Page 39 - may2021

- Shape and Form in

the Garden

Architectural and structural
plants are generally
described, in most garden
books or on the internet, as
naturally tall or spiky plants
with defined lines, plants
that become the permanent
residence of any garden,
those plants that have a

distinct showy shape and
form and provide
year-round interest.

This definition naturally brings
to mind plants like Palms, Aloes,
Yuccas, Agaves and a host of
impressive and easily recognizable
plants used as focal points in most
gardens. These days this definition
is not totally accurate, as our
changing garden designs now often
include smaller gardens, indigenous
settings, low maintenance and
xerophytic landscaping. These are
often populated by smaller structural
plants in a more austere setting
that showcases an unusual form or
shape rather than size. Small plants
like succulents or grasses can also
be used as architectural features by
repetitive planting to create a lower
maintenance architectural design
that is still stylish and dramatic.