Shapes and silhouettes

Contrast in plant form and flower shape

Contrasting flower shapes and forms in the Piet Oudolf Field at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset

Last week we looked at colour and the way you can create different atmospheres in a planting scheme. This week’s post is all about shape and form, which I think is almost more important in the composition of your design. I hope to open your eyes to the astonishing variety of plant forms that exist both in nature and in cultivation, and show how these contrasting shapes and textures can transform a planting scheme, animating it and bringing it to life.