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Foliage: The Living Palette - Part 4

© Marge Talt

Contrasts and Echoes

Last time we met, we looked at the use of a dominant color theme within a group of plants. Today, I'd like to explore other ways to use foliage contrasts and echoes in the garden.

A favorite vignette, that never ceases to give me pleasure, is formed by a slowly increasing clump of Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' peeping out from under the skirts of my beloved Cimicifuga simplex ramosa. To the right of the grass is a clump of species geranium I've been trying to identify for the past several years -- having cleverly mislaid the tag.

In this group, the grass provides a strong contrast, of both foliage color and form, while the geranium and cimicifuga leaves echo each other in shape. It took me a few tries to find a spot that suited the hakonechloa, who wants partial shade and retentive soil. At the rate it grows, it will be some time before I have the grand sweep I've seen in a few display gardens.

The size of the grass clump in relation to the cimicifuga, who tops six feet (2 m.), keeps the contrast in color from dominating the scene, unlike

a section of another border ruled by Hosta montana aureo-marginata, who creates a full stop. This is partially because of the size of the leaf as well as the strong coloration (which, unlike many variegated hosta, holds all season), but also because this leaf is in total contrast to those around it.

This border is dominated by a group of old Juniper chinensis Pfitzeriana, which form a backdrop for the hosta. The fine juniper needles are radically different from the hosta's huge, shiny leaves in form, shape and texture. The only link is color; the green center of the hosta leaf echoes the green of the juniper needles.

Forming a skirt around the hosta are leaves of another shape, belonging to self-sown Stylophorum diphyllum (Celandine or Wood Poppy). Again, the only commonality with the hosta is the color green, although, when in bloom, the celandine's waxy, bright yellow flowers echo the yellow in the hosta leaf.

An exclamation point like this works well in this border, which, otherwise, is very low key and, for much of the season, would be extremely boring without it.

This is a much quieter grouping because the variegation of Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' is white and green instead of yellow and green. But the group doesn't lack for interest. A short hedge of Taxus spp. (yew) forms a solid backdrop for the houttuynia, whose leaf shape is echoed by the wild violet leaves at its base. In sharp contrast are the arching, linear leaves of Hemerocallis fulva (daylily) on the right.