Embrace imperfection with naturalistic gardening in Australia
I’ve approached the design and plant decisions in my garden based on three simple rules: is it sustainable, does it naturally belong—visually and ecologically—and will it support local wildlife? These are some of the fundamentals of naturalistic gardening.
Naturalistic gardening is a style that mimics the patterns of nature, using flowing drifts of plants, layered textures and seasonal change to create spaces that are beautifully imperfect, resilient and wildlife-friendly.
I’m not alone in adopting elements of this way of gardening. In Australia, structured, geometric garden beds are giving way to curves, flowing layouts and wild planting. According to Gardening Statistics Australia 2025, it's a more popular method than ever, reflecting a wider shift towards lower-maintenance, sustainable gardens that work with nature rather than against it.
As well as beautifully fitting into the wider landscape, naturalistic gardening has many advantages for the gardener, too. It tends to be more fluid, forgiving and require less maintenance.
Whether you have a large backyard or a balcony full of pots, you can start experimenting with this style. Here are some simple ways to bring naturalistic gardening into your own space.
Small steps to get started
The beauty of naturalistic gardening is that it works just as well in a pot, small bed or even a driveway edge as it does across a large garden. Start by choosing a few plants you love and group them in clusters of three or five rather than singles. This instantly creates more impact and mimics the way plants grow in the wild.
If you’re short on space, try a balcony trough with a drift of native daisies or ornamental grasses. Loosen your borders a little — instead of clipping everything into sharp lines, allow plants to spill gently over the edges. And don’t be afraid of self-seeders. Letting a plant pop up where it wants can add charm and save you effort.
The principles of layering and grouping work just as well in miniature spaces as they do in large gardens.
If you enjoy the look and feel, you can expand slowly. This gradual approach helps you learn what thrives in your conditions without overwhelming you with a total garden overhaul.
Start planting in drifts
One of the simplest ways to give your garden a more natural feel is to plant in drifts. Instead of dotting one of everything around, group the same plant in loose, flowing sweeps.
Planting in drifts creates rhythm and repetition, which makes the garden feel more intentional and cohesive. Drifts mimic what we see in wild landscapes — plants spreading in clusters rather than standing alone. This approach is practical, too: grouped plants often share water and care needs and pollinators prefer swathes of the same flower over isolated singles.
To get started, plant in odd numbers — three, five or seven — and stagger the edges so the group feels soft and organic rather than like a straight row. Repeating the same drift in a few spots across your space ties everything together.
Layer your plants for depth
Naturalistic gardens rely on layers to create texture and interest. Instead of treating each plant as a stand-alone feature, think of your garden as a living tapestry. Start with low groundcovers to weave across the soil, add mid-height shrubs to build mass, and finish with taller grasses or small trees to give movement and shelter.
Layering like this gives your garden fullness, reduces bare soil and helps keep weeds down. It also means that different parts of your garden shine across the seasons — a flowering shrub in spring, tall grasses swaying in summer or evergreen structure in winter.
Even in small spaces, layering works beautifully. A single pot can carry the effect if you let a trailing plant spill over the edges, place a compact shrub in the middle and add something taller at the back. It doesn’t take much to create depth.
Work with the seasons, not against them
Instead of aiming for a garden that looks the same year-round, design with the seasons in mind. Spring brings bursts of flowers, summer offers movement through tall grasses, autumn leaves behind seed heads and fading textures and winter reveals the underlying structure of trunks and evergreens.
By working with these shifts, your garden feels alive at every stage, even when it isn’t in full bloom. Choose plants with staggered flowering times or foliage changes so something always has a moment to shine. For example, combine a spring-flowering shrub with summer grasses and a winter-blooming native to carry interest throughout the year.
This approach also takes the pressure off. Instead of forcing your garden into constant “perfection,” you can enjoy what each season naturally brings.
Choose plants that support wildlife
Naturalistic gardening is as much about how it looks as the life it supports. By choosing the right plants, you can turn even a small space into a haven for lots of local critters. Pollinator-friendly natives provide nectar and colour, while grasses create shelter and seed. Dense shrubs offer nesting spots and safe hiding places for small creatures.
This approach adds another layer of richness to your garden. Every time I see a native butterfly or a bird investigating a shrub, I’m reminded that my garden doesn't just benefit me. Supporting local wildlife makes the space so much more special.
Head to your local nursery for species that are indigenous to your area. They're frequently sold in tubes, starting as little as $4 each. Under the right conditions, tube stock often have a better success rate that larger nursery plants, so don't be put off by their size.
Learn to embrace imperfection
One of the hardest — but also most freeing — parts of naturalistic gardening is letting go of control. Plants won’t always grow exactly where you want them. Some will self-seed, others will wander or sprawl, and a few may fail altogether. Instead of fighting this, allow the garden to evolve.
Imperfection is part of the beauty: the soft curve of a grass bending in the wind, the surprise of a flower popping up where it wasn’t planted or the uneven edge of a bed. Over time, you’ll see that these irregularities create a garden that feels alive and truly your own.
Is naturalistic gardening for you?
Naturalistic gardening isn’t a rulebook you have to follow. If you love structured rows of vegetables or formal hedges, there’s no reason you can’t keep them. For many gardeners, the sweet spot lies in blending — weaving elements of naturalistic planting into a more structured space. A row of roses, for example, can be softened with a drift of native grasses, while clipped shrubs can frame a looser, wilder corner.
At its heart, this style is about creating a garden that feels connected to the land, works with the seasons and welcomes life in. It’s forgiving, sustainable and gives so much back — especially if, like me, you sometimes struggle with patience.
So start small, experiment and see what unfolds. You might just find that naturalistic gardening, with all its imperfections, feels perfectly at home in your space.
Looking for more gardening inspiration? Head to our resources page or shop our full range for gardening tools, accessories and more.