Jardin Majorelle - Marrakech Morocco 2019

Colour is the key to this garden but not from the plants but rather the buildings and statement pots that are accentuated by the many shades of green palms, shrubs, and succulents that give the shape, size and texture. This garden is both a work of art and a botanical masterpiece, worth spending some time enjoying the detail.

Garden Design

Today the garden is a 2.2-acre space enclosed by outer walls that give the garden a closed feel in the middle of a suburban street surrounded by modern streets within a short drive of the ancient Medina of Marrakech. The garden started when french artist Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) from Nancy settled in Marrakech after World War 1 and purchased a plot of land on the edge of a palm grove in 1923. He would build a villa and studio that he used in his creative works. He still travelled around Marocco and Africa, collecting ideas and inspiration for his endeavours.

The garden is full of exotic plants collected from across the world. Many rare plants that give a fascinating glimpse of the variety of botanic life. It wasn't until 1947 that the garden opened to fee-paying visitor necessary to pay for the ever more costly upkeep of the garden.

Majorelle experienced several setbacks leading up to his death in 1962 by which time he had sold his share in the garden and villa. The garden started to decline, and by 1980 it was in danger of being erased by hotel development. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé who had regularly visited the garden since first coming to Marrakech in 1966, purchased the garden. Although saved, it was not until 1999 that the garden started to expand under the guidance of Moroccan ethnobotanist, garden designer, and photographer Abderrazak Benchaabane.

Benchaabane had the task of cataloguing all the current plants then adding to and restoring the garden in keeping with Majorelle's original design. Leading to the plants expanding from about 135 to over 300 species. A task that took more than 10-years to complete. Today the gardens can be visited and are kept in trust by the Foundation Jardin Majorelle.

Garden Structures

Water Features

Water Lilies

Colourful Pots

Palms and Ferns

Cactuses