3.03 The Elements of Planting Design The Architectural Forms of Plants

The primary design forms are the walls, the ceilings, or the floors. The secondary design forms are the screens, the canopies, the barriers, the baffles, and the groundcovers.

The primary “wall” form is comprised of the screen, the barrier and the baffle. A “wall” functions as a shield against outside influences, both visual and physical. It obstructs objectionable views, blocks undesirable winds, creates privacy, and protects the individual within a space.

A “ceiling” occupies the overhead space, and gives us shade, shelter, and protection from above.

A “floor” is the form that connects the other primary features, providing continuity and transition to planting compositions.

The secondary architectural forms may be defined as follows: The screen is a plant or plant mass used as a total enclosure of a landscape space.

The canopy is a plant or plant mass with a branching height of seven feet or more that will allow an individual to walk underneath.

The barrier is a plant or plant mass used as a partial enclosure or to control the circulation within a landscape space.

The baffle is a plant or plant mass that is used to control visual experiences within a landscape space.

The groundcover is a plant or plant mass used as a visual floor, usually reaching a maximum height of eighteen inches.

The constraints for their effectiveness as a design feature, however, are as follows: The type, age and condition of the plant materials The spacing of the plants, which determines the opacity, translucency, or transparency of the element. The form and grown rate of the individual plants, which affect the density of the total element. The constraints for their effectiveness as a design feature, however, are as follows: The type, age and condition of the plant materials The spacing of the plants, which determines the opacity, translucency, or transparency of the element. The form and grown rate of the individual plants, which affect the density of the total element.