This document provides information on the classification and selection of plant materials for landscape design. It discusses how plants are classified based on their growth habits into herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers and creepers. It also covers the environmental, functional, health and aesthetic values of vegetation in landscape design. Some key design criteria discussed include the major functions of plant materials, considerations of cost, hardiness, safety and maintenance.

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PLANT
MATERIAL

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TOPICS TO
BE
COVERED
1. CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL
2. ROLE OF VEGETATION IN LANDSCAPE
DESIGN
3. DESIGN CRITERIA

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1. CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL
HERBS SHRUBS TREES
ON THE BASIS OF GROWTH HABITS
If we consider plants, based on their height some are too short while some
are too tall to climb. Besides the height, stem thickness, delicacy also varies.
Hence, on the basis of their growth habits they are classified as follows
PLANT
MATERIAL
CLIMBERS
AND
CREEPERS

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HERBS
Starting from the smallest, herb is a
short plant with green, delicate stem
without the woody tissues.
Generally, they have few branches
or branchless.
These can be easily uprooted from
the soil.
They contain enough nutritional
benefits and vitamins to make it a part
of the diet. T
omato, wheat, grass are
few examples of herbs.

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SHRUBS
 woody plant with several perennial
stems that may be erect or may lay
close to the ground.
 usually have a height less than 13
feet and stems no more than about
three inches in diameter
 stems are hard, flexible but not
fragile.
 can be deciduous or evergreen
ROSE PLANT
HIBISCUS PLANT

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TREES
 Trees are big, tall and strong
plants. They have a thick, brown
and woody stem called trunk.
 They have many branches that
bear leaves, flowers and fruits.
 Their roots are thick and strong
 Trees usually live for many years.
NEEM TREE
BANYAN TREE

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CLIMBERS AND
CREEPERS
 Climbers and creepers is a group of
plants or vines which need support.
 Climbers and creepers grow
vertically in the garden, they are
great space savers and can be used
to provide masses of foliage.
 They are used to cover walls
 They provide great privacy but they
do need a bit of attention and care.
COBAEA SCANDENS
PARTHENOCISSUS HENRYANA

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CLASSIFICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL
ON THE BASIS OF PATTERN AND SEASONALITY GROWTH
PLANT
MATERIAL
EVERGREEN DECIDUOUS

9.  Deciduous refer to trees, which seasonally shed their
unnecessary parts especially the leaves from their structure.
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 Deciduous trees are adapted to tolerate the cold and dry
weather conditions by shedding their leaves seasonally.
 Majority of the trees shed their foliage at the end of their
typical growing season.
MAPLE TREE
DECIDUOUS TREES
BIRCH TREE

10. 
z Evergreen tree’s foliage persists
throughout the year.
 No seasonal leaf shedding, they
shed their old leaves throughout
the year.
EVERGREEN TREES
 Favored in warm temperate
climatic conditions
EUCALYPTUS TREE
HEMLOCK TREE

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2. ROLE OF VEGETATION IN LANDSCAPE
DESIGN
 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE
 FUNCTIONALAND ARCHITECTURAL VALUE
 HEALTH VALUE
 AESTHETIC VALUE

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ENVIRONMENTAL
VALUE
 PREVENTION OF SOIL EROSION
Plants with shallow fibrous root systems
are effective to prevent soil erosion.
Turf grasses are also effective in
preventing soil erosion.
The deep roots of trees help hold the soil
tight.
Trees also absorb some of the nutrients
in the soil that would otherwise be
washed away. Fig: Turf grass used for foreshore stabilization

13. Fig: Effect of vegetation in minimizing soil erosion

14. Fig: Vegetation can help protect slope and watershed
Trees, shrubs, and
groundcovers can maintain
slopes and reduce erosion
from surface water, shallow
groundwater and, to some
extent, coastal processes.
Large trees can arrest, retard,
or reduce the severity and
extent of failures by
buttressing a slope. This
works in much the same way
as retaining walls.

15. ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
Trees and other vegetation improve
water quality by decreasing soil erosion
and water runoff containing fertilizers
and pesticides from landscapes, oil, and
sewage pollute waterways and lakes.
Communities can have cleaner water
by managing existing natural
vegetation, planting additional trees,
and reducing the use of pesticides and
fertilizers.
IMPROVING AIR QUALITY
Plants can purify the air by removing
carbon dioxide and limited quantities
of sulfur dioxide by replacing them
with oxygen.
Plants can also cleanse the
atmosphere by removing dust, ash,
smoke particles from the air. The
particles settle on the leaves and
branches and are eventually washed
by rain to the ground.

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ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE
NOISE POLLUTION CONTROL
Excessive or unwanted sound has
negative physical and psychological
effects. Noise can come from many
sources, especially roads and
highways. Trees can play an important
role in deadening unwanted noise.
Sound waves are absorbed by a tree’s
leaves, branches, and twigs. Plants can
add, absorb and deflect sound by the
presence and movement of their foliage
and branches.
LOWER HEATING AND COOLING COST
Trees have demonstrated the ability to
reduce heating and cooling costs and
counteract the “heat island” effect in urban
environments.
Urban areas with little vegetation can
experience temperatures of up to seven
degrees higher than those with tree cover.
This translates into significantly higher
energy costs to cool buildings.
Properly planted trees can cut heating and
cooling costs by as much as 12 % and
reduce overall power demand.

17. Fig: Embankments, deciduous and evergreen plantings, and masonry walls
are used together for pollution control.

18. FUNCTIONALAND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE
 Can cater to the need for privacy, protection from glare or direct sunlight
into windows, or shade.
Fig: Trees used for privacy purposes

19. FUNCTIONALAND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE
Fig: Plants can be used to screen the hot
summer sun while allowing sunlight through
bare branches in winter for a type of climate
control.
Fig: Engineering with plant design reduces light
glare.

20. Fig: Use of windbreaks to control winter winds Fig: Use of deciduous plants to direct summer breeze
Control and direction of winds using plants in landscape design
FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE

21. Fig: T
all evergreen trees at the entrance
create an inviting and inhibiting character to
the house.
Complementing and reinforcing the existing architecture of the house or structure. Trees shrubs
and ground cover can be used to emphasize desirable architectural lines and masses of the house.
FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE

22. Fig: Apparent size of the structure is increased by graduating plant sizes away from the
house
FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE

23. FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE
Creation of outdoor rooms. Outdoor rooms can be created by
either of the two approaches.
INWARDLY FOCUSED SPACE
Inwardly oriented space
is characterized by either
complete or nearly
complete enclosure with
a strong focal point.
Fig: An inwardly focused
space Fig: View of a backyard, an enclosed
space with a sculpture as a focal point.

24. FUNCTIONAL AND ARCHITECTURAL
VALUE
Fig: An outwardly
focused space
Fig: Front yard of a house providing a good
view of the outer space.
OUTWARDLY FOCUSED SPACE
Outwardly oriented
rooms are enhanced by
amenities outside the
space such as good
views and breezes.

25. HEALTH VALUE
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 Using plants for interior landscaping can help reduce symptoms of Sick Building
Syndrome important factors of which are poor air quality, excessive background noise and
inadequate control of light and humidity.
Benefits of indoor plants include:
1. Reducing carbon dioxide levels
2. Increasing humidity
3. Reducing levels of certain pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen dioxide
4. Reducing airborne dust levels
5. Keeping air temperatures down
 MEDICINAL BENEFITS
The roots, leaves, bark, fruit and blossoms of plants and trees have been used for medicinal
purposes since before recorded history. T
eas, tinctures, poultices and extracts made from
countless plants are used to soothe sore throats, boost immunity, ease congestion and
relieve pain throughout the world.

26. AESTHETIC VALUE
Trees provide a variety of aesthetic values and accentuate the architectural design of
buildings.
The aesthetic value of the plants is through the physical senses of sight, sound, smell and
touch.
Individual parts of plants-blooms, fruits, leaves and branches are valued for their color,
shape, aroma and texture.

27. Plants can be appreciated for the
sculptural quality of overall size,
color, and form. Unusual or rominent
plants can be used as focal points to
contrast their surroundings.
Whether you want the focal point to
be viewed from one or several
vantage points, the subject must
appear dominant within its context
but never overpowering.

28. The composition of views to
particular focal points or open
vistas can be done with
plants, keeping in mind the
general rules of composition
within painting- utilizing a
foreground, middle ground
and background.
Contrast of sunlight and
shade between all three can
be used to emphasize the
subject, placed in the middle
ground, more effectively.

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4. DESIGN CRITERIA
 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF PLANT MATERIAL
 COST
 HARDINESS
 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
 MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS

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MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF PLANT MATERIALS
 AESTHETICS
 SCREENING
 CIRCULATION CONTROL
 PRODUCTION

31. AESTHETICS
• COLOR
Color is the most attractive and visual characteristic of plants, but it also is the most
fleeting, as most plants display prominent color only during short bloom periods. Light
qualities of the site—sunny or shady areas—affect the perception of color. Warm, bright
colors, such as yellows and whites, are best for shade, and all colors work well in sunny
areas.

32. AESTHETICS
• TEXTURE
T
exture refers to how coarse or fine the overall surface and
individual leaves of the plant feel or look (perceived visual
texture). Like form, a variety of textures provides interest and
contrast in the landscape. T
exture can be found in the
foliage, flowers, blades, and bark of the plant, as well as in
the plant's overall branching pattern. The size and shape of
the leaves most often determines the perceived texture of the
plant. A plant can generally be described as having a coarse,
medium, or fine texture. Coarse texture is more dominant
than fine and tends to stand out individually, while fine
texture is more subordinate and tends to unify compositions.

33. COARSE TEXTURE MEDIUM TEXTURE FINE TEXTURE
With their high contrast,
coarse-textured plants
attract the eye and tend
to hold it because the
light and dark contrasts
of the shadows provide
more interest. Each leaf
of a coarse-textured
plant breaks up the
outline, giving the plant
a looser form.
Medium-textured
plants act as a
background to link
and unify the
coarse- and fine-
textured plants.
Fine-textured plants can
sometimes have a
stronger form because
the small individual
leaves are densely
packed (e.g., boxwoods)
to create a solid form.

34. A space feels smaller
with coarse textures on
the perimeter.
A space feels larger with
coarse textures on the
perimeter.

35. AESTHETICS
• SCALE AND SIZE
Size refers to the overall height and width of the
plant and
compared
spaces.
its relative size or scale when
to other plants, structures, and
The placement of the plants of various sizes
creates the difference of accentuating of an
object or camouflaging it to the background.

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40. AESTHETICS
• FORM
Form is the three-dimensional shape of a plant or a plant mass. Overall form is more or less
relevant depending on the viewing perspective.
For example, the form of a tree can appear quite different when the viewer is standing under the
canopy than it does when the viewer is standing in an open field.
Plant forms can create and define the open spaces between the plants.

41. TREE FORMS GROUND COVER FORMS SHURB FORMS
Tree forms are dominant in the
garden because of their size.
They are the most functional
plants in the landscape, providing
shade and blocking views.
When choosing a tree form,
consider function first. Creating a
shady area in the garden
requires a round or oval tree,
while a screen usually requires
a more columnar or pyramidal
form, and a weeping tree form
makes a good focal point. It is
also important to ensure the
tree will not outgrow the space
and require severe pruning.
Shrubs have
forms, it is
a variety of
important to
consider how shrubs will look
when massed together. The
form of the shrub determines
its most
Upright,
suitable function.
vase, mounded,
and round forms work best
as taller screens and
and
buffers;irregular
spreading forms work well
as groundcovers; and
arching ,cascading,
pyramidal, and spiky forms
work best as focal points..
Groundcover or bedding
plants tend to have the most
complex forms. Masses of
groundcover plants usually
lose individual form and look
like one plant, so it's important
to consider how plants will
mass. Matting,
or sprawling
used to form a
look as a
spreading,
plants are
solid, low cover over large
areas. Plants that grow in
clumps or short spikes can
be used in smaller masses
and work well in planters or
enclosed areas.

42. AESTHETICS
• LINE
Line is related to eye movement or flow. The
concept and creation of line depends upon
the purpose of the design and existing
patterns.
In the overall landscape, line is inferred by
bed arrangement and the way these beds fit
or flow together.
Line is also created vertically by changes in
plant height and the height of tree and shrub
canopies.
Straight lines tend to be forceful, structural
and stable and direct the observer's eye to a
point faster than curved lines. Curved or
free-flowing lines are sometimes described
as smooth, graceful, or gentle and create a
relaxing, progressive, moving and natural
feeling.

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SCREENING
 Plant screens can provide privacy, mark
boundaries, discourage intruders, or block
unpleasant views.

44. SCREENING DONE IN THE FORM OF GREEN
BELT BUFFER, BLOCKING THE VIEW AND
CONTROLLING THE SOUNDS FROM THE
FRAFFIC

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Landscaping Within Parking Lots

46. SCREENING DONE TO
BLOCK THE VIEW OF
THE OUTDOOR
STORAGE

47. CIRCULATION CONTROL
Plantings can control and direct the movements of
people, animals, or vehicles.
Where established pedestrian shortcuts are to be
discouraged, thorned, dense-growing plants may
be necessary to change user habits.
Not always the vertical trees

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Cost
 Initial nursery and planting costs must always be balanced against the
cost of long-term maintenance.
 Some slow-growing trees are expensive as nursery stock but require
little care once established and can grace the landscape for hundreds
of years.
 Plants can be used in many of the same ways that "hard" building
materials are used - to form outdoor walls, ceilings, fences, etc .
Although they require more space on a site, plants are typically less
expensive to buy and install than hardscape materials, and can require
less maintenance if properly chosen.

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Hardiness
 Hardiness of plants describes their ability to survive adverse growing conditions. It is
usually limited to discussions of climatic adversity. Thus a plant's ability to
tolerate cold, heat, drought, flooding, or wind are typically considered
measurements of hardiness.
 Locally grown plant materials that are fully adapted to the region should be used
whenever possible.
 Favorable microclimates on-site can also be exploited to allow the use of plants that
might not normally survive the conditions of a region.

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Poisonous Plants:
 Plants with brightly colored poisonous berries or leaves should not be used where children
may be tempted to eat them. Some plants can cause an allergic reaction when touched.
These should be located out of reach.
Litter-producing Plants :
 Plants that produce messy fruit or nuts, cones, seed pods or excessive leaf litter are
hazardous to pedestrians and hinder passage of many wheeled vehicles like strollers and
wheelchairs. In addition, some may stain clothing or pavement surfaces.
Weak-branched Plants:
 Large branches may be susceptible to breaking from wind and ice and can cause damage
or pose obstacles if they fall.
Plants with Droping Branches:
 Branches that hang into walkways or streets can injure pedestrians and cyclists and may
cause damage to larger vehicles.
Safety Considerations

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Plants with Shallow Roots:
 Roots near the surface can cause sidewalk heaving, creating uneven paths that are
impassable for small-wheeled vehicles and are dangerous for pedestrians.
Thorned Plants :
 Thorned plants can be dangerous to brush into or fall against. Thorned leaves, twigs and
branches that litter the ground can also be dangerous for people wearing light shoes or
going barefoot.
Plants that Attract Insects :
 Plants that attract stinging pollinators or other insect pests should be placed away from
sitting areas and walks.

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 Maintenance Considerations
Proximity to Mechanical Activity:
 The vigor of a tree or shrub can be greatly reduced through repeated wounding by
lawnmowers and string trimmers that girdle the trunk, or passing vehicles that may break
branches. Soil compaction caused by pedestrian or vehicular traffic can also damage
plantings.
Placement of Plantings :
 Fitting the right plant to the right place includes using plant materials whose requirements
for water, light and soil match the site conditions; placing plants that will be large when
mature away from electric lines and other structures.

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Proximity of Plants:
 The root systems of large trees can extend out horizontally several times the height of the tree.
Many trees suffer disease due to proximity to heavily irrigated lawns. Plants should be grouped
according to their requirements for sun, water, and soil chemistry.
 Some insects and diseases have developed a life cycle that relies on several plants. These
plants should be kept separate to avoid outbreaks.
Long-T
erm Maintenance Costs:
 No design is maintenance free, but the plants used can be tailored to fit the budget that will
provide for their weeding, pruning, and other necessary maintenance.