Tiny but extravagant garden

[WonderfulWonders]

I have a patch of garden to the side of my house which is over looked by a tall, narrow window.

From inside I want the patch to look really extravagant all year round, I'm think tropical oasis in a non- tropical climate?

Any thoughts on how I create something visually stunning or where to start?

Pinterest has lots of ideas for courtyard gardens. A friend has an amazing back yard with lots of plants in pots, focused on foliage. She’s got bamboos, hostas, a fig and a number of flowering climbers.

Depends on how big the patch. Does it offer enough room for a small chair and table?

How much light/wind?

Access to maintain/ water it?

Would you like a canopy effect from plants to help you feel less overlooked?

Could you post a picture to help?

If it’s a difficult area, there are plants.
Fatsia japonica - large exotic shaped leaves. Very tough.
Ivy - lots of different types from variegated colours, crinkley leaves, even a yellow one. Can train into shapes or on a trellis if you’re worried about brick work.
Pittosporum - again different types. Small leaves, pretty. Can grown big but easily pruned. Tough and forgiving.
Hebes - lots of varieties. I’ve got some in full sun, others in shade.
Hydrangeas - lots of different types.
Winter box - neat shrub, amazing scent jan/feb

If you have light and sheltered, there are other plants available.
Jasmin - different types.

I love looking at Pinterest but think it's too inspirational for my purposes I need solid advice on which plants work well including names etc!

I also find the intercontinental nature frustrating as I see something beautiful that turns out to be a roof Terrance in San Francisco or a courtyard in Melbourne rather than a muddy patch in UK

If anyone can recommend a fab book on small gardens that might be more me than Pinterest.

So you need to answer Ida’s questions, where in the country are you? Which direction does your garden face? When does it get sun?
More info, more useful suggestions.
RHS have some good guides, and you can borrow them from the library.

Climbers to make use upward (not ivy - it's all fine and dandy in the first few years then it's a pain and it takes a lot of space!!)

Go to your garden centre and seek out tall narrow plants. For the back of shrubs you like.

Check gardeners world website for ideas for plants in different times of year.

As well as shrubs and bulbs etc in beds there's pots (group odd numbers together)

It'll take time to establish so you can build slowly seeing how things grow then slotting other plants in between.

Get a nice small table and chair so you can enjoy it!

On eBay there’s a business based in Oxford that sells borders chosen for you. I know they do a jungle garden, Japanese garden and a cottage garden not sure what else. They cost about £250 plus about £40 delivery.
I think the plants will cover a certain area and you could then double up if necessary.
If you search for jungle border or cottage garden border on eBay you’d find it

If you plant ivy you will be finding it everywhere forever!

Oh wow a lots of responses and more questions.

I'm in London, the soil is heavy and clay like.

The area is about 2 x 3m. It's not my "main" bit of garden (That's a project for another time!) Because it has the picture window overlooking it, it seemed a good place to start.

Because it's to the side of the house, between an external wall and a 6ft boundary fence covered with an (unifentified) evergreen climber and a rambling rose it's very sheltered, so no wind but equally not much light.

I don't need a canopy effect as not overlooked and there is plenty of access for maintenance.

I can't do a photo at the moment but if it'd be helpful I can try and put my appalling drawing skills to use!

Things that are/have grown there over past 6 mths:

Unifentified evergreen climber
Roses
Hostas
Lilac tree (v sad looking don't think it likes it!)
Lilly of the valley
Grass.

Hydrangea petiolaris grows well in darkish places, sorry if that's been said already. The RHS site is really good though for plant info.Especially about how big things grow, a fact I previously ignored I'm planning a garden too. Never done anything so difficult!

London pride grows well in that type of soil, hence the name

Fatsia has big glossy leaves, looks exotic but tough. Passion flower also reliable. Fuchsias are not fashionable but look splashy, tough and flower for ages. Ferns!

I love Fuchsias! (Evidently not trendy.) Pinch the out when young and prune the well and they give you loads of lovely colour for yonks.

Salvias are great for colour too: loads to choose from too.

Glasnevin is a good climber (needs support), but it's long flowering and an evergreen. Tie it in, cut off the pieces that aren't where you want them - it grows fairly quick but not as invasive as an ivy or Russian vine.

Japanese Anemone could look elegant and starts flower around now until Autumn.
It comes in white/ pink, some forms can spread, but the variety Wild Swan is smaller and more restrained.

Our Japanese anemones are looking lovely, right now. Love how they tower over everything else.

Thank you so much for all these pointers!