This course focuses on the aesthetic and functional aspects of plants in site-specific design contexts. The course introduces basic botanical and horticultural concepts, and criteria for plant selection including aesthetic, functional and ethical. Students develop a vocabulary of planting elements, and an ability to design with plants to achieve specific spatial qualities. Principles of planting design are explored through the study of historic and contemporary landscape architectural designs. Students prepare a conceptual planting design for a small urban space.

The course involves excursions to local sites, and students are asked to contribute to the cost of these excursions.