Sci-Fi in the Garden: How to Transform Your Garden to Reflect the “Hortifuturism” Trend

We may gain receipts from the product useable on this page and participate in affiliate programme . Learn More ›

According to theGarden Media 2024 Garden Trends news report , the future of horticulture is bold , forrader , and bright on many levels . The current and get pursuit in all things scientific discipline fiction led to the creation of the term hortifuturism . “ From the Philadelphia Flower Show ’s recent ‘ The Garden Electric ’ melodic theme to TeamLab ’s idea - bending international horticultural exhibitions , a hortifuturism movement is happening , and it feels and looks a lot like science fiction , ” says Katie Dubow , President of the United States of Garden Media Group .

One way to skip on board is to make a garden that exemplifies sci - fi . Dubow notes , “ The keystone to a successful hortifuturistic garden is not about create a pure , dystopian time to come , but a vivacious , bright landscape painting design for gardens that light up at night . ” To make this vibration , she recommend lend neon objects and ignition ; incorporating elements that meditate the moonlight ; and choosing flora that have an otherworldly or futuristic appearance , such as succulents , air plants , andunusual head - turn plants . Here are some specific ways to transmute a garden into a sci - fi harbour .

Mushrooms-are-glowing-in-a-bed-of-rocks-in-front-of-greenery-in-the-dark.

Photo: istockphoto.com

Alien-Like Plants

Nothing could be more sci - fi in athemed gardenthan foliation that look like aliens from outer space . The following are out - of - this - domain option : hoot ’s nest fern ( genus Asplenium nidus ) , staghorn fern ( Platycerium bifurcatum ) , century plant life ( Agave americana ) , flowers likeOsteospermum ‘ White Spoon ’ , and crest euphorbia ( Euphorbia lactea ) . Other strange succulent like any of the echeverias , moonstone succulent ( Pachyphytum oviferum),Haworthia cooperi , andTrachyandra tortilliswill also make hoi polloi marvel if a UFO recently touched down .

Elements that Reflect the Moon

enchant the kernel of space by incorporate items that reflect the moonlight . make amoon gardenconcept by admit cosmetic lawn accessories like gazing balls , water lineament , and light - one-sided stonework . Choose plants that reflect moonlight , such as white flush , silvery foliage , and dark - blooming plants .

Consider planting whitened roses , whitened hydrangea varieties , viburnums , sweet alyssum , dahlias , Shasta daisy , and ashen annuals like petunias . Plants with silver hues include lambs ’ ears ( Stachys byzantina ) and variety of artemisia such asArtemisia schmidtiana‘Silver Mound ’ or mugwort ( A. vulgaris ) . in the end , look fornight - blooming flowerslike primula ( Primula vulgaris ) , moonflower ( Ipomoea alba ) , false mitrewort ( Tiarella cordifolia ) , tuberose ( Polianthes tuberosa ) , mock orangeness ( Philadelphus pubescens ) , and night - blooming jasmine ( Cestrum nocturnum ) .

Neon-Colored Foliage and Flowers

Ne color like electric blueness and lime green also exemplify a futurist prospect . sum some plants with leaf or heyday that have shiny , Ne - likecolors . Examples are Japanese forest Mary Jane ( Hakonechloa macra ) , cocoanut unslaked lime coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea‘Coconut Lime ’ ) , strawberry frosting succulent ( Echeveria‘Strawberry Ice ’ ) , key lime coral Vanessa Stephen ( Heuchera‘TNHEU042 ’ Dolce Key Lime Pie ) , stink hellebore ( Helleborus foetidus‘Gold Bullion ’ ) , or Ne pothos ( Epipremnum aureum‘Neon ’ ) .

Neon bush include lemon - calcium hydrate nandina ( Nandina domestica‘Lemon - slaked lime ’ ) , sunshine privet ( Ligustrum sinense‘Sunshine ’ ) , or goldmound spirea ( Spirea japonica‘Gold Mound ’ ) . Coral Bark Nipponese maple ( Acer palmatumSango - kaku ’ ) is a tree diagram with reddish barque and scandalmongering leaves in fall . Queeny lime zinnia ( Zinnia elegans‘Queeny Orange Lime ’ ) is an annual choice for containers or beds .

Glow-in-the-Dark and Neon-Colored Lighting

Another way to add atomic number 10 to a sci - fi garden is to use features that shine in the darkness and provide a pop of vibrant colour . Place atomic number 10 - perch solar planters around the garden and impart strand or Mexican valium lights along pathway . Enhance water system features like fountain or pond by add bright underwater neon light . Install lead lights with a blue or purple hue to mime the lighting often see in sci - fi movies . Finally , incorporate shine - in - the - dark elements with blusher or products for an additional futuristic touch .

Bright Variegation

Look for plants with unlike case of diversification . Variegated plantshave multicolor leaves that typically feature one solid color plus an accent color . The vividness variation event from a lack of chlorophyll in some of the plant ’s cells that occurs due to genetic or random cell mutation . usual colour combinations include contrast shade of dark-green , yellow , pink , red , purple , and white .

Variegated foliation is particularly eye - catching since the coloring patterns can seem as stripe , spot , blotch , moulding , or random sections . What ’s more , the colors and convention can change over calculate on how the light hits the leave-taking . White - and - green variegation look great in a sci - fi garden since the luminous white place upright out both during the daylight and at nighttime . Try motley red branchlet dogwood ( Cornus alba‘Elegantissima ’ ) , discern nettle ( Lamium maculatum‘Variegatum ’ ) , kaleidoscope abelia ( Abelia x grandiflora‘Kaleidoscope ’ ) , moonshadow wintercreeper ( Euonymus fortunei‘Moonshadow ’ ) , and evergreen plant vary boxwood varieties .

Star-Flecked Plants

Create a futuristic starry Nox scene by plant some greenery with speckled patterns . Look for the aureate dust works ( Aucuba japonica‘Variegeta ’ ) , cast - iron plants likeAspidistra daibuensis‘Yushan Galaxy ’ orA. elatior‘Ginga Giant , ’ . Add arresting star - fleck annuals like Night Sky Petunia or Starry Skypetuniato summer containers and beds .

Air Plants

fan out some line plants around the garden can also summate to the sci - fi imagery . Air plants , or genus Tillandsia , are loose to deal for since they need no territory to grow and get nutrients from the wet and dirt fibers floating in the airwave . With hundreds of air plant specie from which to choose , plenty have transcendental anatomy . Popular line plants to debate in a sci - fi theme include sky plant ( Tillandsia ionantha),T. ionantha maxima , T. aeranthos , T. chiapensis , andT. capitata‘Peach ’ .

Smart Tech

Another way to look and feel on the cutting sharpness is to tap into smarttoolsand technologies to power the garden . Consider integrating technologies like a smart irrigation scheme , solar - power LED displays , smart plant sensors , and even a robotlike lawnmower or weeding robot for a true futuristic feel ( and occasion ) .

Futuristic Garden Furniture

Finally , top off the hortifuturistic garden with modern , sleek , and minimalist furniture to enjoy the whimsical ambiance . guess bright finishes , clean occupation , sustainable material , ergonomic invention , and glowing accent stools .

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll help you coif up your first garden — whether that ’s a few quite a little on your terrace , a raise bed , or an in - earth plot of ground out back — and take the right plant for your dirt and region .

Alien like plant.