, Sedum)

This feels more interesting and natural.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Forget symmetry

Do not draw central axes, do not create mirrored images. Start with blank paper. Note where sun, shade, water is.

Step 2: Sketch curved lines

Draw curved paths (no straight lines). These paths form your "framework." They need not go everywhere.

Step 3: Plan planting groups

Plant in odd groups of 3, 5, or 7. Place groups along your curved paths. Mix textures and heights.

Step 4: Add structure

Plant 1-3 trees, 3-5 shrubs. This gives sketch without stiffness. Distribution unequal (not 50/50).

Step 5: Leave space open

In informal gardens, "empty" spots matter. Not everything full of plants. Leave grass, gravel, or water for breathing room.

Step 6: Accept spontaneous growth

Plant a few self-seeders (Aquilegia, Allium, Digitalis). Let them grow where they want. This gives organic character.

Frequently asked questions

Is informal "wild"?

No. Informal differs from wild in that it is still planted - just relaxedly planted. Maintenance is still needed (weeding, pruning), but you leave more room for "accident."

Can I mix informal and formal?

Yes, many gardens do this. A formal front room (close to house) and informal back section (further away). Or vice versa.

Which plants are good for informal gardens?

Anything you like! But "formable" plants (that you let grow) work better: Echinacea, Geranium, Salvia, Aquilegia, Allium, Digitalis, Sedum. These tolerate "roughness."

How do I distinguish informal from "chaotic"?

Informal still has planning - just not visible planning. You know where your paths go, you know your planting groups. Chaotic feels random. Ensure your informal garden still has "structure," just hidden.

See how your informal garden looks

On gardenworld.app you can upload photos of your front garden and see how an informal layout looks. Plan curved paths, irregular planting groups, and spontaneous growth zones - and see it in realistic composite. On gardenworld.app you also get plant recommendations for informal, natural gardens.