Gentle, slow curves and horizontal lines tend to be experienced as restful while jagged diagonals or vertical lines create more excitement and tension. Form , the shape defined by line, is probably the most enduring element in garden design. It is what is seen when first looking at a garden from a distance. Every plant has a distinct growth-habit, a unique mass and volume which develops and changes as the plant matures. These shapes, whether pyramidal, weeping, columnar, spreading, or round, divide and define the spaces in the garden.
Some forms are more dramatic than others and so attract attention.
These plant qualities often change with the seasons and restructure the lines of the garden. The form of the plants selected and their placement are critical to creating comfortable, dynamic spaces and pleasing silhouettes. Texture in the garden creates sensual and visual excitement. It is generally read as the mass and void of foliage, bark, or flowers and changes with the light during the day and with the seasons. Up close, the size and shape of the leaves and twigs become the predominant textural elements of a plant.