I Want a Native Landscape... But Not So Messy

When many people think of native plant landscapes, often untamed and chaotic spaces come to mind.

But here’s the secret: a thoughtfully designed native landscape can be just as elegant, structured, and refined as a conventional garden.

For homeowners along the Main Line, blending native plants with a classic aesthetic is not only achievable but highly rewarding.

Using principles of landscape design such as repetition, unity, variety, line, form, texture, color, and scale, you can create a space that feels polished while supporting local ecosystems. Native plants bring a natural rhythm to your garden as they flower in different seasons, but that doesn’t mean they have to look unruly.

When combined intentionally in a structured design, native plants can complement the architecture of your home and surrounding neighborhood, while being attractive and supporting wildlife.

Design Tips for a Classy Native Landscape

1. Repetition for Elegance
   Use clusters of native plants like black-eyed Susans or Amsonia in repeating patterns to create a cohesive and harmonious flow. Repetition creates order, even in a more naturalistic setting.

2. Variety for Interest
   Incorporate a mix of native shrubs, perennials, and grasses to add depth and visual intrigue. Plants like winterberry holly and butterfly weed offer unique forms and seasonal color, ensuring year-round interest.

3. Line and Form for Structure
   Define pathways, garden beds, or focal points with clean edges and architectural native plants like inkbery or sweetbay magnolia. Their natural forms provide balance and structure.

4. Texture and Color for Aesthetics
   Pair fine-textured plants like prairie dropseed with bold-leaved species like heuchera. Add pops of seasonal color with blooming natives such as liatris or wild columbine to keep your garden vibrant and eye-catching.

5. Scale for Proportion
   Match plant sizes to the scale of your home and property. Taller natives, such as red-twig dogwood, can anchor a space, while low-growing plants like creeping phlox soften the edges.

Designed native landscapes can be beautiful, structured, and have a classic feel while supporting pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Whether you live in Bryn Mawr, Wayne, or Ardmore, a native landscape can enhance your home and align with architecture and timeless charm of the Main Line.