Modern plants

Plants suited to a modern planting scheme.

A modern border is built on restraint, structure and repetition rather than the floral abundance of a cottage scheme. A limited plant palette, repeated in bold drifts, gives the calm, intentional look; grasses and architectural foliage carry the design, with flower used as a controlled accent rather than the main event. Strong, simple shapes and a quiet colour range, often greens, whites and a single accent, do the work. The mistake is too many different plants, which reads as busy and undermines the clean effect. Pay attention to form, line and the spaces between plants. These plants are chosen for their architectural shape, fine texture and the disciplined repetition that defines a contemporary planting.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 331 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

331 plants for this

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Cottage garden plants Wildlife garden plants Native plants Woodland plants Foundation planting plants Shade cottage plants