How can you design plant palettes for all seasons?

A plant palette is a collection of plants that you use to create a cohesive and attractive landscape design. But how can you design a plant palette that looks good in all seasons, not just in spring or summer? In this article, we will share some tips and tricks to help you achieve a year-round interest and beauty in your planting design.

1 Know your site

The first step to design a plant palette for all seasons is to know your site conditions and climate. Different plants have different requirements and preferences for sun, shade, soil, moisture, and temperature. You need to choose plants that are suitable for your site and can thrive in your region. You also need to consider the microclimates and exposure of your site, such as slopes, walls, buildings, and wind. These factors can affect the growth and performance of your plants throughout the year.

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Nitin Kumar P.

30k On Play Store | Plant E Commerce | Agriculturist | Agritech | Sustainability |
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Plant palettes that provide interest and aesthetic appeal throughout all seasons requires thoughtful consideration of factors such as bloom times, foliage characteristics, and seasonal changes. 1. Evergreen Plants 2. Flowering Bulbs 3. Native Plants 4. Select a Variety of Plants 5. Four Season Interest 6. Use Ornamental Grasses 7. Create Focal Points

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2 Choose a theme

The next step is to choose a theme or style for your plant palette. A theme can help you narrow down your plant choices and create a harmonious and consistent look. For example, you can choose a theme based on color, texture, shape, form, or function. You can also choose a theme based on a specific type of garden, such as a cottage garden, a Mediterranean garden, or a native garden. A theme can help you define the mood and character of your landscape and guide your plant selection.

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Yazan K. Mahadin

Commissioner for Petra Archaeological Park and Tourism | Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA)
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Selecting a theme for your plant palette is an important step in achieving a cohesive and visually pleasing landscape. Whether centered on color, texture, shape, form, or function, a theme narrows down plant choices, ensuring a harmonious look. Themes can extend to garden types like cottage, Mediterranean, or native styles, aiding in mood and character definition. This intentional approach not only guides plant selection but also contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal, resulting in a landscape that exudes unity and purpose.

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3 Mix evergreens and deciduous

A key tip to design a plant palette for all seasons is to mix evergreens and deciduous plants. Evergreens are plants that keep their leaves or needles throughout the year, while deciduous plants are those that lose their leaves in fall or winter. Evergreens can provide a backbone and structure for your landscape, as well as color and texture in the colder months. Deciduous plants can add seasonal interest and variety, as well as flowers, fruits, and foliage colors in spring, summer, and fall. You can balance the proportion of evergreens and deciduous plants according to your theme and preference.

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Yazan K. Mahadin

Commissioner for Petra Archaeological Park and Tourism | Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA)
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Achieving a year-round vibrant landscape involves blending evergreen and deciduous plants. Evergreens provide structural stability, color, and texture in colder months, forming the backbone of your design. Deciduous plants contribute seasonal diversity with flowers, fruits, and varying foliage colors throughout spring, summer, and fall. Balancing the ratio based on your theme and preference ensures an enduring, visually engaging palette that evolves with the changing seasons, offering continual interest and appeal.

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4 Use four-season plants

Another tip is to use plants that have four-season interest, meaning that they have attractive features in each season. For example, some plants have flowers in spring, berries in summer, colorful leaves in fall, and interesting bark or stems in winter. Some examples of four-season plants are dogwood, viburnum, hydrangea, witch hazel, and hellebore. You can use these plants as focal points or accents in your landscape and enjoy their beauty throughout the year.

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Heather Wight

Sole Proprietor, Garden Designer & Fine Gardener
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Designing for winter interest is key in New England landscapes. The bright red color of Red Twig Dogwood branches and of Winterberry berries, and the texture of Stewartia bark add to the winter landscape. Each of these species has a role in the landscape during the other seasons of the year, particularly the gorgeous camellia-like blooms of the Stewartia tree.

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5 Add seasonal highlights

The final step is to add seasonal highlights to your plant palette. Seasonal highlights are plants that have a peak of interest in one or two seasons, such as bulbs, annuals, perennials, grasses, and shrubs. These plants can add a splash of color, texture, or fragrance to your landscape and create contrast and excitement. You can use seasonal highlights to complement your theme and enhance your four-season plants. You can also change your seasonal highlights according to your mood and taste.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Yazan K. Mahadin

Commissioner for Petra Archaeological Park and Tourism | Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA)
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Piet Oudolf, a renowned Dutch garden designer, nurseryman, and author, exemplifies exceptional planting themes and palettes. A prominent figure in the "New Perennial" movement, Oudolf's designs feature striking compositions with herbaceous perennials and grasses. His selections prioritize structural elements as much as flower colors, showcasing a distinctive approach that has left a lasting impact on modern garden design.

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How can you design plant palettes for all seasons?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Know your site

2 Choose a theme

3 Mix evergreens and deciduous

4 Use four-season plants

5 Add seasonal highlights

6 Here’s what else to consider

Landscape Architecture

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How can you design plant palettes for all seasons?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your site

2 Choose a theme

3 Mix evergreens and deciduous

4 Use four-season plants

5 Add seasonal highlights

6 Here’s what else to consider

Landscape Architecture

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