THINKING ABOUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
they would not resist, unlike the stiffer leaves of a horse chestnut or oak. The aesthetic, physical, and seasonal attributes of plants are endless. Choosing the right plant and combination of plants is part of the art of a landscape architect.
Overview of Plant Physical Characteristics by Region Plants that are native to particular regions are a product of their environment. Their physical characteristics allow them to adapt to the climate, soil, and other environmental conditions of the region. One way to discuss plant species variations is by their biome. Biomes are defined as the world’s major communities or ecological areas classified according to the predominant vegetation and are characterized by climate, soil, and other particular environmental conditions that support organisms (in our case, plant species) that have adapted to these particular environments. For example, plants with small leaves and gray or light-green coloration are characteristic of arid regions while plants with large, green and dark green coloration are found in temperate or sub-tropical areas. We will briefly review the general differences one might anticipate in very broad terms by major regions. s Tropical: The tropical regions of the Earth have the greatest diversity of plant species. This diversity is also expressed in their physical characteristics. Tropical plants are known to have large leaves with great shape variation such as broad leaves and palmlike leaf structures. Plant height varies greatly, from some of the tallest species on Earth, graduating down to smaller plants found on the forest floor. Tropical rainforests are found in a broad band close to the equator. Tropical plants are typically prolific fruit and flower producers of great variety. Tropical plants are found in regions with a highly varied annual rainfall (50–260 inches or 20–660 cm), high humidity, warm annual temperatures (70–90º F or 21–32ºC), and surprisingly poor, thin soils.1 The tropical plants produce a broad spectrum of color in the form of flowers and fruit as well as a wide range of leaf sizes and shapes. Leaf colors range across nearly the full spectrum of the rainbow. Many species have glossy leaf surfaces, and others have multiple coloration, including reds and magenta and shades of white. For landscape architects working in tropical and sub-tropical regions, the plant palette is extensive and can be overwhelming in terms of the choices possible. The possibilities of creating landscape designs are similar to an artist having nearly infinite options of color to choose from. Plant form, color, leaf size and shape, and other physical variations can be combined to create spectacular and highly nuanced landscape planting designs. Working with a tropical planting palette is not for the timid designer and it can be a daunting challenge, given the great variety of plant species found in tropical regions. s Temperate: Plants in temperate regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia are found between the tropical and polar regions. As the term suggests, temperatures in these regions tend to be moderate, and while they do experience freezing or hot 144
