DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITIES
Beauty + Ecology Combined
Designed plant communities are a fresh way of thinking about planting design…more about relationships than individual plants. Instead of focusing on single specimens, this approach looks at how groups of plants can work together, much like they do in nature. The idea is to choose plants that not only look good together but also support each other—filling space, sharing resources, and thriving over time with less input.
It’s a shift from high-maintenance beds to dynamic, layered plantings that evolve, adapt, and offer beauty while also supporting the local ecosystem. Whether you’re designing a meadow-inspired garden or a tidy streetside border, thinking in terms of plant communities can lead to more resilient and rewarding landscapes.
Are you ready to jump in?!
GOODNESS FOR YOU THIS MONTH
Below you will find several items to help you learn more about DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITIES. From written words to video to applied activities to our Design Library to group discussions. Explore our topic from different angles and gain a new perspective. Click on the images below to download a PDF of your Garden Design Guide and view a landing page that further describes our Activities. Further down you will find a video and links to our community, one bonus live session, plus a live Monthly Meetup too!
VIDEO: Drawing a Designed Plant Community in a Parking Strip
Below are some of the links I mention in this video:
Additional video on drawing plant layers
The link below takes you to the Garden Design Guide landing page for PLANT LAYERS...which includes an additional video on how you can draw this detailed planting scheme.
RESOURCES in our DESIGN LIBRARY
The resources below are a wonderful way to help expand your knowledge of DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITIES.
PLANTING MODELS
Planting Models are a great way to start conceptualizing patterns for the layout of a planting bed before jumping into the details of plant selection. This month learn a bit more about mixed borders.
FORM + TEXTURE + COLOR
This Garden Design Guide provides an elements of planting design overview and how these are important to the plant composition as a whole.
MATRIX PLANTINGS
The most impactful of the three plant layers. It exists to suppress weeds, control erosion, and overall covers the soil. Also called green or living mulch.
PLANT LAYERS
In wild plant communities plants naturally grow in three general layers, so let's use this idea to help us organize plants vertically in our own designs. The three PLANT LAYERS include: structural, seasonal theme and groundcover/matrix.
LEGIBILITY
Legible spaces are coherent, understandable, simple and organized. It involves organizing features in a way that allows someone to easily comprehend the spatial layout.
DRIFT PLANTING
A drift planting is when plants are arranged in groups or clusters that "drift" across a garden space in natural, flowing patterns. It is considered one of the planting models.
OUR COMMUNITY
Don't forget to hang out with us this month.
Check in to share your activity. Try it yourself and/or learn from the submissions of your peers. No need to stress. Just enjoy!
DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
We have two activities this month. Choose one, both or simply learn from your peer submissions.
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ACTIVITY ONE: Make a plant list + share your process
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Do you have a question?
Do you have a question on this month's topic or another design question? Let's all learn together!
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Click below to add it to our community.
Share a win!
What have you accomplished in the last month that makes you super happy? Let us celebrate with you!
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Click below to add it to our community.
LIVE SESSIONS
We have one this month: our normal Monthly MeetUp. This will be recorded in case you can't make it (then posted right back here). Check out all UPCOMING MEETUPS here.
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Have you had a chance to meet me in a smaller group? Please sign up for a slot by clicking on the link below.
REVIEW: Plant Layers + Planting Models
In order to dive deeper into the topic, Designed Plant Communities, I thought it might be helpful to pull two topics out of our library for a quick review: Plant Layers and Planting Models. If you'd like to learn more about these visit the links below.
Monthly MeetUp
Let's catch up on this month's topic, plus share our activities. I can't wait to see you!
Tuesday, May 20
10 AM PT | 11 AM MT | Noon CT | 1 PM ET
London: 6 PM BST
Sydney: May 21 at 3 AM AEST
I'd love your feedback once you've devoured all this goodness.
Drop me a note at the email below and let me know what you loved and what could be improved. Thank you!
Please contact me at [email protected]
