Have you been hearing a lot about Dutch Gardens lately, and now you would like to set one up in your backyard? Maybe this will help you get an idea on where to start.
First, let’s start with a little history on Dutch Gardens.
The Dutch garden, now widely considered to be an English garden, is said to have been brought to England by William III.
Of course, this organized natural beauty began through the Dutch empire, with some of its characteristics popular throughout Europe (and even Russia) before William III.
It was an adaption of the French and Baroque styles.
This individuality of Dutch gardens was due to the limited extent of terra firma and to the abundance of water in Holland.
An ordinary plan became extraordinary because it was laid out on such a surprisingly small scale. A scheme covering dozens of acres in France was reproduced on a fewer number of feet in Holland.
In a Dutch garden, no tree could be admitted until its growth had been stunted, and no flower larger than a tulip would be used to reduce the risk of spoiling the design. Shell-work took the place of marble, and glass balls or other trivial objects were often substituted for statues, as ornamentation.
Miniature canals were more common than fountains for the supply of water, though large, didn’t have enough pressure to operate the fountain.
Evidences of Dutch taste were shown in England by the frequent introduction of dwarf trees, choice tulips, and canals of water.
Although the dampness of the climate grottoes could make them unattractive, they were also favorite accessions.
Travelers early in the seventeenth century regularly described the famous grotto at Wilton, but this was rather in the Italian than the Dutch style.
Evelyn designed one at Albury with a “crypta through the mountain thirty perches in length.” Defoe mentions gardens at Richmond and Sutton Court where besides canals there were several grottoes, and others are described by various other writers.
Here are some of the features to keep in mind when you are designing your Dutch Garden. Be sure to look online for some design ideas you can use.
- Long, straight lines and rectangular layouts
- Rectangular pools
- Intersecting walkways that create a grid throughout the garden space
- Use little grass or other filler plants
- Shrubs that are short and well manicured
- Geometrical Patterns
- Bright flowers in pink, blue, yellows, reds and oranges(a list of flowers often used in Dutch gardens is provided below)
- Use natural colors like black, gray and white for furniture and planters
- Create a sitting area using shrubs or short walls and plenty of seating
- Decorate using shells, windmills, Dutch boy and girl statues, obelisks, topiaries, oversized pots and modern furniture
- A shade tree or two to provide a little shade, especially for the seating area
11 Flowers Most Often Found In Dutch Gardens
Popular Shrubs for a Dutch Garden Look
Dutch gardens pushed the ornamental use of shrubs throughout Britain and Europe.
The Dutch style gardens at some of the most prestigious European palaces quickly included shrubs for both their blooms and their structural features, like when used as hedges.
The shrubs were chosen initially to show off by the upperclass, as in, “see how much wealth we have, we don’t care how much water and maintenance this shrub needs“.
A century later and the gardens have become more practical, with shrubs chosen to fit the current issue like shrubs that require less maintenance as the family’s wealth declined, and fewer servants were paid to work the grounds. Or shrubs that thrive in sunny and hot regions to lower watering costs. Dutch gardens helped even the wealthy become more environmentally aware.
We created a handy shrub comparison chart with sizes and zones to help you make the best shrub choice for your yard.
8 Popular Flowering & Ornamental Shrubs for Your Dutch (English) Garden
Both common and large-leafed varieties are very popular in Dutch/English gardens. They do require lots of water though, especially when young.
This shrub was popular in Dutch and English gardens among the elite once the original plants were brought back from Asia. Aristocrats and royalty clamored for the flowering shrubs to show off their influence.
The flowering shrub is native to Asia, Europe and North America, but, the most popular found widely in Dutch/English gardens was introduced to European royalty from Japan.
Known for their showy, rose-like blooms in winter through spring, they are also valued for their glossy leaves.
One of the most popular flowering shrubs throughout the Netherlands that quickly developed a following in gardens across Europe.
It’s no surprise why this shrub is found in nearly all Dutch/English gardens. It has a very long blooming period from summer through autumn.
As the name implies, this flowering shrub attracts butterflies, making it a classic Dutch garden addition. It’s another bush that was quickly popular thanks to the Europeans’ fascination with all things Asian, at the time.
It’s beautiful. It has a delicate smell of floral and sweetness. It was very popular among the noble women of the day and quickly spread from royal garden to royal garden across Europe.
5 Structural and Hedging Shrubs Commonly Found in Dutch/English Gardens
Frequently used for low hedges and formal shapes because it’s easy to clip and keep neat.
Europeans liked the versatility. The Golden Euonymus, as seen in the photo, could be shaped into a nice hedge or used as a glistening ground cover.
You’ve seen privet shrubs! They’re the classic, highly manicured hedges in palatial gardens and movies. They’re predictable, durable, and flower with small white blooms.
Dutch gardens added pops of red when caretakers included Yew shrubs in their designs. The bush grows quickly, is simple to trim and shape, and has soft needles.
A low-maintenance evergreen shrub known for their glossy leaves and bright red berries. The berries were popular for holiday decorations as well as to attract wildlife. They’re toxic to humans.
