In the 7th century, the Arabs crossed the North African coastline to arrive in Morocco and Spain with fresh concepts on civilization, religion, and gardening. From Damascus to Cordoba, conceptions of paradise were carried in the hearts, minds, and travel sacks of Arab horsemen. Verses throughout the Islamic Holy Quran describe the sights, sounds, smells, and spatial elements of Heaven. These verses did much to inform the Muslim gardener in the horticultural arts. In effect, they served as spiritual blueprint for garden planning in southern Spain and Morocco from as early as the 8th century.

Moroccan gardens possess formal organization, but design cannot be described as strict or rigid. The home is often configured around an inner courtyard. Around a centrally located fountain seating is often arranged. In a larger garden, four paths might cross the center court leading away in opposing directions. Garden beds are planted with native species that are nurtured, but allowed to grow freely as nature intended. Alleyways are made for strolling, and one might as easily cross paths with a peacock as a person.

In the Moroccan garden, geometric shapes inform design. A fountain might be circular or square, but might also take the shape of a symmetrical cross or an eight point star. Both fountains and groundwork will be paved with zellige, finely cut tile mosaic interlaced in patterns. Other garden forms include the blind arch, cut into a wall of the garden, tiled, and fixed with a small spigot from which water flows into a wide, low-lying basin set below.

A garden may be cloistered by stone or by walls of cypress and palms trees. In beds, bougainvillea mingles with roses, cacti, and marigolds. Yellow-cupped gold vine, seeking to be ever closer to the sun, climbs vertical surfaces toward the roof of the dwelling. Fresh herbs basil, thyme, rosemary, and chamomile spout in the undergrowth, while orange trees, peach trees, fig and olive trees, apricot, grapefruit, pomegranate, and lemon trees scent and shade the grove.