Architectural Plants on daring to be different

Architectural Plants uproot some classic gardening gaffes and explain their unique, creative approach

A little while ago I was told that visiting our nursery was like being on holiday.

I suppose it is, really. Swathes of bamboo, enormous Eucalyptus trees and other delights adorn every corner of the nursery, and there’s a peace about the place that’s calm and beautiful. In fact, it’s very moving.


The nursery is set within the heart of West Sussex – in the sticks, but the location is almost secondary to what has been created here. It’s the textures, the sounds and the depths that have been created using plants which create the
feeling of being far from the madding crowd.

Surely, then, this feeling is what we long to achieve in our own personal space. To sit outside and feel relaxed and calm, to feel tucked away from the chaos and tension of everyday life.

Is this feeling, the ‘spirit of the garden’, always considered during its creation or are we more concerned with the perceptions of others? What do we want our gardens to say about us, and do we even care? And how do we approach the task if we’re looking to lease or sell a property?

Creating the right vibe for potential residents
People at least want a flavour of paradise both inside and outside the house. Something beautiful to look out onto, somewhere beautiful to be. Gardens are essentially another room in the house. There might be aspects of the garden which need to be practical and perform a function but by no means does it have to be boring.

Dare to be different
More often than not, what I see in new property developments is a selection of bog-standard planting which creates a samey, unimpressive and unimaginative effect. Photinia (Red Robin) is the usual culprit, along with Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ (Cherry Laurel). Municipal roundabouts are the same: Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax), more Photinia, and more often than not in both you’ll find Fatsia japonica (False Castor Oil Plant), planted in full sun and looking shocking (it needs shade!).

“We’ve never been particularly conformist at Architectural Plants”

At our mother nursery in Nuthurst, much has been learnt over the last 24 years. The gardens were planted using strong shapes and textures to create depth and feeling. It not only looks spectacular, but it sounds beautiful too.

Sometimes it seems that little research goes into the planting of new developments. A little more time spent on seeking advice and guidance from the professionals – like us – would go a long way in creating more bespoke, more individual gardens. Not everything has to look the same and in any case, why settle for what has gone before, why not be adventurous? Surely developing properties is about outdoor space too and surely the use of a diverse range of plants will create a more attractive and more desirable atmosphere in the garden, and around the house.

Stimulate the appetite of potential residents; give them something to be curious about. There’s nothing curious about Red Robins. Sorry, but there isn’t, it’s been done to death!

Why conform?
We’ve never been particularly conformist at Architectural Plants. We can be if we have to, but otherwise we try to take a fairly organic approach to things, based on experience.

The nursery and gardens were born out of curiosity and because Angus White, Owner and Founder, couldn’t find the plants he wanted anywhere – he took it upon himself to fix this and here we are today.

Why being different is important to us
Angus always intended to have a nursery packed full of unusual and beautiful plants, presented beautifully. We were always about being a nursery and not a garden centre; about plants and not about scented candles or pick ‘n’ mix sweets. There’s nothing wrong with either of these, but our intention was always to inspire passion, curiosity and a thirst for spectacular gardens.

We design differently, we plant differently, we stock the nursery differently. How many nurseries do you know of that have created beautiful gardens on-site to inspire customers and create a peaceful and breathtaking surrounding?

Our secret to success has been sticking to our guns on these principles, and not becoming ‘normal’. So, it is like being on holiday here – because it’s not normal, and it’s not bog-standard or predictable. It’s another world.

It’s that feeling that we strive to recreate … because it feels good. It’s good for the soul and it’s easily within reach.
Architectural Plants, Nuthurst,
Horsham, West Sussex.
Contact the team on 01403 891772
or Gardenwizzards@architecturalplants.com
Open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.