WORLDLY WISE

Palm Springs, Marrakech and harbourside Sydney meet in this garden by landscape designer and author Richard Unsworth. It’s just one of the beauties showcased in his book, The City Gardener.

- Richard Unsworth

Plant list

• Bangalow palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana)

• Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea)

• Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

• Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)

• Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa ‘Desert Star’)

• Kalanchoe orgyalis, K. hildebrandtii and K. tomentosa

• Euphorbia acrurensis ‘Desert Candle’, E. tirucalli, and E. ingens

• Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)

• Agave attenuata, A. geminiflora and A. victoriae-reginae

• Foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’)

• Snake plant (Sansevieria stuckyi and S. trifasciata)

• Korean velvet grass (Zoysia tenuifolia)

Plants with ‘architectural’ foliage such as Euphorbia acrurensis ‘Desert Candle’, pencil cactus, copper spoons, and blue chalk sticks add strength to the garden design.

Foxtail fern and Korean velvet grass are planted under a mature dwarf date palm. New sandstone crazy-paving reinforces the Mid-Century feel.

Plants are planted in drifts to create cohesion.