Add interest in the shade with color, pattern, and texture
Janice Becker ’s garden inDeerfield , Illinois , is an island of horticultural diversity in a neighbourhood rule by turf weed , mature trees , and occasionalground cover song . She has created a plant lover ’s paradise , packed withtried - and - reliable favorite and an intriguing mixture of new and strange cultivars .
“ There ’s no master plan or sublime excogitation . I like to try out , ” Janice articulate . “ For me , horticulture is all about figuring out what I can grow and how it will look . ”
Janice get it on people of color , and it is specially interesting how she uses it in hershadiestbeds . prime make regular appearances throughout the time of year , butfoliageis the main focal point . Every shade of green is represent , tinged and splashed with gold , red , blue , ashen , and ink-black purple .
Plantcombinationsinclude hatful of artful contrast in shell and grain . There ’s enough colouration and pattern repetition to keep conversations between plant neighbors genteel , and enough mixed bag to keep them interesting . If you have a shady corner that needs a visual boost , take inspiration from Janet ’s garden and break up that sea of green .
This plant collector ’s garden offers a satisfying blending of coloration and textures . A diverse mix of leafage charter the heart , lending deepness and interest to a shadowed pathway .
Add eye candy to the understory
The rosiness - tinted leaf of tricolor beech add time of year - tenacious colouring to a partially shaded bed . At ground level , Japanese forest supergrass and ‘ Liberty ’ genus Hosta add cheery contrast amid early - summer verdure .
1 . Tricolor European beech(Fagussylvatica‘Tricolor’,USDA Hardiness Zones 4–7 )
2 . ‘ familiarity ’ Hosta(Hosta‘Liberty ’ , zone 3–8 )
3 . ‘ Aureola ’ Japanese woods grass(Hakonechloamacra‘Aureola ’ , Zones 5–9 )
4 . ‘ Superba ’ betony(Stachys macrantha‘Superba ’ , Zones 4–8 )
A bit of color keeps the greens interesting
Green can be bold , bright , or subtle , depending on what other people of colour are flux in . Here , the airy , glaucous meadow rue foliage cool down a combination dominated by strong tincture of chartreuse and purpleness .
1 . Yellow meadow rue(Thalictrum flavumssp.glaucum , Zones 5–8 )
2 . ‘ full Brim ’ hosta(Hosta‘Wide Brim ’ , Zones 3–8 )
3 . ‘ Pineapple Upsidedown Cake ’ hosta(Hosta‘Pineapple Upsidedown Cake ’ , Zones 3–8 )
4 . ‘ Othello ’ ligularia(Ligulariadentata‘Othello ’ , Zones 3–8 )
Tuck in a bit of brilliance
Easygoing summer bulbs like Star of Bethlehem tote up seasonal sparkle without taking over the border . In the backdrop , a mounting hydrangea scale a tree trunk , bedecking it with luminous blooms .
1 . Star of Bethlehem(Ornithogalum magnum , zone 5–8 )
2 . Yellow epimedium(Epimedium×versicolor‘Sulphureum ’ , Zones 5–8 )
3 . Climbing hydrangea(Hydrangea anomalassp.petiolaris , Zones 4–8 )
Fine texture pairs well with substantial foliage
The big , dark leaf of ‘ Othello ’ ligularia make a twilit backdrop for this splashy five - leaf aralia . genus Allium blooms pick up the ligularia ’s warm coloring material and the aralia ’s delicate , shine shape .
1 . Stars of Persia(Alliumchristophii , Zones 5–8 )
2 . vary fiveleaf aralia(Eleutherococcus sieboldianus‘Variegatus ’ , Zones 4–9 )
3 . ‘ Othello ’ ligularia(Ligularia dentata‘Othello ’ , Zones 3–8 )
Vary leaf shapes for visual interest
Artfully mix foliage shapes contribute intriguing texture to this lush exhibit , and sweet summer bulb add a touch of color .
1 . chickenhearted wax - bells(Kirengeshomapalmata , Zones 5–8 )
2 . ‘ Silver Bay ’ hosta(Hosta‘Silver Bay ’ , Zones 3–9 )
4 . ‘ Globemaster ’ allium(Allium‘Globemaster ’ , Zones 5–8 )
5 . Martagon lily(Lilium Lilium martagon , Zones 3–7 )
Assemble an edgy combination
Heavy pruning keeps this ‘ Wolf Eyes ’ kousa dogwood in edge in a squiffy blank space . This couch its whitened - edged foliage close to the earth , where it acts as a frosty enhancer for gilded Japanese timberland grass and counterpoint blanched - striped lamium leaves . A nearby hosta pick up the nerveless and lovesome tones of its companion .
1 . ‘ Wolf Eyes ’ kousa dogwood(Cornuskousa‘Wolf center ’ , Zones 5–8 )
2 . ‘ Aureola ’ Nipponese forest grass(Hakonechloa macra‘Aureola ’ , Zones 5–9 )
3 . ‘ Chequers ’ spotted drained nettle(Lamium maculatum‘Chequers ’ , Zones 3–9 )
4 . ‘ June ’ hosta(Hosta‘June ’ , Zones 3–9 )
invention
Tints and Textures Take Precedence When Nothing is Blooming
It is tempting to fill louche areas with wide swath of authentic ground covers , but a well - curated pallet of plant will supply more interest and variety all season long . When choosing or adding plants , think about the color and texture of the leaves and how they will look next to their chosen companions throughout the year . Do n’t forget to add some undimmed foliage to the mix , sited next to plants with dark- or cool - colored leaves to emphasize its impact .
Garden ornaments add structure
An unostentatious birdbath and playful atomic number 26 “ fronds ” act as focal dot in this foliage - based composition . Even a little amount of water bring mull over twinkle and a sense of movement to a still garden aspect .
Site a high-impact plant next to subdued companions
Bowles ’ golden sedge ( Carexelata‘Aurea ’ , Zones 5–9 ) looks brilliant alongside a genus Hosta edged in cool blue and the deep dark-green leafage of ‘ Hot Lips ’ turtlehead ( Chelone lyonii‘Hot Lips ’ , Zones 3–8 ) .
Fine-textured ground covers fill foreground space
dark phlox ( Phlox divaricata‘Blue Moon ’ , Zones 3–8 ) and Taiwanese astilbe ( Astilbe chinensisvar.pumila , Zones 4–8 ) are true choices to edge a umbrageous bed . Both have long - lasting leafage that ’s attractive before and after the flush peak .
Carol Collins is the assistant editor .
Photos , except where noted : Danielle Sherry ; Carol Collins
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