Surry Hills — Architectural Succulent Courtyard
Location: Surry Hills, NSW 2010 | Garden size: under 25m² | Services: Landscape Design, Softscaping, Plant Installation
Before
Before — construction site conditions
Broken concrete, PVC piping, and rubble across the entire space
The Brief
A Surry Hills client mid-way through a full home renovation came to us with a rear courtyard that had become a catch-all for building materials and construction debris. Less than 25m², the brief was to create something architectural and genuinely low-maintenance — a calm, considered garden that could hold its own against a freshly renovated home. The client wanted a zen-like focal point visible from the home office, with plants that would produce warm orange flowers complementing the terracotta feature wall.
The Design
Every project at Succulent Designs Sydney starts with a design concept. For this courtyard Lucas produced a hand-drawn planting plan showing the layout, species placement, and how the finished garden would sit against the terracotta and charcoal brick walls. The drawing on the right was produced before a single plant was sourced.
Once the design was locked in, Lucas visited Exotic Nursery in Dural to hand-select every specimen individually — assessing each plant for size, shape, and character before it goes into the ground.
Original hand-drawn landscape concept
What We Did
Clearing the bed revealed a concrete slab buried just below the surface that nobody knew was there. Rather than delay the project, we sourced a concrete saw the same day and cut it up on the spot. Cutting through the concrete also uncovered large sandstone pieces — likely remnants of an earlier foundation from Surry Hills' colonial-era building history. Rather than dispose of them, the team worked them into the design as feature rocks.
Plants Used
A palette chosen entirely for drought tolerance, architectural form, and the ability to flower in warm oranges and yellows complementing the terracotta wall:
Aloidendron Barberae (Tree Aloe) — the centrepiece, creates immediate height and maturity, produces striking orange flower spikes in season
Pachycereus Pringlei (Mexican Giant Cactus) — bold columnar form, strong vertical interest
Euphorbia Cowboy (Cowboy Cactus) — architectural form with a commanding presence
Cleistocactus Strausii (Silver Torch Cactus) — silver-spined column, fine texture
Echinocactus Grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus) — low rounded forms anchoring the ground plane
Kalanchoe Silver Spoons — silvery-grey foliage with bright orange flowers in season
Senecio Mandraliscae (Blue Chalk Sticks) — low spreading groundcover in blue-grey
The Result
After — completed garden
The finished garden is exactly what the brief asked for — sculptural, calm, and completely at home against the renovated terrace. The Aloidendron Barberae anchors the space with an immediate sense of maturity that most new plantings take years to achieve. The entire planting palette is drought-tolerant, requires minimal watering, no lawn, and no seasonal replanting.
"For one beautiful moment last night it was orderly enough and clean enough that we could enjoy it in the way we had always hoped for and it was absolutely lovely. Talked and looked at the fire and the garden for many hours. Thank you."
— Client, Surry Hills
