Right Plant/Right Place is the gardener’s axiom. We all know these words by heart, but do we really put them to work for us when we design gardens and specify plants. Traditionally, we think of matching soil, water and light, and making sure the plant is the appropriate size for the space. But what about the larger ecological context in which we garden? When we plant a floodplain species in an upland, is it really right plant/right place? Using nature as a model, we explore the adaptations that allow plants to cope with the breadth of conditions Mother Nature can dish out. With nature in mind, we combine site appropriate plants to fashion beautiful gardens.