Ground cover can look great built with LEGO plates and studs and a few well-placed botanical elements. But what if you want something lusher? More wild? Fuller and vibrant and detailed?

Then you need to level up your game. And yes, it is tedious. And yes, it is time-consuming. And yes, it is parts intensive. But for someone who loves nature and landscapes like me, it’s worth it. Especially if you use it in smaller builds or strategically in focused areas of a larger MOC (Covering an 8-foot-long build at this level of lush detail may drive you out of your mind).

As LEGO bricks become more and more detailed, with intricate tiny parts, more botanical-focused sets, and creative recolors, it’s opening whole new doors for lush, vibrant landscapes not possible even 10 years ago in this level of detail and variety. So for the start of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, let’s start with the basics—the evolution of official plant parts and what have been game-changers for LEGO landscaping even to this day.

Finding the Enduring Gems in LEGO’s Humble Beginnings

While LEGO has a long history of botanical elements in its sets, the first few decades were limited with mostly bulky, crudely shaped parts for trees, a bush piece, and flowers on stems. I do remember fondly the flat flower pieces on sprues that would fit on the spindly ends of the old, flexible 3-pronged green stems. Or the segmented palm tree trunk from pirate sets, topped by palm leaves that look like a toddler drew them. And who can forget the classic LEGO evergreen tree, which has become iconic (but looks like some space-age interpretation of an artificial Christmas tree)?

Some of these parts are still in use today. Even being repurposed in new ways, such as the old palm leaves from 1994 (1989 if you count the larger original version of this same shape) being used as fir foliage in a wreath last year (aptly but uncreatively named 10340 Wreath). The classic 3-prong flower stem continues on as well, just reworked a little for modern times to have more flexibility and secure connection with its rod base.

But there are a few notable parts that have stood the test of time and are a staple in my lush landscaping toolkit still today, basically unchanged. One stand-out part is the beloved leafy branches in two sizes (small and large) that have been around since 1987! These are just too useful even to this day. And while they are primarily used for tree foliage (such as in the Forestmen sets), I’ve found them useful in ground foliage, shrubbery, and vining plants as well.

The grid of rod holes in them makes for interesting off-grid plant positioning when using these branches on the ground. Simply angle them slightly and stick plants in all the rod holes or studs. This technique works well since many great plant parts have a rod base and need holes at ground level to mount them anyway. For example I used this technique in the spooky grounds of my Muppet Monster Mashup Mansion (see the arrows for where they are used).

Builds by BrickBuiltJosh, Part images from rebrickable

I also used them as a great way of angling foliage over the railing of my Dragon Airship. By angling these branches on either side of the railing, they create a flowing curve that flows up and over the edges to then cascade down the sides of the ship (see arrows). These branch pieces act as a scaffolding for placing more detailed botanical elements that meld together into a flowing mass of foliage.

Then we have the “Plant, 1 x 1 x 2/3 - 3 Large Leaves” (#6255) from 1995 that still has only appeared in 2 colors—green and bright green. But I do love this element. I often use them sparingly to create another level of foliage with a wonderful look that’s almost jungle-like (especially at minifigure scale). It adds larger leaves in a different shape, which are thin and are at great angles that are hard to get with the modern flat leaf pieces. This piece is also stackable, which can be offset from the one below it to create a fuller plant (see the left arrow in the example below).

We have the classic, spiny “Plant, Bush 2 x 2 x 4” (#6064) from 1992 that is great in small doses. I rarely use them but they make a great grass-like growth in the middle of dense foliage. And they’re great for adding something with extra height to make the landscape composition more visually interesting. I know they are supposed to be bushes, but in practice they actually look more like a ground plant with thin tall leaves or tall grass, and work beautifully for that.

Another one from the 90’s, the bamboo piece (#30176) is great for some varied foliage but presents a challenge since it’s designed to be stacked like bamboo. So I’ll either angle it or just use one here and there at the edges of foliage. Then I’ll add other plant parts to the top to finish it off and hide the 1x1 round cylinder in the center of it.

Another one I find interesting is the sea grass piece (#30093) from 1997. I don’t use it a lot, but there are some interesting uses for it besides just as itself amongst the foliage. What makes it interesting is that it’s made out of bent rods. So, anything with a clip or rod hole can potentially be mounted on it. The angles create possibilities for angling foliage in more directions. And it has four rods to attach things to, allowing for a lot of foliage.

For example, I’ve used it with the 7-fingered palm leaves (#10884) attached all over it, creating a mass of foliage. And I feel there’s more potential for it, I’m sure—I just haven’t used it yet. The below example used this piece multiple times, pointed out by the arrows.

Speaking of which, that 7-fingered palm leaf (#30239 then #10884) came out right before the 2000s, and is wonderful for large accents on ground foliage, not just as palm trees. I’ll often try to incorporate one or two to add height and a large element to areas of ground foliage, building up the lushness and the variety of shapes and sizes. It’s a little tricky, though, because of the clip connection (or the anti-studs on the bottom of the leaf). To make it the most natural, it helps to have a little bit of an angle to it. So, I’ve used some different ways of creating an angled connection, including using the new 45-degree bar with stud (#65578).

I’m excited that this 7-fingered palm leaf element could be somewhat updated in the near future to be more useful! According to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), LEGO has registered this new design of this element that could be released in the future which has three longer fingers but a stud connection and hole like the more common plant plate (#32607).

And yes, that iconic pine tree (#2435) continues its legacy since 1972 as well, with the same recognizable shape, now in more colors than ever. I haven’t really used it though as it just seems too unnatural a shape for me to find a use for it, though it has found its place in a few LEGO Botanical sets like 10314 Dried Flower Centerpiece.

However, despite these enduring exceptions, the early days were not great for landscaping. It was dominated by large shapes, mostly for trees. And the color selection was pretty much limited to one shade of green. Slowly, some interesting ones trickled out, with the Bionicle spine/vine piece (#55236) in 2006 and the grass stem in 2014 being favorites of this next era. I still use both regularly to add texture and variation that are very different from the normal leaf-like parts.

But this was only the calm before the storm to come.

An Explosion of Botanical Parts and Colors

The state of botanical elements all started to change in the 2010s, and ramped up into the 2020s. First, we started getting more botanical molds with finer detail, more variety, and a lot more elements that could be used for detailed ground foliage. And then we started getting more and more organically shaped molds not even intended for plants, but would start coming out in plant-friendly recolors.

Some of my most used and favorite foliage parts started coming out around 2018. That includes the “Plant, Plate 1 x 1 Round with 3 Leaves” (#32607). It has come out in a rainbow of 23 colors since and is used in 854 sets and counting. I use these all the time—on the ground, in the trees, in shrubs, amongst rock work, everywhere.

Then there is the “Plant, Stem with 3 Leaves and Bottom Pin” (#37695), which is beautiful for finer detail and to fill the holes in parts like the leaf element above, the bamboo piece, and tree branch elements. I love this part even more than the leaf element, but it has been slow to develop more colors. Only in the last couple of years has LEGO started to branch out from bright green and olive green, which has been pretty limiting. But every time I see a new recolor now, I get super excited. In the example below, you can see it used all over to add finer foliage. But if you look, you’ll spot them all over the examples throughout this article. It’s just too good a part.

Another really nice use of these plant stems is in tree and bush foliage. The fine leaf structure creates a very pleasing look and represents more appropriately sized leaves. This habitat stack uses them liberally in the tree/shrub foliage, showing how they are a good ground plant for tight spaces because of their delicate leaf structure. In this example, you’ll also see another use for the bamboo plant and another example of using sea grass to create a dense cluster of foliage.

While not entirely new, a significant change happened to the 3-pronged flower stem piece that’s been around since 1976. “Plant, Flower Stem with Bottom Bar” (#24855) now has a bar at the bottom instead of an anti-stud. I’d say overall it’s better. Truth is, the old piece was horrible at clutch and often would be dislodged easily. The new mold is more versatile and has a finer central shaft, especially when stacking them, which works better in most cases.

The only issue is that you need a part with a bar hole to mount it to the ground now. This and it’s 6-stem brother are surprisingly versatile, especially when combined with the next part I’ll go over—the flower piece. And we’ve been given an even smaller stem piece in 2020. These are all very useful and come in different colors to add texture and “spikier” botanical shapes (when used on their own without flowers).

2017 brought us new flower mold, “Plant, Flower, Plate Round 1 x 1 with 5 Petals”(#24866). It looks more natural than the old 4-prong Scala version (#33291) it was meant to replace, and it can be really useful beyond it being a “flower.” Since it has a tiny hole meant to fit on the ends of the flower stem pieces above, it’s great for creating rounder, detailed shrubbery and foliage. The flower piece has a stud on it, so once placed on the end of one of those stems, it can then hold leaf elements and other pieces that fill out its shape. Like this example below from my North Pole M O C.

One of the newest botanical pieces of great use is the fern piece (#2682) introduced in 2022 and already starting to expand in color and is used in 81 sets. It now has a bigger brother as well (#5151). It’s a spectacular ground foliage plant that has also been used to excellent effect as evergreen trees in official sets and MOCs alike. The rounded edge of the base and bar hole make it versatile for angling or even using upside down as evergreen trees.

These and other standard plant parts are the foundation of foliage. With more shapes and colors than ever, and more coming out every year at an accelerated rate, the possibilities for lush LEGO landscapes are greater than ever. But these are still a fairly limited variety of shapes. We can go further.

Enter the Unexpected

The foundational botanical parts LEGO produces are invaluable. And we now have so many colors to work with. But they aren’t all we have in our toolbox. There have been more than just new plant molds. There have been a growing number of very useful parts which have organic shapes that work beautifully as plant elements once they were recolored into earth tones. Some of these I find incredibly useful.

The top of my list are Wolverine claws (#10187). You can see them used in many of the images already shared. Sadly, the dark tan version is out of production and is hard to get, but that was my first introduction to them as landscape elements and I wish I had a LOT more than the 30 or so I ordered on LEGO Pick-a Brick (PaB) at the time.

Since then, green Wolverine claws have come out and become a staple in my plant element toolbox. And now there’s a new dark green recolor. I can only hope for more (or bring back dark tan, please!). This example uses them in a variety of orientations, and shows they are perfect for use for adding natural, lush detail in tight spaces. But if you go through the examples throughout this article, you’ll see them everywhere.

Robin Hood Habitat by BrickBuiltJosh, Part images from rebrickable

The Wolverine claw is a finely detailed part that’s perfect for grassy foliage, and is especially helpful for smaller MOCs like when I’m building minifigure habitats. But honestly, I love them everywhere. I simply use a 1x1 plate with vertical clip (#15712) to hold the claws upright or stick them in the rod holes of other pieces to top them off and cover the hole (such as on bamboo or leaf elements).

The Wolverine claw is not just good for ground cover, sprigs of fresh growth, and grasses. It can make for some really interesting evergreen shrubs, like the one recently released in 10359 Fountain Garden.

But there are so many options to bring a little variety to our botanical parts portfolio. Some other favorites include swords, minifigure hair, the mop piece (mounted upside down), feather elements, claws and horns, and many others to mix things up here and there. The trickiest part of these can be how to mount them. Yet, when you do, they add interesting new shapes and looks to your landscape.

I loved recently experimenting with the fur collar (#26066) in green to create a somewhat formal-looking shrub in my crypt habitat build. Using 1x1 round plates in the center mimics the head piece that would normally secure the collar in place. And I varied the orientation of the layers to give it a more natural look that wasn’t too perfectly repetitive. Then it’s topped off with a green clown hair piece (#87995) that fits the size of the collars. You’ll also spot a lot of other interesting parts including a broom end in tan (#90826), a green sword blade (#64727), nougat claws, and a dark green hat/helmet plume (#64647).

As was just demonstrated, minifigure hair can have some interesting organic shapes. Some even have defined strands that could be reinterpreted as something botanical. When recolored versions (such as in green) started popping up, it opened opportunities to use them in landscaping, gardens, and more. The only real challenge is mounting them. Luckily they’ve also been recoloring blank minifigure heads in those colors too. So that is one option. I’ve also used cylinders, cones, and stacking 1x1 round plates. I’ve even used them upside down, which gets even more complicated to rig something up to secure it.

Swords/katanas in greens and tans are handy to add larger spiky leaves and grass shoots to dense foliage or behind rocks, like in the example above. I’ll often use an illegal connection with a 1x1 tile with vertical clip to grip them vertically at different angles (although inserting them into rod holes or using horizontal clips can both be worked out to hold them without stressing the clip).

Another useful small detail piece is the different types of feather/plume elements that have appeared in greens and fall foliage colors (reds, oranges, etc.), such as those that insert into hats or helmets. Examples that point out the use of feathers/plumes are seen both above and below. They work great to add variety as small foliage elements with different shapes. They have a bar base that can fit in typical holes like those found in 1x1 or 1x2 rounded plates, as well as in other botanical elements with bar holes on top. Below is an example that shows the two most useful plume types, including the two-feather version. You’ll find I’ve sprinkled them in throughout these examples.

Minifigure Habitat by BrickBuiltJosh, Part images from rebrickable

When it comes to interestingly organic parts, one of my favorites is the mop piece (#24085), which can be seen in the Jurassic Park example further above in bright green. Flipped upside down, it has a wonderful vertical but curvy mass of strands that work beautifully as ground foliage and some added height. To mount it, I typically use the nipple tile (#20482). I often go one step further, and I’ll drop in a 3-prong twig piece (#68211) which fits perfectly to help disguise the large hole in the center, as shown below.

The examples above and the one below are hiding tons of other interesting part uses for botanical elements. In the above image, you can find a different type of bright green hair, various blades, ice cream scoops, claws, and more. There’s no limit to what you might use. The example below uses dark brown minifigure hands (#983) as detail for dried/crinkly leaves on the dark brown shrub (see arrow). This habitat build with the evil queen as the witch from Snow White is designed to be more of a spooky forest. You can even see a DreamZzz scarf/cape part (#4057) used as shadowy background foliage.

Evil Queen as the Witch Minifigure Habitat by BrickBuiltJosh

There are so many options, and more are coming out all the time that you can use to increase the variety and lushness of your landscapes and foliage. I’ve already seen tan fencing swords (foils) and tan levers come out that seem like they could be interesting elements for dry grasses amongst other foliage. Add to that a slew of new botanical molds for flowers and larger leaf types that have come out in the last few months that I haven’t even been able to use yet (like the banana leaves, tulips, sunflowers, new stems and large petals in 10342 Pretty Pink Flower Bouquet—seriously, get this one set for so many new elements!), and it represents seemingly infinite possibilities for LEGO foliage.

As LEGO continues to expand its range of organic shapes and recolors, the future of LEGO landscaping looks greener than ever. I can’t wait to see what molds and creative recolors come out next!

What are your favorite LEGO Foliage elements? Let us know in the comments below.

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