Principles of Perennial Flower Landscaping Art
An introduction to common knowledge about flower cultivation, the principles of perennial flower landscaping art are sure to bring you help. Let's learn about it together!
Perennial flowers grow in the open air throughout the year, with the characteristic of one-time planting and multi-year appreciation, saving a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. However, they also seem to lose the timeliness and flexibility of annual and biennial herbaceous flowers for greening and beautification. Modern garden plant landscaping is the perfect combination of science and art, following the principle of "imitating nature" while also " transcending nature." Therefore, in the process of using perennial flowers for greening and beautification, we should fully utilize their rich variety and diverse ecological characteristics, make reasonable arrangements, and create beautiful scenery with distinct seasons and colorful colors. Specifically, the following principles should be followed.
Firstly, follow the ecological characteristics of perennial flowers
As perennial flowers grow in the open air throughout the year and their management and cultivation are not as delicate as greenhouse flowers, they have certain requirements and adaptability to the surrounding ecological factors. It is necessary to select corresponding perennial flowers based on different site conditions such as light, water, temperature, and soil, and try to achieve suitable location and suitable flowers. For example, in places with scattered light such as under forests or the back of buildings, shade-tolerant perennial flowers should be chosen. While achieving suitable location and suitable flowers, the relationships between and within species of perennial flowers should also be handled properly. When planting the same species of flowers together, arrangements for planting methods, density, and distance should be made to meet their respective ecological requirements. When planting different species, efforts should be made to keep management measures consistent. Only in this way can perennial flowers grow normally and maintain relative stability, and achieve continuous ornamental effects.
Secondly, coordinate with the surrounding environment and match its functions
Different greening environments have different functions and requirements, and thus, the planting design for perennial flowers is also different. For example, street green spaces primarily function to provide shade and beautify the environment. Within the premise of not obstructing traffic visibility, combining various flowering shrubs and perennial flowers can not only enrich the street scene but also bring a refreshing feeling to passersby. In residential areas and central parks, the function is to beautify the environment and provide an elegant resting place for the general public. In these areas, perennial flowers are generally planted as the main plants, supplemented by exquisite flowering shrubs, pruning-tolerant ornamental plants, and small trees with beautiful shapes to create elegant small neighborhood landscapes. On both sides of the street, some perennial flowers with strong resistance and compact plant shapes can be chosen, such as Zephyranthes, Lycoris,红花酢浆草 (Red Oxalis), and Ophiopogon, which also have the characteristics of broadening the field of vision and strong decorative effects.
Thirdly, make reasonable arrangements to maintain the continuity and integrity of the landscape's ornamental effect
Perennial flowers are planted once and appreciated for many years. To avoid the undesirable effects of bare ground caused by withered leaves in autumn and winter and the dormancy of some flowers in the hot summer, reasonable arrangements should be made based on a full understanding of the ecological habits of various perennial flowers to maintain the continuity and integrity of their ornamental effects throughout the year. For example, if some flowers like Chinese bleeding heart and garden cress only grow in the first half of the year in hot summer areas and wither due to dormancy when the hot summer arrives, it is necessary to arrange other flowers that thrive in summer and autumn and do not affect their growth and ornamental value from spring to early summer among the plant clusters. Lycoris roots are deep, green in autumn and winter, and leafless when flowering. When planted with green-leafed Ophiopogon or Hemerocallis, or with shallow-rooted creeping Sedum, a good ornamental effect can be achieved. For example, the early spring flowering February Blue alternately mixed with the colorful and slightly fragrant Four O'Clocks in early autumn just avoids their respective leafing and flowering periods, solving the problem of exposed treeless earth.
Fourthly, pay attention to the changes and contrasts in seasonality and color
Perennial flowers come in many varieties with different blooming times and a rich array of colors. If planted and designed appropriately, with attention to the changes in seasonality and consideration for the colors, flower shapes, and coordination and contrast with surrounding colors during the same season, a beautiful landscape with flowers in three seasons and evergreen in all four seasons, colorful and vibrant scenery can be formed.
To achieve changes and contrasts in seasonality and color, one must be familiar with the blooming periods, colors, and shapes of various perennial flowers. For example, early spring flowers such as February Blue, Tulip, Hyacinth, Marigold, Hellebore, and Snowdrop; summer flowers such as various varieties of Canna, Portulaca, Hemerocallis, Dianthus, Hollyhock, Tickseed, Hosta, and Osmunda; autumn flowers such as early Chrysanthemum, Japanese early Chrysanthemum, Ageratum, and Sunflower; and winter flowers such as Narcissus and黄花石蒜 (Yellow Rock Lily). In terms of color coordination, it should be harmonized with the surrounding environment, with a theme, characteristics, artistic conception, and aesthetics. For example, light yellow flowers such as water iris and iris are suitable for planting near water. On the mountain sides, colors close to the mountain body and rocks should be chosen, such as Sanchi and Sedum. In the forest, warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange are suitable. In addition, colors should be designed according to the climate, season, and function of the garden green space. Generally, cool colors are used in the hot summer, while warm colors are used in the cold winter.
Fifthly, the plant configuration materials should have a main and secondary role, with changes in leaf color, texture, and plant shape
In the planting design of perennial flowers, whether it's a flower belt, flower bed, or flower cluster, there should be a main theme and supporting theme. The main theme should have a higher quantity and weight, while the supporting theme should have a lower quantity and weight, reflecting the focus and master-subordinate relationship. Additionally, the leaf color, texture, and plant shape between the main and supporting plant materials should complement and coordinate with each other. For example, in the planting design of a residential area flower belt, using Hemerocallis as the main theme and Iris and early Chrysanthemum as the supporting theme not only brings seasonal changes but also complements each other in terms of plant shape, leaf color, and texture. Iris leaves are vertical, while Hemerocallis and early Chrysanthemum leaves extend horizontally; Iris leaves are sword-shaped, while Hemerocallis leaves are Lanceolate, and there are also white-green and dark-green leaf colors.
The group ornamental effect of perennial flower planting design is already very common abroad and has achieved good greening and beautification results. However, it is just starting in our country, reflecting people's pursuit of nature and natural concepts. As the foundation for the application of perennial flowers, China has a wealth of perennial flower varieties. As long as we are brave enough to explore and innovative, we believe that more beautiful scenes will be continuously created.
The specific introduction to the principles of perennial flower landscaping art provided above is hoped to bring some flower knowledge to flower enthusiasts.