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Filbert Press

Bringing bold foliage outdoors

Dark green book cover titled "The Jungle Garden" by Philip Oostenbrink, featuring a photograph of a lush tropical garden with large-leaf plants and palms, layered with subtle botanical graphics and white typography, set against a green background.

Commissioned by Filbert Press, we were asked to design and illustrate The Jungle Garden by Philip Oostenbrink. The book explores how to recreate the lush look of tropical planting in hardy outdoor gardens, making it possible to enjoy a ‘jungle style’ landscape even in cooler climates. We designed the cover and internal spreads, combining photography, contemporary typography, and line illustrations to create a rich, immersive reading experience.

Open spread of The Jungle Garden contents page listing chapters with images of green foliage.
Open spread of The Jungle Garden showing an "About me" section with text and photographs of plants and the author in a garden.

Creative approach

A deep, earthy colour palette paired with bold typographic choices reflects the drama of jungle planting. Photography was given prominence to showcase texture and scale, while line graphics and illustrations were used for pull-out sections, helping guide readers through practical advice.

Open spread of The Jungle Garden showing Chapter 2 titled "Jungle Leaves" with a photograph of tropical foliage.
Open spread of The Jungle Garden showing illustrated leaf shapes.

Impact

The design positions The Jungle Garden as both aspirational and practical — a book that inspires adventurous gardeners while providing them with the tools and knowledge to bring the jungle look to life.

Open spread of The Jungle Garden titled "Flowers in the jungle" with text and photographs, including a full-page image of blue and yellow flowers.
Open spread of The Jungle Garden titled "Dots and smudges" with text and photographs of leaves.

I would recommend this book to designers, plant enthusiasts, gardeners, and even as an addition to the coffee table due to its bright colors and beautiful photography.

Pacific Horticulture
Open spread of The Jungle Garden showing full-page photographs of a lush tropical garden with dense greenery and ferns.