 Few would refer to the stratified vegetation of a wood as ground cover, though seen from a bird’s-eye view the cover is most effective.The essential quality of a plant matrix is the occupation of space, and matrix planting draws inspiration from the ways plants grow together naturally yet it is not a mere imitation of nature.The ideas of matrix planting are similar to aspects of permaculture, with its focus on using "guilds" of plants as part of "layered" or "stacked" garden designs, coming together to form a perennial polyculture that is largely self-sustaining.