Key plants for this look

Olive tree (Olea europaea)

Olive trees provide a permanent silvery presence, working well in containers. They don’t mind cold but hate getting their feet wet, so plant in well-drained soil in the sun.

Pleached hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

These trees are like hedges on stilts and are good dividers in urban gardens. You can also pleach crabapple, beech, or lime.

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’

This serves as stylish ground cover. Its black ‘evergreen’ leaves look good all year round in the ground or in containers. It’s slow-growing and gradually spreads outwards.