Chapter 10 Ornamental Plants in the Landscape 261 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Facer Plants Facer plants can be placed at the base of larger plants for ground coverage and contrasting colors or textures, Figure 10-27. Facer plants are often used at the base of large plants because their foliage is sparse due to lack of sunlight. If space allows, facer plants can be integrated into a design as a stair-step, a method of gradually increasing plant height. Foundation Plants Foundation plants are installed adjacent to the foundation of a structure. These plants, which are typically shrubs, can be used to create a contrast of colors and textures between the house and plant materials. These plants are often less than 4′ in height and are mostly grown for foliage display. The same types of shrubs used as founda- tion plants can be used to create a low border. A low border is often less than 3′ and used to direct traffi c fl ow or the path of the eye. In many cases, frequent shearing is needed to maintain the low border and keep the foliage growing tightly together, Figure 10-28. Corner Plantings A landscape designer can use plants to soften hard architectural lines and narrow the distance from the soil surface to those lines. A pyramidal plant can be installed on the structure’s corners to soften outward facing vertical lines. Christopher D. Hart Figure 10-26. Bedding plants are used to provide seasonal color to the landscape. They can be used to create striking displays in window boxes by mixing species. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 10-27. A facer plant is used to cover the base or the stem of the plants growing behind it. Imagenet/Shutterstock.com Figure 10-28. Foundation plants refer to a wide category of landscape plants that are suitable for using against the foundation of a home or other structure. Foundation plantings help to soften the stiff lines created by construction materials, such as brick and metal. Foundation plantings help the structure appear more naturalized.