Why You Need an Interior Landscaper (Even If You Already Have a Landscape Architect)

One of the questions we often get when stepping into a new project is:
“We already have a landscape architect — so what exactly do you do?”

It’s a fair question. On the surface, both roles deal with plants and built environments. But once you dig a little deeper, the difference between exterior and interior landscaping becomes pretty clear.

Here’s what really separates indoor and outdoor plant design — and why having both a landscape architect and an interior landscaper on board often makes all the difference.

It Starts With Plant Behaviour

The first (and most fundamental) difference is how plants behave in their environment.

Outdoor plants — which are typically the domain of landscape architects — are governed by nature’s rhythms. They bloom in spring, slow down in winter, and respond constantly to rain, sunlight, wind, and shifting soil conditions.

Indoor plants, on the other hand, live in a carefully controlled environment. There are no harsh winters or gusty winds to deal with. They’re protected, and their surroundings are built to stay consistent — so the way they grow, respond, and even get stressed is completely different. And that means the way you design and care for them needs to be different too.

Seasonality Works Differently Indoors

When it comes to designing outdoor landscapes, seasonality is part of the plan. You're thinking about spring blooms, summer shade, autumn color, and winter silhouettes — and how all of that plays out over the year.

Indoor plants don’t go through those seasonal shifts. There’s no real autumn or winter inside an office. That means indoor greenery has to look good all year long. The planting design, species selection, and maintenance all have to reflect that level of consistency — which requires a different mindset and skillset.

Substrates, Build-Ups, and… Floor Loads?

Another big difference lies beneath the surface — literally.

Outdoor spaces often involve complex soil mixes, drainage layers, and preparations to handle heavy rainfall or temperature swings. Indoors, things are simpler in some ways but more constrained in others. The substrates we use are engineered for moisture retention and structural stability — and often have to be incredibly lightweight.

Take a recent project we reviewed: it had beautiful design elements like large statement trees, decorative boulders, and deep soil beds — all located on an upper floor. A lovely concept, but the load on the floor slab would’ve been way over safe limits. That’s the kind of thing an interior landscaper spots and solves early on.

Watering Isn’t Just Watering

Irrigation is another area where the approaches diverge significantly.

Outside, irrigation systems are built to handle large areas, deal with evaporation, and supplement rainfall. Indoors, it’s all about precision. Each plant species has very specific water needs, and there’s no margin for overwatering. That’s where horticultural expertise — and smart irrigation systems like capillary watering — become essential.

It’s not about soaking the soil. It’s about giving plants exactly what they need, when they need it.

Let There Be (the Right Kind of) Light

Last but not least: lighting.

Outdoor plants have the sun. Sometimes too much, sometimes too little, but landscape architects can generally plan around natural light levels — often measured in lux — to select the right species.

Indoors, you’re designing for an artificial environment. That means collaborating with horticultural lighting specialists to dial in the right light spectrum and intensity — often measured in micromoles instead of lux. It's highly technical, and incredibly important for plant health, especially when there’s little or no natural light.

The Bottom Line

Landscape architects and interior landscapers might both work with plants, but we’re solving for two very different environments. One isn’t a substitute for the other — they’re complementary roles with their own challenges and specializations.

If you're working on a space where indoor greenery matters (and let’s be honest — it always does), it’s worth having someone who knows how to make plants thrive inside. That’s where we come in.