Garden Designers Roundtable – Designing with Foliage
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What is the ‘Garden Designer’s Roundtable’? It began last December when a small group of us thought it would be fun, as professional landscape designers, to simultaneously write an article dedicated to the same topic (“Do Designers Practice what they Preach”), but each written with our own, distinctive ‘voice’.
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It was an idea that was very well-received, so we did it again (‘Celebrating Regional Diversity‘), only expanding it with a few more designers. Again – it was wildly received. So….we decided to make this a monthly event, inviting 12 participants from our newly formed ‘Roundtable’ to participate each month on the same topic. Don’t worry – it won’t always be the same 12 designers – but will rotate among a group of 30 or so of us, as well as the occasional guest blogger.
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Foliage is the topic for this month’s Garden Designer’s Roundtable…and what a topic it IS!! I could write an entire BOOK on ‘Foliage’…how on earth can I whittle it down to just one post? Hmmm…I could show my favorite foliage colors or shapes, or great color combos….where to start, where to start…
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I know! I’ll offer a little insight as to how I use foliage in my designs for maximum impact!
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1. Mix it up with shapes…
There’s so many incredible leaf shapes and textures available (spikes, hearts, round, skinny, fat, teeny, huge, fuzzy, bumpy) so keep it interesting by mixing several together.
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This combination has got a TON of foliage shapes going on…the lacy texture of the Japanese Maple, the spots of Pulmonaria, the ruffled Heuchera leaves, the spiky variegated Acorus…
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Does it look like ‘too much’? Not to me! It’s actually a very cohesive, engaging grouping. Imagine this combination if the leaves were all the same shape – it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting, would it?
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This combination is totally different – not because it doesn’t have a mix of foliage shapes (which it DOES), but because it’s colors are all in the same green family.
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Normally an all-green grouping might be a tad boring, but because the shapes of the leaves are so different it really works!
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Another way to mix foliage is to have the forms mimic one another – as these two plants do. Each is a rosette – only one is large and grey while the other small and green.
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And when you mix two totally different foliage shapes (and colors) together like this…you really make a statement. Black Mondo grass always looks fabulous against anything that’s light grey or chartreuse…especially when it’s strappy foliage is emphasized as well as it’s color.
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2. Mix it up with Variegated Foliage…
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Placing more than one variegated plant next to each other can be a bit risky…but if it’s done right, it can definitely work, with stunning results.
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It seems that placing two variegated plants so close together other would create a ‘chaotic’ effect, but because the foliage shapes in this example are so drastically different (one leaf is quite large, while the other is small), and the third plant is a solid color which acts as the ‘neutralizer’…it works!
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This combination is also successful due to the fact that the colors are in the same green/grey family, creating a soothing effect – despite all the variegation going on!
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This example, however, doesn’t work quite as well.
For one, the foliage shapes are too similar in size.
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For another, the colors aren’t really blending very well with eachother. Pass the Excederin – I’m getting a headache!
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Sometimes all you need is just one single variegated plant to really make a combination ‘POP’…as is the case with this ‘Emerald n Gold’ Euonymous mixed with the deep burgundy Ajuga and Corsican Hellebore.
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3. How to use (or NOT use) spiky, sword-shaped plants
This type of plant has got to be the #1 ‘tough-sell’ for my clients. Whenever I suggest a Phormium, for example, I get this: ”oh…I like them and all…but can’t really see them in my own garden…they always look so angry!”
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But when I show them how gorgeous they can look, when placed ‘just right’, they end up loving them as much as I do..
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Especially when their leaves are back-lit by a setting sun, or there’s complimentary flowers planted next to them…..
When using plants of this size and shape, it’s important to make sure you have softer, more billowy plants near them or at their feet. By doing this, you still get the contrasting structural element (which is SO necessary to keep a garden interesting), yet it’s not harsh looking, standing on it’s own.
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Another trick? USE THEM SPARINGLY! They’re ACCENTS! Not a method for keeping intruders out of your garden! Talk about a ‘Hostile’ environment!
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Can you say ‘Prison Yard’?
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4. Using foliage to accent a container
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When I’m choosing a plant for a container, I like to have at least one of the colors or shapes echo an element in the container. In this example, the soft burnt orange shades of the Oxalis, as well as the circular shape of the leaves, mimic the colors and shape of this pot.
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When talking about uniting foliage and containers, I’m not necessarily talking about the plant that’s IN the container…the foliage of a plant can be NEAR a container to accent it just as well – as is the case with this Coprosma ‘Pink Splendor’. It really brings out the beautiful terra-cotta tones in the pot next to it.
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I love planting a single variety of plant in one pot. Sort of a ‘One plant per pot’ concept. By planting this way, you can really make an impact (especially when the foliage is THIS cool!) And when the the plant AND the pot fall within the same color range, a very serene feeling can be created.
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Foliage is such an expansive and exciting topic – I’ve just touched upon one of it’s aspects here. Please join me next month in our next Roundtable discussion of ‘Color’ where I’ll go into more detail about my favorite colored foliage! I have lots more to share with you!
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Until then, please make sure to stop by my fellow designers at the ‘Roundtable’ to read their thoughts on foliage!
Andrew Keys with Garden Smackdown
Christina Salwitz with the Personal Garden Coach
Debbie Roberts with A Garden of Possibilities
Ivette Soler with The Germinatrix
Pam Penick with Digging
Shirley Bovshow with Eden Maker’s Blog
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:28 am
[...] CA » Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX » Rebecca Sweet : Gossip in the Garden : Los Altos, CA » <!–Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA »–> Possibly related [...]
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:45 am
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February 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:45 am
Fantastic post! I love how your pictures are beautiful and illustrate each point.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:46 am
[...] at The Germinatrix: Los Angeles, CA Jocelyn Chilvers at The Art Garden: Denver, CO Rebecca Sweet at Gossip in the Garden: Los Altos, CA Shirley Bovshow at Eden Makers: Los Angeles, [...]
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 11:53 am
Great post, Rebecca! In Vancouver we have to get away with foliage often in our gardens and blooms can be elusive in winter (not this winter though). I remember a visit to Portland, Or, last year where the garden style seemed to be evergreen foliage based – and I loved it! Plant a few perennial around them and you basically have a beautiful low maintenance garden.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:07 pm
Well done! I have thought about using Agave americana to keep the skunks at bay…but will have to reconsider. Matti
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:11 pm
I love spiky, sword-shaped plants, and prefer architectural plants in general, but that “prison” picture is just too funny!
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:42 pm
I’m laughing out loud at the spicky plant prison yard comment too. It’s a good point! Get it? Get it?
I’m drooling over your Phormiums too… Tell clients who can’t handle them they can just trade gardens with me, k? Sure I could grow them in pots, but it’s not quite the same.
Excellent post, as I knew it would be!
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:52 pm
Great post! I love the “do” and “don’t” photos for your example of a specimen plant with the Phormium. That really punctuated your advice!
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:53 pm
The contrast of the spiky plants are awesome, and we use them a lot in Austin! And, your examples of what doesn’t work is really helpful, too. Isn’t it amazing how a pic can demonstrate so much so quickly?
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 12:57 pm
So much information in one spot! Great job of hitting all the ways to use foliage well.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 1:13 pm
Rebecca,
You are a natural teacher. The examples for what not to do are great and amusing. Good sense of humor too!
You really touched on some great points and backed them up with examples. I need to link directly to this post!
Awesome.
Shirley Bovshow
Garden World Report Show
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 1:38 pm
[...] Rebecca Sweet : Gossip in the Garden : Los Altos, CA » [...]
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 1:43 pm
Sweet,
You are my idol.
As I read your post, I’m nodding and saying “Yes… Yes! YES!”
I LOVE that you don’t hold back, that you mix and contrast with elegance AND super cool flair. In your hands, foliage is the most incredible tool of expression.
THANK YOU DOLL!
XOIvette
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 1:58 pm
Still reeling from the possibility that anyone wouldn’t like a phormium
What beautiful combinations, and that last photo with the dark grey pot is a brilliant pairing of pot and plant.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 1:58 pm
Your posts are always helpful, beautiful and funny (Just like you – HA!). Because of your stunning examples I’m going to run out and get some Pulmonaira. I’ve got just the right spot(s).
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 2:55 pm
[...] Angeles, CA » Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX » Rebecca Sweet : Gossip in the Garden : Los Altos, CA » Shirley Bovshow : Eden Makers : Los Angeles, CA [...]
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 3:44 pm
Rebecca,
Your use of foliage is certainly daring and the rewards are beautiful. I liked that you included a few don’t photos; sometimes it’s easier to learn from those. Of course, I can’t imagine who would think the ‘prison yard’ was a do.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 4:01 pm
I enjoyed reading about the painterly way you consider the color, form textures in the leaves. Buried in snow and cold, I’m thoroughly enjoying seeing and reading about plants in a warmer climate. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about color.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 4:58 pm
Can you reveal which cultivar of blue-grey echeveria (at least, I think it’s an echeveria) you have pictured in concert with the smaller green sedum? It’s so pretty – I must have it – plant lust is rearing its pretty little head
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 5:37 pm
YES! Yes you should write a book on Foliage. I’ll add it to my wish list right now! Excellent post, and great use of do’s and don’ts. Beautiful pictures too!
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 6:24 pm
I agree with Shirley – you’re a natural teacher on this subject! I got some great ideas and realize I’m probably not thinking about foliage as carefully as I could be.
Really excellent post, Rebecca.
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 7:04 pm
Oh no, that “prison yard” of phormiums! Excellent point about adding soft clouds of fine-textured plants around those spiky architectural plants. I went with the corollary in my post today, advocating for structural plants amid the fine-textured ones. Isn’t it great to read all the varying takes on the wonderful topic of Foliage?
February 23rd, 2010 saat: 10:12 pm
Yet again you knock it out of the park Rebecca, great examples of illustrating ideas with the photos. I adore that last gray pot too!! You have an elegant flair.
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:12 am
As far as I’m concerned this is Chapter One of your book on Foliage and a great one at that, Rebecca.
The dos and donts are always a striking example that bring home the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:47 am
Shirley and Susan – thank you so much! I hope I don’t come across as ‘Now Class…this is how you do it…’, but I just can’t help get excited about telling others my little tricks and opinions….I guess that’s what a teacher does, though, right? That, and give detentions…. (which I’d definitely give to that person who planted the ‘prison yard’!!)
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:49 am
Hi VW -All I know it’s an escheveria elegans…they came off the back of a pick-up truck 45 years ago when my parents first moved into their home. A guy was driving around, selling patio furniture door to door, and when they bought some they noticed he had a huge clump of these in his truck. Flash forward 45 years and these are it’s babies (they’re all OVER my garden) – they’re some of my very favorites!
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:51 am
Thanks Christina! I definitely tend to go for the understated when planting containers…and always love yours which are SOOOOO brimming with exuberant color and excitement….my drab little gray one would just PALE in comparison to yours!!
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:53 am
Thanks Carolyn and Scott – hmmm…writing a book…might be in my future (though, not in the near future! Writing this post is plenty for me right now!)…thanks for your kind words!
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:54 am
Hi Angela – you WON’T be disappointed with Pulmonaria. There’s some really cool varieties out there, too – some have blue flowers, some have purple…..good luck! And thanks for the sweet compliments!!
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:55 am
Ivette – you are TOO much….It is YOU, my dear, who just ROCK THIS HORTICULTURE WORLD!! XXOO
February 24th, 2010 saat: 9:57 am
I’m glad so many of you thought my Prison Yard photo was a good one….always nervous submitting the ‘dont do this’ photos for fear the owner will come banging on my door!! But I agree – a picture is worth a thousand words! And I love your play on words, Andrew and Diana…they weren’t lost on me!!
February 24th, 2010 saat: 10:16 am
So let me get this straight…there are people who don’t like spiky plants?! Say it isn’t so! How is this possible?
I would love to have the “prison yard” cordy trees surrounding my front garden! Of course I would have to mix it up a bit. Thanks for a fun post!
March 1st, 2010 saat: 8:11 am
that is so cool! I totally did the same thing on my own to try to hold onto the last fading drops of fall…and here we are desperately looking forward to spring…
March 3rd, 2010 saat: 7:21 am
I love your insight on combining variegated plants. That always seems like such a challenge with plantings!
March 4th, 2010 saat: 12:08 pm
aloha rebecca,
a very enjoyable read and informational as well, i love what you presented and the beautiful photographs are wonderful…i’m starting to enjoy reading this forum and will follow regularly
plus i’m a real foliage freak also so this topic is right up my alley!
March 4th, 2010 saat: 9:18 pm
Thanks for such kind words, Noel! Really, really nice….and look forward to hearing from you in the future! Let’s hear it for Foliage!!
July 17th, 2010 saat: 9:53 am
[...] CA » Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX » Rebecca Sweet : Gossip in the Garden : Los Altos, CA SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Plant Combinations: Foliage and Texture", url: [...]
July 17th, 2010 saat: 9:56 am
[...] Angeles, CA » Jocelyn Chilvers : The Art Garden : Denver, CO Pam Penick : Digging : Austin, TX » Rebecca Sweet : Gossip in the Garden : Los Altos, CA SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Plant Combinations: Foliage Plants", url: [...]