Plant shape is also important. Some plants grow in mounds, like geraniums and hosta, others, like hollyhocks and delphinium can be tall and spire-like; some are spiky, others vase or fountain or fan shaped. Comparison and contrast within a vignette makes for visual interest. If things look too soft and rounded, try something that will work as a visual exclamation point, like a daylily or iris with its tall, pointy spear-like foliage. If things look too solid toss in something airy or fernlike to lighten it up.
Start with the leaves and you'll find that your garden has a pleasing look all year round. Eventually you'll find plant groupings that you like. Then all you have to worry about is whether the flower colors work together. And with all the new cultivars coming on the market each year, if you find the plant that works for you shape and texture-wise, you can probably also find one that has the flower color you want.
But we'll save flower color combinations for next time. . .
Berkley Hort provides some guidelines on using variegated foliage to create garden interest.
Detroit News garden writer Janet Macunovich shows how to create a garden for year-round interest based on foliage.
Don't miss Massachussetts' Union News garden guru Pernell Gerver's three part series on designing with foliage: Perennials, annuals and trees and shrubs.
And if those descriptions have you hooked, this one will really get you -Anything But Green's Gallery of Variegated Plants.
Happy Gardening!!
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