Cassian's over 25 years of research at Hermannshof trial gardens includes plant ecology and performance and the coexistence of plants in designed plant communities. In his lecture, Cassian will identify and explore some of the most valuable natural reference plant communities that have great potential to be used as an ecological palette for resilient planting designs. New grasses and perennials have been tested to survive the harsh environment of traffic islands and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plantings in public parks. In his formulaic mixed perennial plantings Cassian combines the values of a tested resilient plant palette, originating from European, Central Asian and North American grassland vegetation. What are the ecological, climatic and aesthetical factors that shape those natural plant communities and how they can be applied and modified to an urban context? What are the limitations regarding maintenance skills and what grade of dynamism should be allowed in those naturalistic planting types?