GardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 55
SHAPE THINGS UP A mix of plant shapes in your foundation planting is a surefire way to
keep the design interesting. Here are some common habits and how they work in the landscape.IS IT TOO BIG? Plants that are too small for your home look out of
place, and those that are too big overwhelm it. How to choose the right size?
Take a photo of your house, then draw a line from the bottom of the front
door to a point two thirds the way up from the ground on the corner of the
house. The tallest plants near the house should have a mature height just
below this point. Plants to the side or out in the yard can be taller. Like any
rule, there are always exceptions. Sometimes a tree or shrub is a big help
breaking up a large roofline as with the “One-Story Casual” design on the
previous page.The direction
your house faces
tells you which plants
should grow there.
North: Shady & cool
Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Brunnera Brunnera macrophyllaSouth: Hot & dry
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifoliaWest: Hot, dry and windy
Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis
Sedum Hylotelephium spectabileEast: Soft morning sun
& afternoon shade
Azalea Rhododendron hybrids
Coneflower Echinacea purpureaTip: A 1- to 2-foot-wide path
between the house and the back of
the planting makes it easier get in
the garden to care for plants.
PYRAMID
Focus attention with
this angular shape. Its
narrow top leads your
eye up. Use pyramids
sparingly — it adds a
lot of drama.ROUND
Your eye moves quickly
over this common
plant shape. Use in
groups where you
don’t want to focus
a lot of attentionHORIZONTAL
Wider than they are
tall, horizontal plants
emphasize length and
have a comfortable,
stabilizing effect.COLUMNAR
A columnar plant leads
your eye upward but is
softer and more casual
than a pyramid.WEEPING
This out-of-the-ordi-
nary form leads your
eye down and is great
at distracting from
less-than-ideal views.See our favorite
foundation plants
for each shape.GGMagExtra.comGG14952_57_Foundation.indd 55GG14952_57_Foundation.indd 55 6/26/2019 11:22:10 AM6/26/2019 11:22:10 AMGardenGateMagazine.com | GARDEN GATE 55
SHAPETHINGSUP A mixofplantshapesinyourfoundationplantingis a surefirewayto
keepthedesigninteresting.Herearesomecommonhabitsandhowtheyworkinthelandscape.
IS IT TOO BIG? Plants that are too small for your home look out of
place, and those that are too big overwhelm it. How to choose the right size?
Take a photo of your house, then draw a line from the bottom of the front
door to a point two thirds the way up from the ground on the corner of the
house. The tallest plants near the house should have a mature height just
below this point. Plants to the side or out in the yard can be taller. Like any
rule, there are always exceptions. Sometimes a tree or shrub is a big help
breaking up a large roofline as with the “One-Story Casual” design on the
previous page.
The direction
your house faces
tells you which plants
should grow there.
North: Shady & cool
Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Brunnera Brunnera macrophyllaSouth: Hot & dry
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifoliaWest: Hot, dry and windy
Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis
Sedum Hylotelephium spectabileEast: Soft morning sun
& afternoon shade
Azalea Rhododendron hybrids
Coneflower Echinacea purpureaTip: A 1- to 2-foot-wide path
between the house and the back of
the planting makes it easier get in
the garden to care for plants.
PYRAMID
Focus attention with
this angular shape. Its
narrow top leads your
eye up. Use pyramids
sparingly — it adds a
lot of drama.
ROUND
Your eye moves quickly
over this common
plant shape. Use in
groups where you
don’t want to focus
a lot of attentionHORIZONTAL
Wider than they are
tall, horizontal plants
emphasize length and
have a comfortable,
stabilizing effect.COLUMNAR
A columnar plant leads
your eye upward but is
softer and more casual
than a pyramid.WEEPING
This out-of-the-ordi-
nary form leads your
eye down and is great
at distracting from
less-than-ideal views.See our favorite
foundation plants
for each shape.GGMagExtra.com