Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! As always, each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. This week, we're diving into the plant lover's version of standing in front of a full fridge and having no idea what to make for dinner...and how to finally just pick something delicious: Narrowing Down Your Plant Choices.♥︎

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

You've decided where your new planting bed will go. You know the size. And now you're staring at the blank space where the plants should be...and suddenly, every option feels equally possible and equally wrong.

There are thousands of plants. Thousands. And if you've ever opened a nursery catalog or fallen down an online rabbit hole at 11 PM, you know exactly how fast "exciting" can turn into "overwhelming."

The answer isn't to know more plants. It's to filter smarter. And that's where a PLANT LIST comes in. A good plant list doesn't limit you. It actually sets you free. And over time, the filters you return to again and again become the beginning of something even more exciting...a planting style that's unmistakably yours.

Let's build one together.

A FEW FILTERS TO NARROW DOWN YOUR LIST

Before you begin, surround yourself with some good plant books, nursery catalogs, or pull up an online plant database. Then work through these filters one by one.

.....

PLANTING ZONE. Your first and fastest filter. Knowing your hardiness zone immediately eliminates a huge portion of the plant world...and honestly, that's a relief. If you're in the US, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to confirm yours. (And if you've been gardening a while, trust your observations alongside the map.)

.....

CULTURAL NEEDS. Sun or shade? Dry or consistently moist? Heavy clay or fast-draining sand? Plants matched to their conditions don't just survive...they thrive.

.....

PLANT COMMUNITIES. Consider choosing plants that naturally grow together. This gives your designs ecological integrity...and a strong sense of place. Start with a native plant community, then build on it.

.....

TYPES OF PLANTS. Annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees or a layered mix of all of them? Deciding early helps you think about structure first, so the fun details have somewhere to land.

A FEW MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER 

COLOR. The most fleeting quality a plant has, but a quick and satisfying way to narrow your list. Just don't let it dominate. Some of the most important plants in a design, like evergreens, offer structure and year-round presence over a specific color moment. Both matter.

.....

FORM + TEXTURE. More consistent than color, and far more powerful. As your list gets smaller, ask yourself: do I have a good variety of forms such as: upright, vase-shaped, spreading? Plus a mix of textures, like a combination of small and large leaves?

.....

THEME. Sometimes a theme is the creative spark that makes everything click into place. A lemonade garden built around yellows and icy whites. A moonlight garden designed to glow at dusk. A pollinator corridor that doubles as a design statement. Pick a theme and every decision that follows gets easier.

.....

SIZE. Does the space call for low plants under 24 inches? Do you need height for enclosure or privacy? Know your size parameters before you fall in love with something that will eventually take over the bed.

.....

WHAT ELSE? Every project has its own set of constraints, and those constraints are actually great filters. Deer pressure? Slopes? A neighbor who really needs a privacy screen? Let your situation tell you what to add to this list.

The photo above was taken at Walter's Gardens in Michigan. 

.....

Let's do this!

Once you've built your list, keep it close as you begin exploring your planting designs. And BTW, if you're new at this, it's okay to start with a small plant list...then grow it over time as you learn more and more.

.....

Online plant databases are a great place to type in the filters above to help you create a possible plant list. Two of my favorites are Monrovia's PLANT FINDER and PLANTMASTER. Here is a larger collection of options.

.....

Speaking of plant inspiration...I recently had the chance to design five planting themes for a Better Homes + Gardens 2026 Special Publication, Perennial Gardening. It's a treasure trove of ideas worth flipping through. Check your local grocery, book, or box stores.

.....

And if you want to keep the momentum going, come join our 10x10 GARDEN DESIGN TIPS email journey...100 tips over 100 days for just $10. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy. ♥︎

....

If you know someone that needs design inspiration, please feel free to share this newsletter. Anyone can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

.....

Wishing you a year full of good plant discoveries.

From the studio + garden,

Lisa 

.....

PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thank you to Mandy Orgler for designing the lovely graphics in all these newsletters.