A beautifully drawn specimen tree can be one of the most captivating parts of a landscape design plan. In this article, I will run through the descriptions on how to draw five different types of specimen trees along with descriptions on where they can be utilized in your plans.
When considering drawing a specimen tree, it is important to remember what it represents and the purpose of the plant selection. A specimen tree planting should be a focal point of your design and therefore you should be sure to take the proper time and practice to draw it correctly.
Before embarking on the journey to draw these more difficult specimens, you should make sure that you have practice and are comfortable with the basic ornamental shade trees covered in the previous articles here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).
Branching Tree 1
A great way to draw a specimen tree is through a branching structure illustration. The branching illustration creates a sculptural component to the landscape design plan and creates a very unique symbol in comparison to the average ornamental plants nearby.
When beginning to create a branching specimen symbol, start with the three main scaffold limbs and bring them to the edge of the canopy. After having the first three limbs drawn, you can then thicken the trunk (or center) of the symbol and then work on developing the secondary and tertiary branches.
After the branching is finalized, you can used multiple pen lineweights to create small circles and stipples (dots) to indicate individual leaves or flowers. These small entities add complexity to the canopy and can also be used to render small “pops” of color which may be present in a flowering specimen plant selection.
Branching Tree 2
For this symbol, you should begin the process in the same manner as Branching Tree #1; however, instead of creating small circles and stipples to indicate the leaf structure, you will instead create larger leaf groupings. This style is very similar to the Open Canopy tree which was covered in the article and video for Ornamental Deciduous Shade Trees.
Be sure to vary the sizes of the leaf canopies so that you have some small, medium, and large sections. This will help imitate the random naturalness of a normal plant canopy.
Canopy Specimen 1
Not all specimen trees need to be drawn in a branching style. In certain cases it is much nicer to illustrate a specimen with a smoother canopy. For this style, I am using a brushed-tip drafting pen, which typically comes in a regular drafting kit. (If you don’t already have these pens, they are a great addition to any drafting supply kit. Be sure to also checkout my article on recommended drafting tools if you haven’t already)
You will start out by creating pockets of shade within the canopy that concentrate away from the main source of light. From there, you can add smaller or larger sections to create an irregular shape that mimics the random nature of a nice flower specimen.
Adding color to sections of the canopy can also make a welcome addition to this symbol when rendering.
Canopy Specimen 2
This next symbol is a derivation of the Cookie Monster style covered in the previous article on Ornamental Shade Trees Part 2. The main difference here is that you are sectioning off pieces of the canopy with branched lines and then stippling or texturing certain sections to create a more dramatic effect.
The nice part of this style is that it can be used during times where you have a grouping of specimens together. For example, perhaps instead of just one tree as a focal point, you have several flowering shrubs as a grouping – this style can add complexity without being overly-detailed with branches.
Weeping Specimen
For the final specimen, I decided to add a weeping symbol. Many times designers will use a weeping variety as a focal point to their gardens. The style tries to mimic the overall habit of the weeping form, but still maintains the consistent canopy structure you would see within a normal landscape plan.
Although it is only needed in specific purposes, practicing this symbol can come in handy in other circumstances later on, if you need to draw broadleaf perennials such as hosta or daylilies. The pendulous form has many applications.
As with all drafting tutorials, practice makes perfect. Taking the time – even a few moments each day to practice your specimen symbols – can go a long way to developing your skills as a designer and illustrator.
If you are interested in becoming a professional landscape designer, be sure to also checkout my recommended books for landscape design, along with the myriad of other design articles located in the design resources section of this website.
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