Landscape design in Hong Kong… it’s not something you hear every day. Living in Mid-Levels, surrounded by towers and concrete, it’s hard to imagine that the city would ever need landscapers. And yet, in the heart of this urban jungle, some people are quietly making nature grow where you’d least expect it.
Meet Charlène and Sophie Marrié — the Franco-Chinese sisters behind My Rooftop is Green
If your mind jumps to the image of a gruff gardener with muddy boots and a rake in hand, think again. Charlène and Sophie found themselves with their hands in the soil almost by accident, or perhaps by instinct.
Today, they bring green life to Hong Kong’s rooftops and balconies while nurturing another passion: Botani Bloom —their gifting brand inspired by the French art of living.
When I met them, I discovered two bright, complementary energies cultivating — in every sense of the word — a new way of living with nature in the city.
Their story began during Covid. Sophie had just moved back to Hong Kong after her studies and, with the city slowing down, discovered that a pair of French women were looking to sell their landscaping business. The idea intrigued her: “I had never done anything like that before, but I just had this feeling it was the right time to give it a try.” Encouraged by her father, an entrepreneur himself, she decided to take the plunge.
Today, My Rooftop is Green has become a household name in Hong Kong. The company designs, installs, and maintains green spaces for private homes, offices, and even restaurants from groups like Black Sheep and Pirata. Charlène and Sophie oversee everything from plant selection to maintenance. “People forget that a plant is alive — it can struggle depending on the light or humidity,” says Sophie. “Our job is to observe, adapt, and find what works.”
That same attention to detail led them to their next adventure: Botani Bloom. After years of creating gardens for others, the sisters wanted to offer something more personal. “Clients often asked for small compositions to gift — mini versions of our projects,” explains Sophie. So, in November 2024, they launched an online boutique where every pot, plant, and candle is designed as a decorative piece with soul.
The plant pots, designed by the sisters themselves, are made of glazed ceramic in soft, French-inspired hues. Alongside them sit natural candles and skincare products from the French brand Colline de Provence . “They actually reached out to us about expanding to Hong Kong. We hesitated at first, but the products are natural — their candle wax is plant-based, for example — so it made sense. Then they sent us samples, and honestly, we were sold. We just wanted to have them here for ourselves!”
More recently, Botani Bloom expanded to include silk scarves. For the designs, they collaborate with friends and family — a cousin who’s an illustrator, a friend who paints in watercolours — and hope to soon work with local calligraphers.
“Botani Bloom is where we express our artistic side,” says Sophie. “With landscaping projects, the client always has the final say, so we wanted something that felt 100% ours.” Charlène adds, “We wanted to create gifts that tell a story — combining nature, art, and design.”
That story is also their own. Born in Hong Kong to Franco-Chinese parents, the sisters grew up between cultures and influences, with a European eye and local sensitivity. Their father passed on his entrepreneurial drive; their mother, her quiet pragmatism. The two work in perfect balance — Sophie handles design and client communication, while Charlène manages operations, logistics, and teams. When it comes to Botani Bloom, though, creativity is shared.
And what about working together as sisters? “Of course, there are disagreements,” they admit, smiling, “but there’s also total trust. We can say things honestly and know we’ll find balance.”
In their studio — part urban garden, part artist loft — the energy is lively yet grounded. Ideas bloom constantly. One day it’s a festive kokedama concept or a Chinese New Year orchid collection. Another day it’s a pop-up with The Loop wear for a second-hand fashion market or a Christmas wreath workshop. There are surprises too, of course — last-minute calls, urgent plant rescues.
But make no mistake: behind the relaxed atmosphere lies serious rigour. Their team — gardeners, assistants, creatives — runs like clockwork. “If a client calls on a Sunday because a plant is dying, we find a solution,” says Charlène. Their reputation rests on responsiveness, reliability, and that rare human touch in Hong Kong’s fast-paced world.
What stands out most is their modern, grounded approach to sustainability. No grand speeches — just practical choices: extending a plant’s life, using responsible materials, helping clients understand their spaces. Even their ceramics are made in small batches, designed to last and fit any interior.
Listening to them, one thing becomes clear: everything they do is about balance — between nature and design, discipline and intuition, work and pleasure. “When I’m watching TV on the weekend and suddenly grab my iPad to sketch a design, I don’t feel like I’m working,” smiles Charlène.
From My Rooftop is Green to Botani Bloom, the sisters are cultivating a world that feels uniquely theirs — aesthetic, alive, and deeply human. Their projects help Hong Kong breathe — this dense, dazzling city that, thanks to them, finds a little more air… and a lot more poetry.
