Designing with flower shape in mind

There are so many things to think about when designing a garden that it can be overwhelming , sometimes even intimidating . So if you ’re wondering how to start choosing your plants , start with flower conformation .

Flowers derive in all variety of shapes , from simpledaisiesto sophisticated lilies . And while color is often the first matter that comes to creative thinker , flush shape also helps set a humor and is an of import component in garden conception . To get just the effect you want , you involve to know the eight categories of shapes . Then we ’ll talk about some more design tips and help you find the correct heyday for the shape you involve with our chart below .

A variety of flower shapes for your garden

Flatheadflowers have a horizontal pattern that gives the middle a place to rest and has a down - to - earth feel .

Daisesare the peak conformation to choose for a dewy-eyed , natural feel .

Trumpetsare firm , care getting flower flesh and can be used as a focal breaker point in the garden .

Sherri Ribbey

Cupflowers are simpler than horn flowers and bestow a more fooling feel .

Plumesbring a playful mood with foggy flower . plume make a respectable transition anatomy between spikes and flatheads .

Globes’unusual configuration stands out . Use them as accents or focal breaker point .

Sherri Ribbey

Fillersprovide a good - look backdrop and fill in bare bit .

Clustersof flowers supply some weight to a design . Loose clusters make good transitions between unlike shapes because of their indistinct figure .

Spikeflowers are great attention getters that impart height to your garden design .

Combine-flower-shapes-in-your-garden-Lead: Planting a lot of different shapes will keep your eye moving throughout the entire garden. This makes it more interesting to look at — your eye keeps seeking the next shape & pollinators will love it too.

Tips for combining flower shapes

Planting a lot of different shapes will keep your optic moving throughout the entire garden . This have it more interesting to look at — your optic keeps seek the next frame . On the other hand , too much contrast can create a confusing patchwork . Remedy the situation by repeating a contour to provide a sentience of unity . Even a wild color jazz band like pink and orangish , for instance , can be unified if you keep your blossom shapes unsubdivided . couplet hot - pink zinnias with fire - orange Mexican sunflowers and you have a combination that sizzles yet still looks tied together because they ’re both daisy shaped .

To keep a monochromatic garden from becoming bland , apply a salmagundi of shapes . You could never call a garden of wanderer flower , Asian lily and delphiniums boring — even if they were all bloodless !

Choosing the right shape combination can really show off a speciman plant life . For exemplar , if you want to play up a pet lily , imbed it with a makeweight like child ’s breath , which is n’t such an eye - get build , to make the lily the star .

Combine-flower-shapes-in-your-garden-Lead: Planting a lot of different shapes will keep your eye moving throughout the entire garden. This makes it more interesting to look at — your eye keeps seeking the next shape & pollinators will love it too.

Do n’t forget — flowers convert with the seasons . Take advantage of the shape of seedheads and blooms , like coneflowers , that dry out on the stem to add year - round interest to your garden .

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Flowers of every shape

Here ’s an alphabetic list of flowers and their shapes to help you mix and play off and create your own combinations . Enjoy !

Flower-shapes-illustration-group Carlie-Hamilton-Garden-gate-magazine

Combine-flower-shapes-in-your-garden-pv: Combining two strong shapes that peak at different times like the lily & allium shown here is a good way to keep attention focused on a specific part of your garden.