9 ideal plants for greening a contemporary terrace
Selection of plants for a modern terrace
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Are you into contemporary style and thinking of creating a contemporary terrace with a clean, graphic, and modern look? We offer a selection of evergreen trees and bushes featuring graphic lines that you can grow in pots and that require little maintenance, while delivering a lasting aesthetic. Discover the trees and bushes to install on your contemporary terrace and our tips for growing them.
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'
The Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Bannow Bay’ is a bush with dynamic and colourful foliage that evolves with the seasons. It starts with young olive-green leaves edged in white, which gradually take on pink and copper tones, before turning purple in winter. Originating from the dry regions of New Zealand, it adopts a globose and dense form, reaching 50 to 80 cm in height and width. Between May and June, the bush bears small red flowers, almost black, releasing an intense fragrance reminiscent of honey and vanilla, particularly noticeable in the evening.
Hardy to -7°C to -10°C, Pittosporum ‘Bannow Bay’ thrives in well-drained, not particularly calcareous soil and a sunny position sheltered from winds. In colder regions, it will require winter protection.
Upright switchgrass – Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah'
The Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ or erect panic grass is a perennial grass 60 to 80 cm tall and wide, from the Poaceae family. Native to the plains of the American Midwest, it is particularly appreciated for its banded, colourful and supple foliage, as well as its elegant growth habit. From July, the tips of its blue-green leaves take on burgundy-red hues, and in autumn, the plant dons red, dark copper and purple. Its cloudlike inflorescences, red and dark pink, appear from August to October, providing a dazzling visual display.
This variety, suited to extreme conditions, is drought-tolerant, cold-hardy and tolerant of waterlogged soils. Hardy and thriving in full sun, it is ideal for adding a touch of wild, colourful character to a terrace.
Nandina domestica 'Fire Power' – heavenly bamboo
The Nandina domestica ‘Fire Power’ – heavenly bamboo is distinguished by its foliage with colours changing through the seasons. This bush grows to around 60 cm tall at maturity, with a very compact habit and bears airy leaves that transition from green to red, then copper, to burgundy and finally blue-green by mid-summer. In autumn, it takes on purple hues until the end of winter. From June to August, it bears small white flowers arranged in long panicles.
This bush prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil and a sunny or partial shade exposure. In full sun, it needs to be well-watered. Hardy to -15°C, it can be brought indoors in winter in cold regions.
The hydrangea - Hydrangea macrophylla 'Libelle' (Teller white)
To add a floral touch to your contemporary terrace, consider Hydrangea – Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Libelle’ (Teller white). This bush, about 1.2 metres tall, has dark green deciduous foliage that will be adorned with flat umbels of white flowers from July to October. The flowers open on the outer edge of the cluster and close in the centre, turning blue as they ripen. It is a reliable plant that can also be grown in pots.
It thrives in sun or partial shade, in a moist growing medium. Hardy to -23°C, it brightens a terrace.
Phormium tenax Purpureum - New Zealand flax
The Phormium tenax Purpureum – New Zealand flax adds exotic appeal, verticality and originality to a contemporary terrace. It forms a dense tuft of linear, erect foliage, upright and purple, bronze-toned, 2.5 metres tall at maturity and 2 metres spread. This evergreen perennial has a lot of character and in June and July it bears upright flowering spikes of a dark colour.
Easy to grow in a large pot, this plant, native to New Zealand, is hardy down to -7°C and needs to be protected from cold in regions where winter is not mild. Plant it in full sun in cool, well-drained soil.
The Dianella revoluta 'Blue Stream'
Another vertical, upright plant with slender, minimalist forms, the Dianella revoluta ‘Blue Stream’ is a graphic perennial plant with light blue-green evergreen foliage. It eventually reaches a height of 70 cm and is graced by graceful trailing panicles, composed of small blue flowers with yellow centres, between June and August. The bell-shaped flowers are blue-violet with golden stamens. They may be followed by small round violet fruits, very decorative in favourable climates. This Australian horticultural cultivar is recent and originates from the Tasmanian lily.
This plant prefers sun or partial shade in acidic, well-drained soil, which can be occasionally dry. Not very hardy, it tolerates down to -6°C and should be sheltered or protected from frost. It tolerates sea spray in coastal areas as well as drought.
Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue' - Silver Gum
Eucalyptus ‘Baby Blue’ – Silver Gum boasts numerous advantages for decorating a contemporary-style terrace. Reaching 2.5 metres high at maturity and 1.5 metres across, it offers a pyramidal habit and evergreen foliage in an intense blue and pleasantly scented. Its small round leaves are coated with a silvery-white bloom. In May and June, cream-white flowers, pom-pom-like, appear along the branches. Its bark peels in strips. Ideal for small spaces, it can be grown in a pot and adds a lovely touch of exoticism.
Hardy to -10°C, this shrub should be planted in full sun in well-drained soil, not too calcareous. It needs protection from temperatures that are too low in regions with cold winters.
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold' – wintercreeper
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n gold’ – Wintercreeper on a contemporary terrace, it adds another bright colour: yellow. This groundcover bush grows to form a shrub about 60 cm tall and 90 cm wide. Its evergreen foliage is variegated with yellow, green and gold. In May and June, a discreet greenish flowering appears. These yield white berries, toxic to humans but that attract birds. On a terrace, it can be grown in a container and may be used as a low hedge.
Hardy to -23°C, it prefers a sunny or partly shaded exposure as well as moist soil. This plant stands up well to winds, salt spray and drought. It requires little maintenance.
Melianthus major - Great melianthus
The Melianthus major – Great Melianthus is a bush of about 2 metres tall when mature, renowned for its exotic, graphic appearance. It has an architectural habit that makes it resemble a giant fern. It offers large evergreen leaves that are deeply divided and blue-green. Between May and July, it bears striking inflorescences, in the form of brown-red spikes with a honey scent that attract nectar-loving insects.
Hardy to -9°C, this bush grows in sun and in a light, well-drained, loose and deep soil. It tolerates summer drought as well as calcareous soil, but needs to be sheltered from winds.
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