Plant Associations - Topic 2 (Planting Styles), Element 4 Flashcards
What are the four key principles of successful planting design?
Colour, Height, Form, Seasonal Interest
How does colour influence the atmosphere of a garden?
It creates stunning visual impact and can influence the feel and atmosphere of a garden
What factors should be considered when selecting plants for height?
Use taller plants for structure or focal points; shorter plants for under planting
What is meant by ‘form’ in plant selection?
The various growth forms of plants, such as columnar or creeping habits
Why is seasonal interest important in plant selection?
It ensures year-round interest in the garden
What environmental factors are crucial for plant selection?
Soil type, sunlight, location, moisture levels
What does ‘right plant, right place’ mean?
Choosing plants that suit the specific growth conditions of the garden
What is a design ethos in gardening?
The thought process behind the design that creates cohesion and meets design aims
What heritage considerations might influence plant selection?
Historical, architectural, or natural values that need to be preserved
How can plant choices impact biodiversity?
They can encourage or limit pollinator populations and affect local ecosystems
True or False: Non-native plants cannot benefit pollinators.
False
What is the best strategy for supporting pollinators in a garden?
Plant a mix of flowering plants from different regions
Fill in the blank: The _______ colours include red, orange, and yellow.
hot
What are cool colours associated with?
Relaxation, gentleness, and romance
What is the significance of the colour wheel in gardening?
It helps in understanding and combining colours for desired effects
What are monochromatic combinations?
Variations on one hue, such as different shades of purple
List three types of colour combinations in gardening.
- Monochromatic
- Harmonious
- Complementary
What can add colour to a garden besides flowers?
Foliage, stems, bark, and fruit
What is the role of green tones in a garden?
To provide a pleasant backdrop for colourful flowers and fruits
What type of plants might be grown for their colourful fruits?
Trees like Sorbus vilmorinii, shrubs like Cotoneaster spp.
Fill in the blank: The concept popularized by Beth Chatto is known as _______.
right plant, right place
What is the purpose of planting more native plants in a garden?
To support native pollinators effectively
What can gardeners do in early and late seasons to help pollinators?
Ensure plants are flowering every month
What role does colour play in the appearance of a garden?
Colour can evoke a particular mood or atmosphere, relate to a garden theme, and affect our wellbeing
What are the primary colours in the colour wheel?
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
How are secondary colours created?
By mixing two adjacent primary colours
What are the secondary colours formed from the primary colours?
- Purple (Red + Blue)
- Green (Blue + Yellow)
- Orange (Yellow + Red)
What are tertiary colours?
Tertiary colours are made by mixing adjacent primaries and secondaries in different amounts
What colours are considered ‘cool’?
- Blue
- Indigo
- Violet
What characteristics do cool colours have?
They are relaxing, gentle, and romantic
What colours are considered ‘hot’?
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
What characteristics do hot colours have?
They are invigorating and exciting
What are monochromatic colour combinations?
Variations on one hue, for example, different purples from light to dark
Define harmonious colours.
Adjacent colours in the colour wheel that create a sense of order and are pleasing to the eye
What are complementary colours?
Colours located opposite each other in the colour wheel which produce a vibrant contrast
What are triadic colours?
Triadic colours are evenly spaced around the wheel, with one dominant colour and two supporting colours
List the features of plants that can provide colour in the garden.
- Flowers
- Foliage
- Stems
- Bark
- Fruit
What is the significance of foliage in terms of garden colour?
Foliage provides a backdrop for colourful flowers and can display seasonal interest
Name a plant known for its colourful foliage.
Heuchera spp.
Which plant is noted for its striking autumn foliage?
Euonymus alata
What is the role of stems and bark in adding colour to gardens?
Some shrubs and trees have colourful stems and bark that contribute to garden interest
What is a notable tree for its white bark?
Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii
What types of fruits can add colour to gardens?
- Pink-white berries of Sorbus vilmorinii
- Dark red berries of Cotoneaster spp.
- Bright red fruit of Fragaria vesca
What is an example of a plant grown primarily for its colourful fruits?
Callicarpa bodinieri
What is colour harmony?
A combination of colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel
What is colour contrast?
A combination of colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel
True or False: Complementary colours produce a vibrant contrast.
True
Fill in the blank: Harmonious colours are located ______ on the colour wheel.
Adjacent to each other
Fill in the blank: Complementary colours are located ______ on the colour wheel.
Opposite to each other
What is an example of a triadic colour combination?
Green, purple, and orange
What are the three elements discussed to create interest in the garden?
Form, texture, height
What assessment outcomes are related to plant associations?
- Colour
- Height
- Form
- Seasonal interest
What is a ‘fastigiate’ form in plant design?
An upright, columnar shape that offers height without taking up too much space.
What are some growth forms of trees mentioned?
- Single-stemmed
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
Fill in the blank: The overall form of a plant contributes to its ______ in the garden.
Texture
What types of forms can plants exhibit in borders?
- Horizontal
- Vertical
- Diagonal
- Arcs
- Fountains
- Clumps
- Mounds
- Clouds
- Transparent forms
True or False: Flowers are important only for their color in garden design.
False
What are some examples of flower shapes that can influence garden design?
- Buttons
- Balls
- Spikes
- Landing pads
- Clouds
- Bells
- Trumpets
- Daisies
What is the role of texture in foliage plants?
To introduce visual interest through varying shapes, sizes, and depths.
List the textures most present in foliage.
- Matt
- Glossy
- Hairy
- Delicate
- Strap-like
- Blocky
What can dark, rough leaves add to a planting design?
A sense of drama and interesting color combinations.
What type of plant form is topiary?
An entirely artificial plant form.
What does the term ‘texture’ refer to in the context of gardening?
The type and qualities of a surface created by plants.
What effect do variegated leaves have in a garden?
They can lighten shady areas.
What are some examples of arcs and fountains in plant forms?
- Chionochloa rubra
- Polystichum setiferum
- Dryopteris filix-mas
- Matteuccia struthiopteris
- Hakonechloa macra
- Pennisetum villosum
What is the visual weight of lighter, feathery foliage compared to dense leaves?
Lighter foliage carries less visual weight.
What types of textures can flowers exhibit?
- Soft
- Light
- Fluffy
- Solid
- Dense
- Coarse
How can bark contribute to garden texture?
Bark can be smooth, delicate, papery, rough, gnarled, rugged, and more.
What can the contrasting forms of plants create in a garden?
Vibrancy and movement.
What texture does Rudbeckia sp. have?
Bold texture
What type of seed heads does Dipsacus fullonum have?
Hard seed heads
What type of texture do the ethereal flowers of Thalictrum delavayi display?
Soft texture
What are some descriptions of bark that can be used in a garden?
- Smooth
- Delicate
- Papery
- Rough
- Gnarled
- Rugged
What is an example of smooth bark?
Prunus
What is an example of rough bark?
Quercus serrula
What is an example of papery bark?
Acer griseum
What type of bark does Eucalyptus sp. have?
Pitted texture
How can height be used in the garden?
- Develop structure
- Create depth
- Maximize vertical space
What is a common use of tall or low hedging in gardens?
Partitioning garden spaces
What is a common arrangement of plant height in a border?
Smallest plants at the front and tallest at the back
What effect does layering shrubs create?
Transitional effect from tree canopy to ground level
What can tall plants throughout a display create?
A dense feel
What is the benefit of leaving seed heads on herbaceous plants in winter?
Adds extra height interest and provides habitat for insects
How can height be used to create floral interest along a wall?
Planting in front and along the top
What can lifting plants to eye level do?
Draw the eye in and highlight chosen plants
What can disrupt lines of sight in a garden?
Tall shrubs and herbaceous plants
What does dark foliage do in a garden design?
Obscures the view and creates a sense of excitement
How is height used in the rock garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh?
- Large trees as backdrop
- Medium trees low in elevation
- Smaller trees in raised rockery beds
- Prostrate plants paired with flowering plants
What is seasonal interest in gardening?
Seasonal interest refers to the visual impact of flowers, foliage, fruits, berries, and bark throughout the year.
What are the four key principles of plant associations?
- Colour
- Height
- Form
- Seasonal interest
What is the importance of interrelationships between plant species?
Interrelationships are important for the appropriateness of colour, height, form, and flowering times.
Name two examples of spring flowering plants.
- Crocus vernus
- Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’
What role do evergreen trees and shrubs play in the garden?
They provide consistent structure and can serve as backdrops or features for seasonal displays.
Fill in the blank: The changing colours in leaves of trees like ________ display vivid autumn colours.
[Acer palmatum]
Which plant is known for its winter fragrance?
Daphne bholua
True or False: Summer is the time when gardens are least active.
False
What is one use of foliage in the summer?
Foliage can be used as a feature, backdrop, or to provide shade.
List three features that can create interest in the garden during winter.
- Bark
- Seedheads
- Evergreen foliage
What type of plants can extend the period of interest in the garden during late winter?
Plants with attractive seedheads.
What is the primary reason to use Rhododendron in spring?
Flower
Name an autumn plant that provides both foliage and fruit.
Viburnum opulus
Fill in the blank: The ________ of Stipa gigantea offers height, texture, and movement.
[Seedheads]
What seasonal interest does Helleborus niger provide in winter?
Flower
Which plant is known for colorful berries in the garden?
Sorbus
What adaptation is important when considering plant associations?
Leaf size and shape, growth habit.
Fill in the blank: The best display of Cornus stems is created by ________ the stems to ground level in Spring.
[Pruning]
What is the significance of selecting plant material that reflects the heritage of the site?
It ensures appropriateness and relevance in garden design.
