Making Room for ‘Cosmopolitan Plants’ Among Native Species—With Architectural Spaces by MAMO Architects
A Recap of the New York Times Article Published on October 16, 2024 Read Here
Landscape designer Donald Pell is on a mission to expand the plant palette in gardens everywhere, believing that incorporating select nonnative species—alongside natives—can add greater vibrancy and human appeal. His naturalistic landscapes demonstrate an artful balance between respecting local ecologies and embracing the joys of “cosmopolitan plants,” all while fostering spaces that people truly want to inhabit. Underpinning much of his work are thoughtful architectural and site designs, including those by MAMO Architects, which provide an integral framework for Pell’s immersive gardens.
Designing for Pollinators, Birds—and People
Pell’s passion for naturalistic landscapes stems from a desire to create living environments that resonate with both wildlife and humans. Pollinators and birds flock to his installations in search of food and shelter. However, it is human participation—people’s delight in moving through and exploring outdoor spaces—that remains Pell’s ultimate motivation.
“How do we make it a habitat for humans as well?” Pell asks. He envisions gardens not just as places to observe, but to engage with: touching and smelling plants, hearing birds, and forming “multiplicities of connections” that make us participants in nature, rather than mere onlookers.
A first glance at one of Pell’s wilder landscapes might suggest the exclusive use of native flora, but Pell consciously integrates plants from around the world. By introducing what he calls “cosmopolitan plants” alongside natives, he feels he can serve a broader spectrum of needs—for local fauna and for the people who inhabit or visit these spaces.
A Broader Plant Palette at the Studio Headquarters
One of the most illustrative examples of Pell’s design philosophy sits in East Vincent, Pa., where he established his own landscape design studio on a 14-acre former farm. The architectural elements and site upgrades—overseen in part by MAMO Architects—have formed an ideal backdrop for Pell to experiment with “novel plant communities” and demonstrate how these designs evolve over time.
Woodland Sage (Salvia nemorosa): A European and west-central Asian species whose violet blooms appear in bold swaths in early summer.
Native and Nonnative Grasses: Native asters mix with eye-catching moor grasses (Molinia), known for their spectacular fall hues of “rich mango.”
Asian Toad Lily (Tricyrtis ‘Sinonome’): An orchid-like plant with white blooms flecked in burgundy-purple that captivates even the staunchest nativists.
By blending natives such as smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) and heart-leaved aster (Aster cordifolius) with nonnatives like Molinia grasses, Pell achieves vibrant autumn color. He also highlights seedheads and foliage textures that provide visual interest well past the traditional summer bloom period.
This 14-acre setting offers Pell the freedom to test potential planting combinations—seeing which species cooperate over the long term. As a design test lab, it also allows clients to experience these landscapes firsthand, envisioning similar approaches on their own properties.
The Necessity of Editing
Whether a garden has exclusively native plants or a blend of natives and nonnatives, Pell insists that routine maintenance—and, more accurately, “editing”—is vital to keep the space dynamic and balanced.
Densely Planting to Reduce Weeds: An important strategy to minimize unwanted species.
Continued Care, Not Just Maintenance: Pell or his team checks in with clients annually (or more often) to assess how various plants are performing. “Gardeners really become the designers of the future,” Pell says, as they decide which volunteer plants to keep and which to remove.
Learning From Past Combinations: Pell has seen how certain aggressive species can overtake neighboring plants. Even “well-behaved” natives can monopolize available resources and crowd out others without thoughtful intervention.
Editing, Pell believes, is an art form in its own right—a fluid process of making choices that gradually shape the look, feel, and ecological balance of a garden.
The Role of MAMO Architects in Creating Immersive Spaces
Though Pell’s plant-driven approach stands at the heart of each project, the underlying architectural and structural environments often serve as the springboard for his work. MAMO Architects’ thoughtful layouts provide Pell with varied opportunities to create intimate or expansive outdoor rooms that invite deeper interaction.
Historic Homes and Courtyards: In one case, MAMO Architects helped re-envision a courtyard leading up to a historic property, and Pell responded by filling it with sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). This synergy between built space and vegetation forms a gentle threshold, embracing visitors in greenery the moment they arrive.
Compression and Thresholds: Much like the design strategies made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright, Pell and MAMO Architects use narrow, tree-filled pathways or groves to create a sense of compression before unveiling a more open vista. American hornbeams (Carpinus caroliniana) or magnolias planted in groves can help produce this effect, further enhancing the architecture’s impact.
By aligning architectural features—walls, courtyards, or pathways—with plantings that complement and soften them, Pell and MAMO Architects craft spaces that feel both structured and organic.
Finding the Right Balance
Pell’s dedication to a diverse plant palette does not mean ignoring ecological concerns. He avoids species with invasive tendencies, focusing instead on nonnatives that can harmonize with local ecosystems. No matter the origin of the plants, Pell emphasizes the garden as an ever-evolving habitat that needs ongoing human participation.
Often, a slight adjustment—like mowing a path through a meadow—can transform how people perceive and use a space. Removing or repositioning a few older shrubs might unveil a stunning pond view or create an entirely new gathering area, enhancing the property’s sense of place. All these structural changes go hand in hand with architectural insights from MAMO Architects, underscoring how architecture and landscape design must work in unison to create meaningful, livable environments.
A Dynamic Invitation
Above all, Pell’s perspective encourages a playful, curious approach to landscaping: “Put plants in the ground, see what you like, learn from what fails, and then keep going.” This willingness to experiment, combined with supportive architectural features shaped by MAMO Architects, yields environments that immerse people in a world where nature and design interlace.
Such spaces invite us to engage fully—touching, smelling, and meandering through gardens that resonate with life. By balancing natives and carefully selected non-natives, Pell offers a model of lush, sustainable plant communities that evolve over time. And by collaborating with MAMO Architects, he ensures that the built environment is equally conducive to exploration and delight.
Ultimately, it is this synergy—between the structural elegance of well-planned architecture and the dynamic spontaneity of naturalistic gardens—that shapes landscapes capable of thrilling not just those who live in and move through them, but the wildlife that calls these gardens home.