THE RUSTIC AND SUBURBAN MOTIFS IN 
LANDSCAPE PLANTING 
ROBERT WHEELWRIGHT, A. S. L. A. 
Characteristic Groupings of Foliage Masses that Create Impressions of Natural Growth or Betray 
the Man-made Nature of the Work. Fitness of Different Methods to Different Surroundings. 
S HE character of informal landscape design is largely 
controlled by the varieties and species of plants that 
comprise a plantation. By the use of native plants 
we may reproduce nature so closely that our fellow men 
are deceived and believe they look upon a wild growth when, as 
a matter of fact, it is man-made. With few exceptions, the 
introduction of exotic plants ends deception and the hand of man 
becomes apparent through their use. So the plants govern the 
aspect and we may classify naturalesque planting under two 
heads, which I like to term “rustic” and “suburban.” 
“Rustic” planting in this sense would be of native plants 
with a few exotics such as have become naturalized. The 
common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), familiar to all of us, is an 
exotic that was brought to this country by the early settlers. 
It became naturalized and is now so usual an object in our 
wild growth that we never consider it an alien plant. On the 
other hand the Japanese Barberry (Berberis Thunbergii), which 
is fast becoming naturalized, is so recent an introduction that 
we recognize it at once as an exotic and do not yet feel it is in 
place in a rustic planting. There are certain other exotic plants 
so like our own that they can be used without a suspicion of 
artificiality, except to the botanist. Such is the Japanese 
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis japonica) which differs from our own 
Hamamelis (H. virginiana) in the time of blooming, but other- 
wise is practically identical. Such a plant is naturally a valuable 
addition as it extends the season of bloom. 
“Suburban” planting may be made up either partially or 
entirely of exotics, plants selected or produced by horticulturists 
and gardeners because of characteristics that make them 
especially desirable for the embellishment of lawns and gardens. 
This is the type of planting we usually find in carefully tended 
beds in conjunction with trim lawns; a type distinctly garden- 
esque. 1 do not apply the term “ gardenesque ” to all such plant- 
ings, for sometimes we find exotic plantings in parks, sometimes 
along country roadsides (perhaps when near highly developed 
country estates), with beds overgrown and uncared for. The 
character of the plants in such plantations is that found every- 
where in our suburban developments, but as they are not al- 
ways in the same high state of cultivation, I feel that the term 
suburban applies better, and would use “gardenesque” as a 
sub-group to indicate the more polished form of gardening. 
The character of foliage is apt to be so lost in a photograph 
that it is hard to distinguish the presence of exotics in a well 
executed piece of naturalesque planting. If observed casually, 
the plantings shown in illustrations Nos. 2 and 5 might be taken 
for a wild growth. But we can recognize Japanese Barberry in 
No. 2, and there is a certain profusion of foliage that seems too 
lavish for nature. In No. 5 we recognize Forsythia, and the 
general setting speaks of man’s handiwork. This is a remark- 
ably good example of suburban planting, verging perhaps on 
the gardenesque, but in contrast to the artificiality of the road 
and the house, the selection and arrangement of the plants ac- 
centuates its naturalesque appearance. 
Of the two types the “suburban” is naturally the more 
commonly found. It is indeed the type most people want in 
proximity to their houses because it lends itself better to display 
and its man-made character is easily recognized. This last 
factor is of great importance to many, for if a planting is so 
skilfully made that its artificiality is not apparent, nobody 
knows it cost money to make. Fortunately this feeling is not 
sufficiently widespread to prevent designers who have technical 
skill and artistic appreciation from being permitted to produce 
exotic plantations that bear a truly naturalesque appearance. 
A finer, richer display is frequently thus produced than with a 
more artificial planting. 
Photograph No. 3 obviously illustrates a carefully tended 
country estate, a gardenesque landscape. In contrast to this 
the country roadside shown in No. 1 is distinctly a wild natural 
growth; it is rustic, not difficult to reproduce if the initial diffi- 
culty of persuading one’s client to allow the reproduction could 
be overcome. It would not show effort expended, or sufficient 
display for money invested to satisfy some people. 
The basis of selection for every plantation is comparison; the 
material to select from is limited only by the general laws 
governing horticulture — no plant will, of course, survive unless 
it can adapt itself to climate, soil, location, and situation. 
Every plant has many factors upon which comparison is based. 
We must consider the flower, fruit, autumn coloring, winter 
