Exploring Popular Garden Styles in Indonesia

VARIOUS GARDEN STYLES IN INDONESIA

This time, I would like to share information about some of the different garden styles found in Indonesia. Understanding the characteristics and elements that make up each garden style can help us estimate the cost of creating the garden we have in mind.

1. MINIMALIST GARDEN

This type of garden is often paired with minimalist-style homes. Although the overall concept is minimalist, a minimalist garden can still incorporate colourful flowering plants and water features such as ponds or fountains. What makes it different is the way these elements are positioned and combined.

Practical and simple—that is the essence of minimalist design. The use of trees with relatively light foliage, repetitive combinations of shrubs and bushes, and carefully selected accent elements are some of the defining characteristics of a minimalist garden.

For a closer look, you can see examples of minimalist gardens here: (click here)

2. DRY GARDEN

The use of natural stone in different colours and sizes is one of the defining characteristics of a dry garden. To create a clean, well-organised look while highlighting the garden's features, choose plants that require relatively little water and are easy to maintain.

Plants are generally used as accents because they make up a smaller portion of the composition than hardscape elements, such as stone, stepping stones, and other garden features. Dry gardens can be applied both indoors and outdoors, depending on their purpose.

Here are some examples of dry gardens that can inspire: (click here)

3. THEMED GARDEN

A themed garden is designed around a specific theme or character. Examples include flower gardens featuring a variety of flowering plants or cartoon-themed gardens that use topiary—plants shaped to resemble particular objects or cartoon characters.

The plants used in this type of garden are selected specifically according to the chosen theme. For example, in a Red and White themed garden, plants featuring red and white flowers or foliage would be selected. A Family Wellness Garden, on the other hand, might incorporate a variety of culinary herbs and plants that are beneficial for the family’s well-being.

As a result, each themed garden has its own distinctive character, expressed through both its softscape elements, such as plants, and its hardscape elements, such as garden features and ornaments.

Here are examples of themed gardens found in several regions of Indonesia: (click here)

4. VERTICAL GARDEN

As the name suggests, a vertical garden is designed to grow vertically, making it an excellent option for areas with limited space. With a minimal planting medium, a vertical garden can create a lush, green appearance while using otherwise limited wall or vertical space.

However, it is important to remember that not every plant is suitable for a vertical garden because the available planting medium is limited. Plants must therefore be carefully selected based on their ability to adapt to a restricted growing medium.

Vertical gardens are generally more expensive than conventional gardens because specialised growing systems and structural calculations are required to support the garden vertically, adding to the overall project budget. An irrigation system must also be properly planned to make it easier to water and reach plants located at the highest levels.

This vertical garden project can serve as an example of how this garden concept can be applied: (click here)

5. TROPICAL GARDEN

With a natural design inspired by tropical forests, this type of garden is widely used in Indonesia, particularly in Bali. Its defining characteristics include a wide variety of plant species, broad-leaf plants, and palms.

The use of layered planting, with different plant heights, forms, and textures, adds depth and colour to the garden. Tropical gardens require sufficient sunlight and water for proper maintenance. Therefore, the plants selected should be well adapted to tropical climates.

One of the advantages of a tropical garden is its flexibility with different architectural styles. It can also be relatively affordable and easy to maintain because the plants used are generally well adapted to the local climate.

For more inspiration, take a look at examples of tropical gardens found at resorts and properties across Indonesia: (click here)

6. FORMAL GARDEN

Formal gardens are characterised by structured, symmetrical, and carefully defined forms. They often incorporate geometric shapes such as squares, ellipses, and other regular forms. Topiary—plants shaped into specific forms—is commonly used to create strong, defined lines and patterns.

A well-known example is the European-style garden. Although this style is widely associated with Europe, formal gardens are also commonly used in road medians and office environments in Indonesia. Their structured appearance creates a neat, well-defined atmosphere, making them particularly suitable for formal settings such as offices.

The main drawback is that formal gardens require a relatively high level of maintenance to keep their carefully defined shapes and lines looking neat and well-maintained.

You can see examples of formal gardens here: (click here)

7. CONTAINER GARDEN

The final type is the container garden, which refers to arranging plants in containers or pots. This type of garden can also fall within the categories of minimalist and dry gardens.

The growing trend of arranging plants in pots has made container gardens a popular choice for indoor gardens and potscaping. In addition to using individual plants, a container garden can also combine several different plants in a single pot or container.

You can see an example here: (click here)

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Guslie Garden

Landscape & Garden Service

Jl. Raya Tangeb Abianbase Mengwi Badung Bali

CONTACt US

guslie.garden@gmail.com

+62-82-334-711-019

© 2026. All rights reserved.