When it comes to gardens most of us first think in terms of flowers. We slow down and smell them, we cut them for decorations, we give them to our sweeties, and they make us happy. But to my mind, what really gives the garden its character is its structure, which depends on foliage. This includes sizes, textures, forms, and contrasts; all elements best provided by leaves.
Olfactory stimulation plays a big part in the charm of garden memories, and floral fragrances have a deep history in the making of perfumes. Many of these are associated with feminine attributes, while the herbal aroma of leaves evokes a more masculine character. Many leaves have aromatic oils, which bring us the scents of Mesquite, Rosemary, Sagebrush and any number of plants from our CA Chaparral, or the French Garrigue.
From dramatic to understated, you can go vertical or horizontal, soft or sharp. I love mixing forms and contrasting textures when planning the bones for my garden. I’m not advocating a garden devoid of flowers, rather a canvas where different brush strokes are being applied to the foundation of the art that is your garden.
What follows are a few of our favorite plants for foliage. Hopefully you can see some of these on your next nursery visit, and incorporate a few of them into your garden scheme.
Dramatic/Bold
- Stipa gigantean Giant Feather Grass
- Gunnera tinctoria Dinosaur Food
- Hosta sieboldiana Plantain Lily
Delicate/Lacy
- Asparagus setaceus Emerald Feather
- Coreopsis verticillata Coreopsis Daisy
- Chamaelaucium u. Geraldton Waxflower
Aromatic
- Buxus spp. Boxwood
- Salvia spp. Sage
- Thymus spp. Thyme
Spiky/Vertical
- Astelia n. chathamica Silver Spear
- Phormium hybrids New Zealand Flax
- Miscanthus s. Strictus Porcupine Grass
Colorful
Gold
- Sedum m. Ogon
- Helichrysum Limelight
Bronze
- Heuchera Palace Purple
- Lobelia fulgens
Silver
- Artemisia Powis Castle
- Stachys byzantina