How to Create a Spirit-Lifting Sensory Garden
To boost everything from memory to well-being, create an outdoor escape that awakens all the senses
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 well-being 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,” landscape designer Jane Ashley says. “The idea is for people to become immersed in scents and sounds, textures and colors.”
“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,” landscape designer Jane Ashley says. “The idea is for people to become immersed in scents and sounds, textures and colors.”
What You Should Include in a Sensory Garden
“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,” Ashley says.
“Fragrance, color and seasonality are important to the effect of a sensory garden,” Souter-Brown says. “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 including in your sensory garden.
“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,” Ashley says.
“Fragrance, color and seasonality are important to the effect of a sensory garden,” Souter-Brown says. “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 including in your sensory garden.
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,” Ashley says. “Narrow fountain jets are fun to watch, hear, touch and run through, especially if they come on unpredictably.”
Ashley suggests growing plants like bamboos and grasses that can catch the breeze and rustle in the wind. “Some plants produce seed heads that make a rattling noise when you shake them,” she says.
Growing plants that attract birds and buzzing insects is another way to create sound in the garden, she says.
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Ashley suggests growing plants like bamboos and grasses that can catch the breeze and rustle in the wind. “Some plants produce seed heads that make a rattling noise when you shake them,” she says.
Growing plants that attract birds and buzzing insects is another way to create sound in the garden, she says.
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Color. When choosing a palette for your garden, think about what mood you want to create.
“For a stimulating, vibrant garden, vivid reds, oranges and yellows work well,” Ashley says. Her plant suggestions include sunflowers, marigolds, poppies and red-hot pokers (Kniphofia spp.)
“For a more calming, restful garden, go for lilacs, mauves, whites and blues,” she says. Try lavender, perennial cranesbills (Geranium spp.) and phlox (Phlox paniculata, USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone).
“For a stimulating, vibrant garden, vivid reds, oranges and yellows work well,” Ashley says. Her plant suggestions include sunflowers, marigolds, poppies and red-hot pokers (Kniphofia spp.)
“For a more calming, restful garden, go for lilacs, mauves, whites and blues,” she says. Try lavender, perennial cranesbills (Geranium spp.) and phlox (Phlox paniculata, USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone).
Shape and movement. These are key to the visual experience in a garden. “Structural plants with large, tropical-looking leaves, such as paperplant (Fatsia japonica, zones 8 to 11) and the banana plant (Musa basjoo, zones 5 to 10) make a striking visual impact, as do interestingly shaped shrubs and small trees, such as the sumac tree (Rhus typhina, zones 3 to 8), with its branched structure and large, dissected leaves, and the corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, zones 4 to 8),” Ashley says.
She also suggests planting grasses for their shape and movement in the garden. Souter-Brown adds, “Movement will come from visiting birds and insects, as well as the wind in the trees.”
Make Your Garden a Haven for Backyard Birds
She also suggests planting grasses for their shape and movement in the garden. Souter-Brown adds, “Movement will come from visiting birds and insects, as well as the wind in the trees.”
Make Your Garden a Haven for Backyard Birds
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 color but touch too,” Burkhill says.
Ashley agrees. “Texture is a key element of a sensory garden,” she says, adding that plants such as lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina, zones 4 to 9, shown), with its felted leaves, and Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa, zones 8 to 10), with soft, downy leaves, offer great garden texture. “Many coniferous plants offer a range of textures,” she continues. “Dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, zones 5 to 8) is one you want to reach out and touch, and dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo, zones 2 to 7) has soft needles.”
Ashley also recommends planting snapdragons (Antirrhinum spp.) in a sensory garden, “which kids love to squeeze to open the flowers.”
Caution: Lamb’s ears can be an aggressive spreader and can become invasive in some areas.
Ashley agrees. “Texture is a key element of a sensory garden,” she says, adding that plants such as lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina, zones 4 to 9, shown), with its felted leaves, and Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa, zones 8 to 10), with soft, downy leaves, offer great garden texture. “Many coniferous plants offer a range of textures,” she continues. “Dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, zones 5 to 8) is one you want to reach out and touch, and dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo, zones 2 to 7) has soft needles.”
Ashley also recommends planting snapdragons (Antirrhinum spp.) in a sensory garden, “which kids love to squeeze to open the flowers.”
Caution: Lamb’s ears can be an aggressive spreader and can become invasive in some areas.
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,” Ashley says.
“Some of the best for filling the air with fragrance are: Lavender, mock orange (Philadelphus caucasicus ‘Aureus’, zones 4 to 8), jasmine and honeysuckle,” she says. “For winter fragrance, try ‘Jacqueline Postill’ daphne (Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’, zones 7 to 9), sweet box (Sarcococca confusa , zones 7 to 9) and ‘Winter Beauty’ winter honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’, zones 5 to 9).”
Ashley also recommends planting herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint, which also produce a nice scent when crushed.
“Some of the best for filling the air with fragrance are: Lavender, mock orange (Philadelphus caucasicus ‘Aureus’, zones 4 to 8), jasmine and honeysuckle,” she says. “For winter fragrance, try ‘Jacqueline Postill’ daphne (Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’, zones 7 to 9), sweet box (Sarcococca confusa , zones 7 to 9) and ‘Winter Beauty’ winter honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’, zones 5 to 9).”
Ashley also recommends planting herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint, which also produce a nice scent when crushed.
Edibles. It’s fun to be able to sample flavors in the garden, though, as Ashley 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.”
Tips for Creating a Low-Maintenance Sensory Garden
“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,” Souter-Brown says.
Burkhill 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.”
Ashley, however, sounds a note of caution. “Few gardens are truly low maintenance, 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,” she 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,” Souter-Brown says.
Burkhill 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.”
Ashley, however, sounds a note of caution. “Few gardens are truly low maintenance, 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,” she says.
Other Design Considerations for a Sensory Garden
Add seating. “I like to use hidden seating areas within gardens, particularly in the flower beds themselves,” Burkhill 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 travel through.”
Souter-Brown agrees and says, “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.”
Add seating. “I like to use hidden seating areas within gardens, particularly in the flower beds themselves,” Burkhill 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 travel through.”
Souter-Brown agrees and says, “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.”
Create flowing pathways. “Sensory gardens usually follow an informal design, with curves and flows to help guide people around,” Burkhill 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.”
Ashley agrees. “Try to take people on a journey, so they can experience the garden in small chunks,” she says.
Ashley agrees. “Try to take people on a journey, so they can experience the garden in small chunks,” she says.
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,” Souter-Brown says.
“A pile of stones in a sunny spot offers somewhere for lizards to sunbathe, while a stumpery of logs provides somewhere for fungi to sprout, adding additional interest,” Souter-Brown says.
“By putting out a range of bird feeders,” Ashley 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.”
“A pile of stones in a sunny spot offers somewhere for lizards to sunbathe, while a stumpery of logs provides somewhere for fungi to sprout, adding additional interest,” Souter-Brown says.
“By putting out a range of bird feeders,” Ashley 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.”
Pay attention to materials. “Changes in texture can be a really good way to transition between parts of the garden,” Burkhill 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,” Souter-Brown says, “otherwise it can lead to visual clutter.”
For children, try having lots of different materials to play with on a nature table. “Try smooth pebbles, mossy stones, crunchy gravel, bark chip, smooth sand, planed wood, pine cones and dried leaves,” Ashley says.
“Try to use no more than three different materials on view in any one area, though,” Souter-Brown says, “otherwise it can lead to visual clutter.”
For children, try having lots of different materials to play with on a nature table. “Try smooth pebbles, mossy stones, crunchy gravel, bark chip, smooth sand, planed wood, pine cones and dried leaves,” Ashley says.
Keep in mind the garden’s intended users when planting. “The most important thing is to make sure that plants, materials and the overall design are appropriate for the intended users,” Ashley 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.”
“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.”
Celebrate nature’s imperfections. “Don’t make it too pretty,” Souter-Brown says. “Nature is inherently messy, so allow plants to spill over, die down, go to seed. Let the grass grow long. 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,” Souter-Brown adds. “A sensory garden is a metaphor for life.”
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“There’s beauty in life, decay and death,” Souter-Brown adds. “A sensory garden is a metaphor for life.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find a landscape contractor
“Sensory gardens have many benefits, but the primary one is to awaken all the senses,” says Lee Burkhill of Garden Ninja Garden Design. “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 well-being, problem solving, relationships, memory, mental clarity, playfulness and workplace productivity,” says Gayle Souter-Brown of Greenstone Design, who researched the benefits of sensory gardens for her doctorate.
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