Horticulture Principles and Practices

Color of Walls and Upholstery
Plants should be placed against a background that will bring out their colors. Plants with
strong foliage forms are effective against walls with patterns, provided the motifs in the
pattern and leaf size contrast sufficiently. The leaves of the umbrella plant (Schefflera
phylla) are effective against a background of small-patterned wallpaper. Where the background
consists of bold, abstract designs, it can be balanced with a display of plants with
delicate foliage such as asparagus fern.
11.2.2 SPECIFIC USES OF INDOOR PLANTS
Plants may be used to perform certain functional roles in the room.
Fill in Gaps
Plants are often placed in areas too awkward for a piece of furniture, such as a corner.
Brighten Up an Area
Flowering plants in bloom can brighten up the room. A variety of dull spots occur in a
room (e.g., empty walls, unused fireplace, stairwell, and corners). Plants with distinct
leaves, such as the silhouette plant (Dracaena marginata), climbers (e.g., trained on
poles), or other trailing and cascading plants mounted on wall brackets may be displayed
against an empty wall. Because some dull spots such as corners usually have poor conditions
for plant growth, plants adapted to such conditions (e.g., Aspidisaenas, Sansevieria,
and Philodendrons) should be chosen.
Cover Up Sharp Edges
Potted plants can be positioned to cover the edges of walls or architectural features. For
example, climbers such as Fatshedera lizei can be used in the stairwell.
Create Room Dividers
Instead of using wooden structures, for example, appropriate plants may be arranged to
form a wall (Figure 11–2). Where dividers are used, plants such as Philodendron or
Hedera may be trained to grow over these physical structures. Trailing or climbing plants
need to be monitored and pruned or trained to keep them within desired boundaries.
Plants may be positioned to climb up structures or cascade down them. Sometimes
smaller displays such as a terrarium, bottle garden, or a small group of plants may serve
the purpose of separating one area of the room from another.
FIGURE 11–2 Room dividers
created with living plants.
(Source: George Acquaah)
350 Chapter 11 Growing Houseplants