Learning Objectives:
- Master the layered approach to landscape design using canopy, understory, and ground level plants
- Learn to select appropriate native plants for specific site conditions and design goals
- Understand proper spacing, placement, and companion planting strategies
- Develop skills in creating plant communities that support each other and local wildlife
Selecting and placing the right plants is where landscape design transforms from concept to reality. By understanding how plants function in natural ecosystems and applying these principles to your landscape, you create living communities that support each other while providing maximum beauty with minimal maintenance.
The Structural Backbone:
Large plants provide the permanent structure around which all other landscape elements are organized. These foundation plants should be chosen carefully, as they will define your landscape for decades to come.
Canopy Trees - The Landscape Anchors:
White Oak (Quercus alba): The ultimate foundation tree for Mid Atlantic landscapes, White Oak provides massive ecological value, supporting over 500 species of butterflies and moths. Mature specimens reach 80-100 feet with equal spread, making them perfect for large properties. They prefer well-drained soils and full sun, providing spectacular fall color and winter structure through their distinctive branching pattern.
Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Adaptable to various soil conditions from wet to moderately dry, Red Maple offers brilliant scarlet fall color and rapid growth. Reaching 40-60 feet at maturity, it's ideal for medium-sized properties. The early spring flowers provide nectar for emerging pollinators before most other plants bloom.
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera): Fast-growing and impressive, reaching 70-90 feet with distinctive tulip-shaped flowers in late spring. Best suited for larger properties with moist, well-drained soils. The straight trunk and pyramidal shape make it excellent for creating vertical emphasis in the landscape.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Perfect understory tree reaching 20-30 feet, providing spectacular pink spring blooms before leaves emerge. Tolerates various soil conditions and partial shade, making it versatile for different landscape positions. The heart-shaped leaves create attractive summer texture.
Large Shrub Foundations:
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): Multi-stemmed shrub reaching 8-12 feet, producing fragrant white flower clusters in early summer followed by dark purple berries beloved by birds. Thrives in moist soils and tolerates periodic flooding, making it perfect for rain gardens or low-lying areas.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Excellent choice for shaded areas, reaching 6-10 feet with aromatic foliage and bright yellow fall color. The small yellow flowers appear before leaves in early spring, providing crucial early nectar for pollinators. Female plants produce red berries that attract migrating birds.
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia): Fragrant white flower spikes in mid-summer make this 4-8 foot shrub invaluable for extending seasonal interest. Thrives in moist, acidic soils and tolerates both sun and partial shade. The flowers attract butterflies and beneficial insects during the summer nectar gap.
Creating the Garden's Heart:
Mid-layer plants form the visual core of your landscape, providing seasonal color, texture, and wildlife habitat while connecting the canopy to the ground level.
Versatile Native Shrubs:
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): Outstanding four-season shrub with large white flower panicles in summer, spectacular fall color, and attractive exfoliating bark for winter interest. Reaches 4-6 feet and tolerates both sun and shade, making it extremely versatile for various landscape positions.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): Fast-growing shrub reaching 5-8 feet with white flower clusters in late spring and attractive seed heads that persist through winter. The exfoliating bark provides winter interest, and the dense branching structure offers excellent nesting sites for birds.
Wild Azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides): Native azalea providing fragrant pink flowers in early spring before leaves emerge. Reaches 4-6 feet and prefers acidic, well-drained soils in partial shade. Much more sustainable than non-native azaleas while providing equal beauty.
Powerhouse Perennials:
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): The workhorse of Mid Atlantic gardens, blooming from midsummer through fall with bright yellow daisy-like flowers. Reaches 2-3 feet and tolerates various soil conditions while providing seeds for goldfinches and other birds. Self-seeds readily to create natural drifts.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Sturdy perennial reaching 2-4 feet with distinctive purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees. The seed heads provide winter food for birds and architectural interest. Extremely drought tolerant once established and long-lived in the garden.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Aromatic perennial with lavender flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Reaches 2-4 feet and spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies. Excellent for naturalizing in meadow-style plantings.
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa): Essential for monarch butterfly reproduction, producing brilliant orange flower clusters in midsummer. Reaches 1-2 feet and requires well-drained soils in full sun. The deep taproot makes it extremely drought tolerant once established.
Coral Bells (Heuchera americana): Native alternative to hybrid coral bells, providing attractive foliage and delicate flower spikes. Reaches 1-2 feet and tolerates shade, making it perfect for woodland gardens. The evergreen foliage provides year-round interest.
Completing the Living Carpet:
Ground level plants suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and create the fine-textured foundation that ties the entire landscape together.
Native Ground Covers:
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica): The ultimate lawn alternative, forming dense tufts that create a meadow-like appearance. Reaches 6-8 inches and tolerates foot traffic while requiring no mowing. Provides nesting material for birds and habitat for beneficial insects.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): Heart-shaped leaves create dense colonies in shaded areas, reaching 6-8 inches tall. The unusual maroon flowers appear at ground level in early spring. Excellent for suppressing weeds under trees and shrubs.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): While not native throughout the entire Mid Atlantic, this low-growing perennial creates spectacular spring color displays. Reaches 4-6 inches and spreads to form dense mats covered with pink, white, or purple flowers.
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides): Evergreen fern providing year-round structure in shaded areas. Reaches 1-2 feet and forms attractive clumps that expand slowly over time. The fronds remain green through winter, providing crucial structure during dormant months.
Specialized Understory Plants:
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis): Early spring ephemeral with pristine white flowers that appear before leaves emerge. Reaches 6-8 inches and goes dormant by midsummer, making it perfect for planting under deciduous trees where it receives spring sun but summer shade.
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum): Another spring ephemeral with distinctive mottled leaves and nodding yellow flowers. Forms colonies over time through underground bulb offsets. Goes dormant by early summer, allowing other plants to fill the space.
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): Unique umbrella-like leaves create colonies in woodland settings. Reaches 12-18 inches with white flowers hidden beneath the leaves in spring. The yellow fruits are edible when ripe and attract wildlife.
Layered Planting Approach:
Mimic natural forest ecosystems by creating distinct layers:
- Canopy Layer: Large trees providing overhead structure
- Understory Layer: Small trees and large shrubs creating mid-level interest
- Shrub Layer: Medium-sized shrubs forming the visual backbone
- Herbaceous Layer: Perennials providing seasonal color and texture
- Ground Layer: Low-growing plants and ground covers
Companion Planting Principles:
Group plants that benefit each other:
- Nitrogen Fixers: Plant Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) near heavy feeders
- Dynamic Accumulators: Use deep-rooted plants like Wild Bergamot to bring nutrients to the surface
- Pest Deterrents: Aromatic plants like native mints help protect neighboring plants
Create a Plant Inventory: List existing plants on your property and identify which are native versus non-native. Research the ecological value of each plant to prioritize future replacements.
Design Plant Communities: Select 3-5 native plants that would thrive in one area of your landscape, ensuring they have compatible growing requirements and complementary seasonal interest.
Calculate Mature Sizes: Research the mature size of plants you're considering and create a scaled drawing to ensure proper spacing and avoid future overcrowding.
Visit Local Native Plant Sources: Locate native plant nurseries, native plant society sales, or botanical gardens in your area to see plants in person and get expert advice.
Native plant selection and placement form the living heart of your low-maintenance landscape. By understanding how different plants function in layered ecosystems and choosing species that support each other, you create resilient plant communities that provide maximum beauty with minimal intervention. The key is matching each plant's needs with your site conditions while considering how they'll interact with neighboring plants over time.
With your plant palette selected and placement strategies understood, you're ready to move into the practical aspects of installation. The next module will guide you through proper planting techniques, soil preparation, and establishment practices that ensure your carefully chosen plants thrive from the moment they're installed.