How are plants grouped by size, form, texture, colour, and seasonal effect in landscape design?

In garden and landscape design, plants serve as the primary material and are organized using several key aesthetic and functional criteria to create cohesive environments:

• Size: Plants are categorized by their physical scale, typically grouped as trees, shrubs, low-growing plants, or grasses.1
• Form: This refers to the plant's structural habit, such as vertical, horizontal, round, or irregular shapes.1
• Texture: Defined by the size, shape, and arrangement of foliage and structure, texture can range from fine (such as bent grasses) to coarse (such as brush or cactus). Designers consider both tactile qualities and visual effects, which change depending on the viewer's distance.12
• Colour: Designers evaluate colour based on hue, value, and tone, incorporating the natural palette of foliage, flowers, and fruit. Colour is used to define space, as bright colours can make areas appear closer while duller colours make them recede.13
• Seasonal Effect: Plants are selected for their performance throughout the year, marking transitions such as spring blossoms, summer greenery, fall colour, and the winter exposure of branch structures.143