A Contemporary Landscape With Lush, Layered Plantings
Biodiversity, seasonal interest, an enticing path and outdoor living areas are a few highlights of this Toronto yard
Landscape architect Kate Fox-Whyte designed this beautiful landscape in tandem with the architect of this new house in the suburbs of Toronto. “Working closely with the architect allowed us to use detailing and materials that speak to and are reflective of the architecture. And we were very cognizant of the views from inside,” she says.
She also used a matrix planting, which mimics how plants grow in nature — layered, mixed and tightly spaced. The result is a lush and contemporary landscape that includes a dining area, an entertainment lounge, a barbecue area and a play lawn.
She also used a matrix planting, which mimics how plants grow in nature — layered, mixed and tightly spaced. The result is a lush and contemporary landscape that includes a dining area, an entertainment lounge, a barbecue area and a play lawn.
Naturalistic Planting Design
Fox-Whyte’s response was to create lush, biodiverse groupings of plants. She used a matrix planting method to create these low-to-medium-height groupings. “Matrix planting is a relatively new technique that has revolutionized planting. It encourages looking at the ground plane, which is often neglected,” she says.
The process allows for flexibility in planting by developing biodiverse mixes of ground covers, grasses and perennials that work well together naturally. The groupings of compatible species keep out invasive weeds and offer a rich mix of textures and colors throughout the seasons. They also eliminate the need for mulching. This technique is a hybrid of ecological and ornamental planting.
“We used three different groupings we developed depending on conditions,” Fox-Whyte says. “As the plants adapt to the conditions, some come in at different times. And some may overtake the area at different times. It’s dynamic and ever-changing.” These conditions include light and microclimates. The groupings also coordinate the different ways the plants provide seasonal interest. Different species become the stars within the groupings throughout the year.
Get Year-Round Good Looks With Matrix Planting in Your Garden
Fox-Whyte’s response was to create lush, biodiverse groupings of plants. She used a matrix planting method to create these low-to-medium-height groupings. “Matrix planting is a relatively new technique that has revolutionized planting. It encourages looking at the ground plane, which is often neglected,” she says.
The process allows for flexibility in planting by developing biodiverse mixes of ground covers, grasses and perennials that work well together naturally. The groupings of compatible species keep out invasive weeds and offer a rich mix of textures and colors throughout the seasons. They also eliminate the need for mulching. This technique is a hybrid of ecological and ornamental planting.
“We used three different groupings we developed depending on conditions,” Fox-Whyte says. “As the plants adapt to the conditions, some come in at different times. And some may overtake the area at different times. It’s dynamic and ever-changing.” These conditions include light and microclimates. The groupings also coordinate the different ways the plants provide seasonal interest. Different species become the stars within the groupings throughout the year.
Get Year-Round Good Looks With Matrix Planting in Your Garden
Entry Garden
From the driveway, the enticing pathway draws visitors to the entry door. The path continues past a gate to the side yard’s dining deck. From there it takes the form of a bridge made of ipe decking that leads to the backyard.
Perforated Cor-Ten steel screens create a rhythm along the path and draw the eye to different plantings. For example, daisies were one of the homeowners’ must-haves. The weathered metal screens create a contrasting backdrop for white ‘Becky’ shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’).
“The screens brought architecture and structure into the garden, where the plantings are quite loose,” Fox-Whyte says. “They carry the architecture out into the landscape.”
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From the driveway, the enticing pathway draws visitors to the entry door. The path continues past a gate to the side yard’s dining deck. From there it takes the form of a bridge made of ipe decking that leads to the backyard.
Perforated Cor-Ten steel screens create a rhythm along the path and draw the eye to different plantings. For example, daisies were one of the homeowners’ must-haves. The weathered metal screens create a contrasting backdrop for white ‘Becky’ shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’).
“The screens brought architecture and structure into the garden, where the plantings are quite loose,” Fox-Whyte says. “They carry the architecture out into the landscape.”
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One of the homeowners loves paper birch trees. So Fox-Whyte used them to create structure along the east side of the yard. “This created a visual connection from front to back,” she says. While they aren’t in a straight line, they occupy a narrow area and draw the eye down this side of the property.
She also made the border denser with white spruce trees (Picea glauca). The trees make the lot feel like it was carved out of a large wooded site rather than a narrow suburban lot.
She also made the border denser with white spruce trees (Picea glauca). The trees make the lot feel like it was carved out of a large wooded site rather than a narrow suburban lot.
This photo shows how the screens interact with light and dark — check out how the plants behind this one can be seen through it. The steel pieces highlight the beautiful paper birch trunks and provide contrast to the green foliage of the lower plantings. “They punctuate the landscape, but because they are perforated, they are not too heavy. They are quite ephemeral,” Fox-Whyte says.
The main entry door is on the left. A clever feature here is this large wall that pivots to act as a gate. “This was the clients’ idea. They wanted their guests to be able to walk from the driveway straight back to the garden when they hosted parties,” Fox-Whyte says.
Swing the wall over to the right and it opens up to the side yard’s dining deck. “It really opens up the garden,” Fox-Whyte says.
Edible Container Garden
Here is how the wall looks from another angle when it is open.
The homeowners wanted a spot where they could grow some edible plants. Whyte-Fox designed this container garden for herbs and vegetables close to the kitchen and dining area.
The home’s architecture inspired the landscape design. Elements in the landscape like the horizontal lines of this planter play off the home’s mix of horizontal and vertical siding.
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Here is how the wall looks from another angle when it is open.
The homeowners wanted a spot where they could grow some edible plants. Whyte-Fox designed this container garden for herbs and vegetables close to the kitchen and dining area.
The home’s architecture inspired the landscape design. Elements in the landscape like the horizontal lines of this planter play off the home’s mix of horizontal and vertical siding.
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Side Yard Dining Deck
This is the dining deck, located off the kitchen and dining room. It makes the most of the side yard and enjoys views of the birch and spruce trees. “We were lucky that the neighboring yard is quite wooded, so we were also able to borrow views of it,” Fox-Whyte says.
To the right, a bridge made of decking steps down, connecting the dining deck to the backyard.
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This is the dining deck, located off the kitchen and dining room. It makes the most of the side yard and enjoys views of the birch and spruce trees. “We were lucky that the neighboring yard is quite wooded, so we were also able to borrow views of it,” Fox-Whyte says.
To the right, a bridge made of decking steps down, connecting the dining deck to the backyard.
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The metal guard rail along the dining deck is also perforated, allowing views through it to the garden.
Another gate swings open at the end of the bridge to connect the side yard to the backyard. it is made of wood and metal and adds architectural horizontal lines to the garden.
Sunken Patio and Outdoor Shower
As you enter the backyard, a Cor-Ten steel storage box for wood blocks the view down to a lower-level patio and outdoor shower.
As you enter the backyard, a Cor-Ten steel storage box for wood blocks the view down to a lower-level patio and outdoor shower.
The sunken shower and patio are located off a room on the lower level. “We screened this in a way that was not too heavy,” Fox-Whyte says. “We added sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) to trail down the wall and add some green to the lower patio.”
Backyard Lounge
A raised deck provides plenty of space for entertaining. It is sited off the living room, with wide glass doors connecting indoors and out. A Skyline honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis ‘Skycole’) provides dappled shade on the deck. During early summer, the ‘Delft Lace’ false spireas (Astilbe x ‘Delft Lace’) seen here provide feathery mauve blooms within the matrix plantings.
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A raised deck provides plenty of space for entertaining. It is sited off the living room, with wide glass doors connecting indoors and out. A Skyline honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis ‘Skycole’) provides dappled shade on the deck. During early summer, the ‘Delft Lace’ false spireas (Astilbe x ‘Delft Lace’) seen here provide feathery mauve blooms within the matrix plantings.
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A fire pit surrounded by Acapulco chairs provides a more casual spot for conversation. The row of plantings behind it includes a European beech hedge (Fagus sylvatica) for added lushness. Beneath it, a Cor-Ten steel retaining wall creates a planter for shrubs and lower matrix plantings.
On the left, the heart-shape leaves belong to eastern redbud trees (Cercis canadensis). In the spring, deep pink-magenta flowers bloom along their branches. Shrubs in the landscape include witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), ‘Arctic Fire’ redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Arctic Fire’), flowering almond (Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’). Each of these selections adds seasonal interest with eye-catching blooms, bark and foliage.
On the left, the heart-shape leaves belong to eastern redbud trees (Cercis canadensis). In the spring, deep pink-magenta flowers bloom along their branches. Shrubs in the landscape include witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), ‘Arctic Fire’ redtwig dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Arctic Fire’), flowering almond (Prunus triloba ‘Multiplex’) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’). Each of these selections adds seasonal interest with eye-catching blooms, bark and foliage.
Plant List
Grasses, ground covers and perennials that make up the matrix plantings include:
‘Hillside Black Beauty’ bugbane (Actaea simplex ‘Hillside Black Beauty’), bluestar (Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’), ‘Delft Lace’ false spirea (Astilbe x ‘Delft Lace’), ‘October Skies’ aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’), Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum), lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), ‘Woodside Strain’ columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Woodside Strain’), largeleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla), blue sedge (Carex glauca), golden dew tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), globe thistle (Echinops ritro), Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata), Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra), sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), ‘Becky’ shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’), Nippon daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), ‘Transparent’ tall moor grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’), purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea), ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’), great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), ‘Purple Emperor’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’), columbine meadow-rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
Grasses, ground covers and perennials that make up the matrix plantings include:
‘Hillside Black Beauty’ bugbane (Actaea simplex ‘Hillside Black Beauty’), bluestar (Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’), ‘Delft Lace’ false spirea (Astilbe x ‘Delft Lace’), ‘October Skies’ aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’), Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum), lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), ‘Woodside Strain’ columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Woodside Strain’), largeleaf brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla), blue sedge (Carex glauca), golden dew tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), globe thistle (Echinops ritro), Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata), Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra), sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), ‘Becky’ shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’), Nippon daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), ‘Transparent’ tall moor grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’), purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea), ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’), great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), ‘Purple Emperor’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Purple Emperor’), columbine meadow-rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
From left to right, this plan shows the property from back to front. The trees toward the top are the existing trees in the neighbor’s yard.
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Landscape at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three children
Location: Oakville, Ontario (near Toronto)
Lot size: 9,284 square feet (863 square meters)
Landscape architect: Fox Whyte Landscape Architecture & Design
The new contemporary house has a garage at the front, and the main entry door is off to the right side. From the driveway, a staggered line of paper birch trees (Betula papyrifera) and a sidewalk with lines of grass entice visitors to the entry door and beyond.
“These clients were very interested in having a project that was cohesive, contemporary and considered the architecture of the house,” Fox-Whyte says. The clients, both designers, knew the work of Piet Oudolf, a Dutch plantsman known for his naturalistic designs. They understood how the style of lush, thoughtful plantings could complement the contemporary house.
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