Creating Texture in the Garden
Texture is what makes a planted garden great. By implementing a planting scheme with contrasting form, foliage and texture, one can create interest and dimension within the garden. Fortunately we are blessed with so many options to choose from.
Why three is a magic number
Whilst even numbers create symmetry, odd numbers create interest. Plants that are grouped in threes or fives tend to make your eye move around the grouping; and ultimately the garden. You’ll notice that many landscape designers utilise this rule of design.
When a pattern is not a pattern
I like to think of planting design as creating a pattern that isn’t a pattern. Using the concept of grouping plants in threes, the aim is to create a pattern of alternating contrasting textures and tones. Whilst alternating between textures from one grouping to another is a pattern, you also need to ensure the same pattern of plants is not repeated over and over again within a landscape design.
So now for some examples
Some of my favourite plants to group together to create texture in a garden design are:
- Buxus Balls — round spheres with a green tone
- Agave Blue Glow — compact & spikey with beautiful greeny blue tones
- Crassula Blue Bird — a medium sized shrub/succulent with amazing blue foliage
- Raphiolepsis Oriental Pearl — a medium sized shrubs with a compact form
- Walking Iris — a strappy wide leaf plant create as a filler
- Strobilanthes gossipinus — a compact shrub with a beautiful grey tone
- Sanseveria trifasciata — upright blade like foliage
- Salvia Santa Barbara — a prolific flowering compact shrub
- Mexican Lily — a medium to large strappy plant with blue and green tones
- Kalanchoe Silver Spoons — medium sized shrub/succulent with silver tones
