I don't have a specific plant, but I always find going for contrasting foliage colors makes a planting design POP! I especially love situating dark, purple plants next to bright yellow ones, it draws the eye (especially in shade gardens) and you don't depend on flowers for interest. A favorite pairing of mine is a Purple Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) planted next to a Golden Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart'). Coral Bells (Heuchera ssp) can also be great for adding contrast and color to a garden since they come in a rainbow of colors and are very hardy! Some of my top colorful picks include 'Cherry Cola', 'Citronelle', & 'Midnight Rose'.
The Paperbark maple (Acer griseum) is a plant choice that significantly enhanced the aesthetic aspect of a garden I recently designed. This deciduous tree, native to central China, is admired for its unique coppery-red bark that curls and peels, much like paper. Its rounded, compact shape makes it an ideal centerpiece, while its attractive, trifoliate leaves transition from green in summer to a fiery red in autumn, adding a dramatic color shift that extends the garden's visual interest into the colder months. This selection proved transformative, bringing a new level of texture, color, and year-round appeal to the garden design.
As a Landscape Architect, selecting the right plant can dramatically transform a garden's aesthetic. One particularly impactful choice was incorporating the Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) into a modern, minimalist garden design. This ornamental grass, with its striking blue-grey foliage, created a stunning contrast against the garden's predominantly green palette. I used it to border pathways and interspersed it among larger shrubs, where its spherical shape and unique color added depth and texture. The Blue Fescue's low height and distinctive hue became a unifying element in the garden, tying together various sections and creating visual interest throughout the seasons. This choice not only enhanced the garden's contemporary feel but also demonstrated how a single, well-chosen plant can have a significant impact on the overall design aesthetic.
Prosopis velutina, commonly known as Velvet Mesquite, is a preferred choice in my landscape projects. Indigenous to the region, this plant not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also infuses any landscape design with the unique essence of the Sonoran Desert. Its vase-shaped, multi-trunk structure is versatile, serving as an ideal backdrop for both a desert garden and a vibrant riparian landscape. When the distinctive twisted and irregular form of a Velvet Mesquite specimen is articulated, it transforms into a sculptural focal point that requires no additional planting to anchor the overall landscape.
Ponytail Palms are unique accent plants that have both a Jurassic and Dr. Suess appearance that grabs your attention. With a sculptural trunk that grows in a distorted fashion and weeping leaves, Ponytail Palms are a tropical focal point when planted in masses of shrubs and groundcover. To add contrast and interest to any garden, plant a Ponytail Palm to enhance your outdoor space.
One of my favorites and most used in almost every planting design is Itea virginica 'Little Henry.' This dwarf version of the native Virginia Sweetspire has lovely Spring blooms (white) that work with any color palette, and the Fall color is outstanding. The plant loves sun but is very easy to grow and maintain, and can really make a statement when planted in a mass.
Over the past 25 years monitoring plant installations, I have found the most successful planting plans incorporate coarse textured evergreens that do not overpower the space. I like including Junipers such as ‘Hollywood’, ‘Mountbatten Juniper, and ‘Emerald Sentinel’ Juniper ‘Gracilis ‘ Hinoki Cypress intermixed with a White Dogwood creates a contrasting visual affect. In urban setting where space is limited, the inclusion of columnar trees has been a must. Examples of these trees include the Columnar English Oak, Columnar cherry, Red Obelisk Beech, ‘Taylor’ Red Cedar, and ‘Degroots spire’ Arborvitae.
The hardest part about answering this question is narrowing it down to just one plant!! I had to change my answer several times while I was considering the question. But in general, I consider all 4 seasons when making plant selections and like to use plants that will have appeal all year around. So because Camellias bloom in the winter, I had to pick them as one of my plant selections that has significantly enhanced the aesthetic of the garden, especially in the winter months!
Selecting the perfect plants for a garden design is one of the most fulfilling aspects of being a landscape architect. It requires careful consideration of various factors to create a harmonious and breathtaking environment. It's not just about choosing beautiful flowers or shrubs, but also considering factors such as climate, site conditions, and maintenance requirements. One plant selection that stands out in my career as significantly enhancing the aesthetic of a garden design is a Japanese maple tree. This type of tree has beautiful, delicate foliage that changes color throughout the seasons and adds an elegant touch to any garden. It also thrives in partial shade, making it ideal for residential gardens with limited sunlight. The compact size and slow growth rate of the Japanese maple also make it easy to incorporate into various garden designs without overpowering other plants.
In the world of landscape architecture, art lies in choosing plants that are not only adaptive to their environment but also play a major part in determining the aesthetic character of design. In my portfolio, one outstanding example is the use of Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) within a garden design application which transformed the space as aesthetic appeal. Japanese Maples are considered symbols of refinement, as they have fragile leaves and beautiful color transformations in different seasons. In this particular garden project, the incorporation of Japanese Maples can be considered a stroke of genius as they provided layers of visual appeal and improved the mood. In spring, the trees unfolded a canvas of young, fragile leaves in shades of pales greens and warm reds. This seasonal display brought in a touch of color, an indication of the reawakening after winter’s slumber. As the summer progressed, the foliage became a canopy of dappled shade offering an oasis for those who wished to escape from sun. The real show, nevertheless, took place in the autumn. The Japanese Maples exploded into a riot of reds, oranges and yellows, heralding a glorious autumn showcase in the garden. This colorful display made the space a center of attention that admired. In addition to their contributing beauty, Japanese Maples are used for their adaptability. These varieties are positioned in different strategic ways as solitary specimens, focal points in the mixed border and elements of an elaborately designed Japanese garden. Their versatility makes them blend effortlessly with different design styles. Essentially, the choice of Japanese Maples within this garden design was not just a horticultural decision; it was an artistic selection that made the space’s visual fabric more vibrant and turned it into a garden woven in the manner of an intriguing storyline unfolding from season to season.
Being a landscape architect involves making various plant selections to bring life and beauty into a garden design. One of the most significant plant selections I have made was incorporating ornamental grasses into a residential garden project. These tall, elegant grasses added movement, texture, and visual interest to the overall design. The graceful sway of the blades in the wind and the cascading effect of their foliage added a sense of tranquility to the space. Additionally, these grasses provided year-round interest with their plumes in the fall and structure in the winter. They truly enhanced the aesthetic of the garden design and created an inviting and dynamic atmosphere for visitors to enjoy.