Naturalistic Planting - Definition
What is naturalistic planting and how does it differ from the planting of traditional borders
What is Naturalistic Planting?
Ian Hodgson in New Wild Garden defines Naturalistic Planting as ”a planting style known as ‘New Naturalism’ – the approach which is both aesthetic and scientific, uses plant combinations that mimic wild landscapes, such as the American prairie and central European steppe grasslands, with herbaceous and evergreen perennials and ornamental grasses set out in bold sinuous swathes or smaller groupings.”
It also encompasses drawing inspiration from how plants form communities in nature and recreating them in gardens that share similar site and soil conditions.
1 Prairie-style Planting at Sichtungsgarten Hermannshof, Germany
How is naturalistic planting different from traditional garden borders?
Maybe you have seen the “Oudolf Border” at Wisley or have seen photographs of the Highline in New York and have wondered what is different about those plantings compared to more traditional garden borders.
2 A more traditional flower border at Sissinghurst National Trust
For one the planting includes evergreen and deciduous herbaceous grasses which are not often found in traditional planting. They add a different dimension to plants grown exclusively for their colourful flowers.
The plants are often arranged in drifts or groups that are repeated throughout the border as opposed to a more regimented arrangement. This is the reason why some plant arrangements in naturalistic plantings seem to have a flowing quality to them.
Plants may be chosen for their suitability to the site as one of the first priorities together with foliage and flower interest as opposed to flower colour or style generally being the first criteria in plant selection.
Often a consideration for wildlife is made when choosing plants and when maintaining the planting, this might be leaving the seedheads and plants to stand in winter, choosing nectar-rich plants or recreating natural habitat for wildlife.
In a garden setting I often like to leave some of the grass, often former lawn areas, to grow long with paths mown through. Bulbs, wildflowers, annuals or perennials can be added for a colourful meadow, providing habitat for wildlife. From a design point of view long grass can link borders containing ornamental grasses with the rest of the garden, but also with the surrounding landscape, if the garden is situated in a rural setting. A traditional garden on the other hand might have manicured lawns that are cut regularly.
Picture Credit: unmarked = squarespace stock photo, 1= T. Volk, 2=G. Kouvatsis