Best Mid-Century Modern Landscaping Plants

Many will attest that the bar for modern dating has been steadily sinking into the ocean floor, such that it’s currently being inspected by bioluminescent fish in the Mariana Trench. In many ways, modernism is a bane to those who yearn for the glory of the past. An antidote to the banality of modern life is mid-century modern design, which exudes timeless appeal. 

The mid-century modern aesthetic is effortlessly cool – a stark departure from today’s modernism, filled with drab monochrome and a dearth of natural materials. Inspired by the organic minimalism of Frank Lloyd Wright, mid-century modern landscapes are a rolling vista of huge windows, low silhouettes, and tapered legs. Rooms proliferate with potted plants and greenery. Mid-century modern gardens may appear ‘flat’ at first glance, but it is this simplistic design that gives them power. 

The MCM garden celebrates the Atomic Age through natural materials, architectural textures, and a disciplined color palette. Because it emphasizes the clean lines of the home and does away with kitschy clutter, it serves as the bridge between domestic sanctuary and the rugged beauty of the natural world. 

 

1. Agaves and Yuccas

Some plants are an exercise in vanity, wilting easily; others like agave can be dropped into an arid environment and still survive. Agaves and yuccas act as the ultimate architectural anchors – the equivalent of palm trees in California, forming a long line through America. The Agave Americana 'Mediopicta Alba', with its massive, splendid rosettes, acts as a permanent focal point. Use a fast-draining, gritty, cactus potting mix to prevent root rot.

2. Ornamental Grasses

In a landscape defined by hard concrete and sharp angles, ornamental grasses provide the essential element of movement. They give rhythm to the garden, softening the transition between the house and the earth. Blue Oat Grass forms tidy, porcupine-like spheres of silver-blue that satisfy the mid-century craving for geometric order. For an ethereal touch, muhly grass creates a find mound of texture that sways gently in the wind, conjuring to mind lazy afternoons. 

3. Ornamental Allium 

Dating is often a lonely game, and when it comes to a viable candidate, the options can seem very limiting. When choosing which flowers to grow, the choices are thankfully much more prolific. A fan favorite in many gardens is the ornamental allium. It is recommended that you plant en masse in full sun. These alliums provide a deep purple backdrop that compliments the more eccentric plants, and the bare, upright stems represent the era’s fascination with manicured precision and controlled nature.

4. Japanese Maples

The mid-century movement was deeply influenced by Japanese minimalism and the Zen philosophy of fostering a deep connection with nature. The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) is prized for its intricate, skeletal branch structure and delicate, lace-like foliage. A single specimen tree, placed strategically against a white stucco wall or near a floor-to-ceiling window, creates a living silhouette that changes beautifully with the seasons.

5. Mondo Grass

Standard turf lawns can often feel too suburban and pedestrian for a high-design MCM home. Instead, Dwarf Mondo Grass is used to create "green grout." These dark, tufted clumps are planted between large rectangular concrete pavers or stepping stones, emphasizing the geometric grid of the walkway. It is a slow-growing, sophisticated groundcover that maintains an elegant, carpet-like look, saving you the hassle of constant mowing. 

6. Bird of Paradise

The glamour of Old Hollywood can best be described as a satiated glamour – a collision of fantasy, aspiration, and desire. The Bird of Paradise, considered one of the most defining mid-century plants, has more ritz than your average houseplant. With its large, paddle-shaped leaves and avant-garde flowers, its domain is fluid, fitting in with both the unapologetically maximalist Hollywood Regency glamour and the staider confines of a poolside fence. It does not bloom until it is quite mature, but once mature, bloom year-round in perfect conditions. In cooler zones, they can be grown indoors in indoor planters.

7. Black Knight Butterfly Bush

The 'Black Knight' Butterfly Bush acts as the dark, brooding aristocrat of the mid-century garden, offering a sophisticated alternative to the more brazenly gaudy garden shrubs. In a landscape often dominated by cool grays, its deep, midnight-purple flower spikes provide dramatic tonal contrast against the silvery-green foliage. It serves as a bustling hub for pollinators. To maintain its sleek silhouette, it should be pruned back hard in the spring.

8. New Zealand Flax

For those who desire a drama that rivals a Cadillac tailfin, New Zealand Flax (Phormium) is unrivaled. Its long, leathery straps come in a variety of retro colors, from deep burgundy and bronze to variegated lime green. It provides a fountain-like explosion of texture that looks particularly striking when paired with decorative river rocks or beach pebbles.

9. Windmill Palms

To achieve the iconic modern desert silhouette, one must look upward. The Windmill Palm offers a compact, fan-shaped frond that provides that sought-after California aesthetic even in slightly cooler regions. It is a structural marvel that casts long, dramatic shadows across the patio at sunset, turning your backyard into a private sanctuary. To create a cohesive view unhindered by clutter, organize your tools with potting benches.