Cactus are the low-effort garden trend of 2024 - 9 ways designers use them to create elevated, sustainable spaces

Chic, contemporary, and invoking of warm climes, and sun-soaked spaces, cactus gardens are frequently becoming the way to do a modern garden. Cacti and succulents are very architectural plants which lends them perfectly to more minimalist gardens. And they look stunning and really make a statement when brought together – you can find so much variation in shapes and sizes and textures, but what they do all have in common is that exotic vibe, the unusual silhouettes and fleshy leaves that look almost otherwordly.

Now we will preface this gallery by saying that usually a cactus garden needs warm weather, they need a backyard with plenty of sunlight and not too much water. So they will only thrive in certain climates. But that's not to say there aren't ways around this and you can still create a tropical setup if you live in more seasonal parts of the world. There are options, like a container garden so you can bring your cacti inside when the weather starts to change, or finding a spot in your garden that offers the best conditions, and there are even frost-hardy succulents to choose from.

9 cactus garden ideas

So whether you want to embrace the trend for an all cacti garden, or simply what to introduce these beautiful plants to your current backyard, we have plenty of ideas and advice from landscape designers to get you inspired. 

1. Consider your climate

Before we dive into lots of beautiful cactus garden ideas, we first need to address the needs of cacti. While they are ideal in a low-maintenance garden, they do need the right conditions to thrive. And those conditions are, well think of a desert, they like it hot and dry. 

'When planting a cactus garden you have to consider things primary things, your climate (rain, humidity, temperature), how much sun the area gets, and soil,' explains Tim Stephens, director of cactus specialists of Cactus Culture. 

'Despite our association of cacti with the old west, deserts, and cowboys, they are actually an enormously diverse family of plants. For example; Copiapoa cinerea occurs naturally in the Atacama desert which averages only 0.5 inches of rainfall a year. On the other hand, Rhipsalis baccifera can be found growing in trees deep in the Central American tropical rainforests,' says Tim.

'If you live in a hot and dry environment you will want to use cacti that are native to places like Texas or Mexico, luckily for you, that is a pretty enormous range of them. If instead, you live in a hot and humid environment, you may want to consider using South American cacti instead.  If your environment is cold you might want to look into frost hardy cacti, native to high mountainous areas.'

'And most cacti love the sun, some more than others but there aren't many that enjoy the shade. Choose a garden location that gets plenty of direct, unfiltered sunlight to maximize the health of your plants. When planting your cacti be conscious that sudden changes to the amount of sun they receive will result in sun damage,' explains Tim. 

'If your cacti were not previously in full sun before planting consider draping shade cloth over them for roughly two weeks while they adjust. Alternatively, plant your garden in winter when the UV is lower. An added benefit of winter planting is that the cacti should be in dormancy which will minimize transplant shock.'

So there is a cactus for all climes, just choose carefully. 

2. Create a scene with boulders and pebbles

Now we get that might sound a little... fussy and stylized. But there's a way to do it that looks very organic and natural and is a nice way to break up the greenery and add some contrasting textures and colors into a cactus garden. Plus variations on the rockery are huge in garden trends right now. 

Be inspired by this space, designed by Secret Gardens. The pebble base is the perfect backdrop for the cacti as it really makes the greenery pop and you can see all those interesting silhouettes far clearer. The addition of the larger rocks doesn't feel too staged either as it's reflective of the desert landscape these plants would usually be found in. Plus a layer of pebbles is great for drainage which is key for a thriving cactus garden. 

'Ensure there is lots of drainage, cacti hate wet feet. And ensure there's lots of light too,' says Henry Chapple-Cox design manager at Secret Gardens, who created this oasis. 'Go big, go bold, experiment with different varieties, and have fun! We designed this cactus garden to be highly visible from inside the house, a celebration of the different colors, textures, and forms of cacti and succulents.'

3. Soften the look of cacti with softer planting

The majority of cacti are very architectural plants, by that we mean that have very strong silhouettes – it's why they lend themselves so well to more modern gardens. But, think about when you are designing a modern minimalist room, you want to also be bringing pieces that soften the space, add some depth, and contrasting textures. Take the same approach when planting a cactus garden and be inspired by this layered design by Dangar Barin Smith. 

'Cactus are great to use. If planted in the right spot, they can look really striking and require almost no maintenance. If you want to grow several cacti in an area of the garden, choose the same species, rather than the temptation to plant one of each,' suggests Hugh Main, director of Spirit Level Designs. 

'I also like to surround cacti with grasses and groundcovers to soften the feel of a cactus garden. A lot of cactus gardens can look a bit hard and static. Adding plants with a fine texture, or low sprawling habit creates a beautiful combination with the striking forms of different cacti species. In the desert, where most cacti grow, there is often a tough tussock of grass, or low subtle ground cover nearby. Take the cues from the environment in which plants grow and you will always get a more successful outcome.'

4. Compliment a modern home with a cactus garden 

Planting for a contemporary home can be slightly tricky – you want plants to soften the architecture and add some natural textures and shapes, but equally, you want any planting to compliment the design. Cactus gardens do both, add the nature, and their architectural qualities are very much in keeping with a modern setting. 

We love how the cacti and succulents work in this driveway designed by Wyer & Co. 'Succulents are adaptive, hardwearing plants with diverse forms, colors and blooms. We specify cacti, aloes, and succulents in our gardens to bring sculptural form and textural diversity to our designs,' explains Anthony Wyer, founder and creative director, Wyer & Co. 'Elongated, linear, and set within an irregular shaped block, this project carefully integrates architecture with landscape and environment to create a home that responds to the unique qualities of its site.'

5. Mix and match different heights

Just as you want a variation of textures, you also want to be layering different shapes too. This will give you garden focus, and plants won't get lost in the design. 

'Think about the kind of plants you want to see in the space,' says Richard Unsworth landscape designer and founder of Garden Life. 'Ideally, you need three layers – some larger key pieces, some mid-layer plants, and some lower growing species.  Putting these three sizes together will create interest and a layered look.'

'For hero plants with good scale,  consider using euphorbia ingens or ammak, which can be very dramatic and grow to 20 feet. Mid-layer plants can include prickly pear (we prefer ‘burbank spineless’ as it is noninvasive) or some of the larger Aloe species (visit aloealoe.com.au) provide wonderful winter flowering color. Aloes also come in a variety of sizes, so you can find both mid-layer and lower plants. Consider using Crassulas for the lower plants (we like this red-tipped Crassula on Amazon), or explore the wide range of Kalanchoes, such as ‘Silver Spoons’ or ‘Copper Spoons,' adds Richard.

6. Contrast deep greens with white planters

This cactus garden, part of a project by Australian designer Tamsin Johnson, is perfect if you are looking for ways to add a cactus garden in a small backyard. Cacti are perfect plants for when space is tight because they add so much interest and you can cram in so many different, striking shapes and textures.

We love the contrast of the white brick against the deep green of the cacti, it feels so Cali-cool with a touch of a Medittereran Ibiza vibe. But actually, a really simple look to recreate in a smaller space. Edge your space with brick planters – they don't have to be deep either, even just creating enough space to plant a row of cacti will add all the greenery needed and soften the edges of the yard. 

We've all heard of the thrillers, fillers, and spiller plants approach (mix taller plants, textural plants, and trailing plants), so use that when planting your cactus garden to ensure maximum interest. 

7. Pick agave for a tropical vibe that's freeze proof

After the tropical feel of a cactus garden, but don't have the climate to match? There are succulents that give that desert look, but can withstand sub-zero temperatures. You can plant them directly into the ground and leave them out all winter. Agave is one of these plants – luckily it looks fabulous too, super structural and striking. 

'This planting scheme was designed to cope with hot, dry conditions in a changing climate,' explains Tony Woods, Director Garden Club, who designed this cactus garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. 'Agave is a great plant to use as it is very robust and structural, as long as they are in well drained soil in a sheltered position they will survive through winter in pots or the ground. My favourite succulents are Aeonium with striking fleshy stems and leaves they add a real architectural wow factor!

8. Plant up a cactus garden indoors

We've talked a lot about the conditions a cactus garden needs to thrive, and while it's true that are pretty low-maintenance plants when they are happy, most of them really do need that sunshine and warmth. So what if you aren't blessed with all year round sunshine and heat? The great thing about cacti and succulents is they are the perfect plants for creating an indoor garden and can make a real statement in a room, especially if you go big. 

Case in point this amazing living room set up designed by Andrew Trotter. Choosing mature, large cacti adds such an unexpected element to the room – it's almost like a 3D wallpaper and is so perfect for the more minimalist vibe going on in this space. 'The cacti behind the sofa were planted just to add a bit of green to the room, we wanted plants that didn’t need much to take care of them, and they are very happy there.' explains Andrew. 

Here the cacti are planted into a border that's be built into the sofa unit, but you can really easily recreate the look with a collection of potted cacti too. 

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