Plants We Use
Plants are the living soul of a garden. They bring rhythm, color, movement, texture, and fragrance — and over time, they create stories. We work with a wide range of thoughtfully chosen plants, focusing on those that are beautiful, resilient, and well-suited to our Ontario climate.
Our goal is to create plant palettes that feel intentional yet abundant, grounded in ecology while expressive in style.
We organize our selections based on the conditions of your site and the aesthetic you're drawn to — helping you understand not just what we're planting, but why.
🔦 Core Categories We Use to Select Plants
1. Light Requirements
Understanding light is foundational to plant success. Some plants thrive in full sun; others languish unless shaded. We assess your site carefully to group plants based on how much sun they’ll realistically get throughout the day.
| Light Type | Description | Common Examples |
| Full Sun | 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily | Coneflower, Russian Sage, Coreopsis, Ornamental Grasses, Allium |
| Partial Shade | 3–6 hours of dappled or morning sun | Astilbe, Heuchera, Bleeding Heart, Ferns |
| Full Shade | Less than 3 hours of direct sun | Hosta, Solomon’s Seal, Wild Ginger, Foamflower, Ferns |
We often use layering strategies — pairing shade-lovers under shrubs or trees, or planting sun-lovers in open zones with reflective stone or light-colored mulch to boost growth.
2. Bloom Time & Seasonal Interest
A truly great garden offers interest in every season — not just a short spring or summer show. We choose plants that bloom in succession, ensuring there’s always something to see, smell, or admire.
Spring Bloomers (April–June)
- Tulips, Narcissus, Hyacinths
- Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
- Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
- Brunnera (Jack Frost)
- Primula
Summer Stars (June–August)
- Echinacea (Coneflower)
- Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)
- Monarda (Bee Balm)
- Nepeta (Catmint)
- Daylilies
Fall Highlights (August–October)
- Sedum (Autumn Joy)
- Aster (New England, Wood)
- Goldenrod (Solidago)
- Japanese Anemone
- Ornamental grasses (Panicum, Calamagrostis)
Winter Interest
- Dried flower heads (Echinacea, Hydrangea)
- Evergreen structure (Boxwood, Yew, Juniper)
- Seed heads and arching grasses
- Bare stems (Red Dogwood, Ninebark, Birch)
We also work with bulb layers, ensuring early spring life peeks through mulch before perennials fully emerge.
3. Color Palette & Texture
Color isn’t just about personal taste — it’s about how the garden feels.
🎨 Common Garden Moods:
- Soft & Romantic: Blush pinks, silvers, mauves, whites
e.g., Peony, Catmint, Lamb’s Ear, Meadow Rue - Bold & Lively: Oranges, golds, purples, reds
e.g., Helenium, Crocosmia, Russian Sage, Bee Balm - Cool & Calm: Blues, silvers, whites, greens
e.g., Blue Oat Grass, Baptisia, Hydrangea, Hosta - Dark & Dramatic: Deep burgundy, bronze foliage, and white accents
e.g., Cimicifuga, Ninebark, Black Mondo Grass
Texture adds depth and contrast:
- Fine-textured: Ferns, grasses, Amsonia
- Bold leaves: Hosta, Rodgersia, Rhubarb
- Spiky forms: Allium, Eryngium, Iris
We often combine fine and bold textures to create visual layering and movement.
4. Functional & Ecological Traits
We select plants that do more than look good. Many of our choices are low-maintenance, resilient, and ecologically beneficial.
|
Trait |
Description |
Examples |
|
Drought-Tolerant |
Ideal for full sun, low-water areas |
Sedum, Yarrow, Blue Fescue, Echinops |
|
Pollinator-Friendly |
Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds |
Milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, Liatris, Monarda |
|
Native or Naturalized |
Supports local ecosystems |
Rudbeckia, Golden Alexanders, Wild Bergamot |
|
Deer-Resistant |
Great for rural properties |
Russian Sage, Lavender, Ferns, Euphorbia |
|
Clay-Tolerant |
Survives in heavy soil |
Turtlehead, Astilbe, Daylilies, Serviceberry |
|
Shade-Tolerant |
Thrives in lower light |
Hellebore, Wild Ginger, Foamflower, Ferns |
|
Cut Flower Friendly |
Great for home bouquets |
Peony, Echinacea, Cosmos, Hydrangea |
We often blend native species with hardy ornamentals to create beautiful, functional, and biodiverse plantings.
🖼️ Visual Gallery (Website Idea)
Each of these categories can open into a tile-based visual gallery, where users can explore plants with:
- High-quality photos
- Common and Latin names
- Bloom time
- Sun/shade needs
- Notable traits (e.g., “Deer-Resistant,” “Pollinator Magnet”)
- Companion plant suggestions
Example gallery entry:
🪻 Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Sun: Full sun
- Bloom: July–September
- Traits: Drought-tolerant, attracts bees & butterflies
- Height: 2–4 ft
- Pairs well with: Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, Prairie Dropseed
- A sturdy and cheerful mid-border perennial with strong vertical lines and long-lasting blooms. Available in purples, whites, and bright hybrid tones.
🧭 How We Help Clients Choose
You don’t need to know your plant names. That’s our job.
But if you’re curious, we’ll walk you through the process — asking questions like:
- How much maintenance are you comfortable with?
- What kind of mood do you want your garden to create?
- Do you want to support pollinators or grow some food?
- Is there a color or season that matters most to you?
We build plant palettes that fit your lifestyle, grow into their space gracefully, and bring lasting joy.
🌿 Final Thoughts
We don’t just plant gardens — we plant ecosystems. Every garden we design is a blend of form, function, and feeling. We aim for harmony — between plant and place, and between human and land.
Let us craft a palette that grows with you.