For the lulls and for the win!
While visiting a couple of gardens recently, gardeners each, in one way or another, lamented either that their gardens were so full of blooms the previous week or that next week there will be so many more blooms. I can totally relate. A tried and true technique for filling flower gaps is to build a garden around foliage contrasts, a strategy garden designers frequently employ! It seems to be the key to a great garden. And if there are flowers in bloom, all the better. Here are a couple of foliage contrasts using commonly available native plants.
Blue Wood Sedge & Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride'
Strappy foliage next to large round leaves creates loads of contrast and these two plants have the color contrast going as well. Blue wood sedge (Carex flaccosperma) and Autumn Bride Heuchera (Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride') grow well in shade or part sun. The more sun they get, the more moisture they need during drier parts of summer. Both of these plants are often semi-evergreen during winter.
Plantain Leaf Sedge and Ginger
Here is another take on strappy foliage and large leaves: plantain leaf sedge (Carex plantaginea) and wild ginger (Asarum canadense). Both grow well in shade and there is a bit of color contrast too. The plantain leaf sedge is semi-evergreen in many locations. The wild ginger dies back completely.
Inkberry and Red Osier Dogwood
Small leaves and large leaves, deciduous and evergreen and variegated color and dark green -- lots of contrasts here in a low growing hedge. The evergreen is inkberry (Ilex glabra). The variegated dogwood shrub, silver and gold, is a cultivar of red osier dogwood. Straight species dogwood shrubs (Cornus sericea) would also work in this combination.
Ferns and Heuchera
The feathery ferns and bronze heuchera leaves create an energetic pairing. Unfortunately, I don't have a definite identification of either the fern or the heuchera cultivar but you could easily create this same pairing with Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) or sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) and a heuchera or foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) of your choice!
Grasses
Here, in a planting by Native Roots Conservation Landscaping, the phenomenal contrast provided by grasses is on full display. The little bluestem grasses (Schizachyrium scoparium) create a beautifully different shape, color and texture from the various native shrubs and perennials.
Do you have other combinations you like? Please do share!
Happy Gardening.
Oh, yes, foliage can be so magical, indeed. Great combinations you've shared here. 🙂