Leafy Greens: 10 Ways to Beautify Your Garden With Foliage
Lush green foliage is not only less maintenance, the effect can be just as stunning as flowers
A strong emphasis on foliage used to be a sign that a designer had been at work in a garden. Now it’s increasingly common to find beautiful sweeps of grasses, irisene and philodendron or large groups of evergreen plants clipped into hedges, squares or gently curving shapes in gardens up and down the country. Not that flowers have been abandoned mind you; it’s just that nowadays they have a green and harmonious background to keep the garden together when the blooms start to fade.
Foliage plants can be used to fulfill a multitude of functions in the garden, including living structure (for shade, screening, enclosure etc), or as a soft green counterbalance to extensive flower colour. You can create subtle interest by varying leaf textures, shapes and colour. Or you can use sculptural plants like topiary and succulents as focal points. Evergreen plants can also be clipped to become architectural elements, or planted en masse to suggest a particular theme in the garden.
The best thing about leafy plants? As opposed to flowering plants that need regular watering, deadheading and feeding, leafy plants don’t need much maintenance, apart from the odd trim and feed. Whether you are planning a garden from scratch or are keen to add more foliage to your existing outdoor space, here’s all you need to know to make an impact.
Foliage plants can be used to fulfill a multitude of functions in the garden, including living structure (for shade, screening, enclosure etc), or as a soft green counterbalance to extensive flower colour. You can create subtle interest by varying leaf textures, shapes and colour. Or you can use sculptural plants like topiary and succulents as focal points. Evergreen plants can also be clipped to become architectural elements, or planted en masse to suggest a particular theme in the garden.
The best thing about leafy plants? As opposed to flowering plants that need regular watering, deadheading and feeding, leafy plants don’t need much maintenance, apart from the odd trim and feed. Whether you are planning a garden from scratch or are keen to add more foliage to your existing outdoor space, here’s all you need to know to make an impact.
2. Soften built elements
Where there are many man-made materials in an outdoor space, such as this contemporary Sydney patio, inserting an evergreen hedge reduces the hard-edged feel. As well as softening the timber and stone materials, the hedge also functions as a low wall to shelter the seating area.
Where there are many man-made materials in an outdoor space, such as this contemporary Sydney patio, inserting an evergreen hedge reduces the hard-edged feel. As well as softening the timber and stone materials, the hedge also functions as a low wall to shelter the seating area.
3. Add interest with subtle textural contrasts
In this Melbourne garden, the large, shiny leaves of the tall michelia hedge contrast with the smaller leaves of the lower box hedging. The shiny leaves also help to reflect light into the shady courtyard, enlivening the space.
In this Melbourne garden, the large, shiny leaves of the tall michelia hedge contrast with the smaller leaves of the lower box hedging. The shiny leaves also help to reflect light into the shady courtyard, enlivening the space.
4. Go for drama
The designer has contrasted the small leaves of the michelia figo and box hedging on the boundary of the same Melbourne garden with lush-leaved subtropical ginger and ligularia, creating a striking effect. The bright red finely cut foliage of the maple in the rear adds to the drama.
The designer has contrasted the small leaves of the michelia figo and box hedging on the boundary of the same Melbourne garden with lush-leaved subtropical ginger and ligularia, creating a striking effect. The bright red finely cut foliage of the maple in the rear adds to the drama.
5. Play with colour
You don’t always need flowers to bring colour into the garden. Take a stroll around your local garden centre, and the number of plants with coloured or variegated foliage may come as a surprise. But remember, brightly coloured foliage will have the same effect as a group of brightly coloured flowers – so don’t overdo it. Too many different colours is not easy on the eye. Use coloured or variegated foliage as accents to contrast with green- or grey-toned leaves. Some plants with boldly coloured leaves include red Japanese blood grass (above) as well as iresene cultivars, Chinese toon, Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin, Japanese maple, purple barberry, heuchera, euphorbia and coloured flaxes.
You don’t always need flowers to bring colour into the garden. Take a stroll around your local garden centre, and the number of plants with coloured or variegated foliage may come as a surprise. But remember, brightly coloured foliage will have the same effect as a group of brightly coloured flowers – so don’t overdo it. Too many different colours is not easy on the eye. Use coloured or variegated foliage as accents to contrast with green- or grey-toned leaves. Some plants with boldly coloured leaves include red Japanese blood grass (above) as well as iresene cultivars, Chinese toon, Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin, Japanese maple, purple barberry, heuchera, euphorbia and coloured flaxes.
6. Give it the soft touch
When planning our gardens, we often consider the effect it will have on our eyes and noses, but tend to forget the other senses. As well as using plants with colour and scent, why not consider touch, through softly felted leaves like this lamb’s ear edging?
More: How to Choose the Right Garden Edging for Your Outdoor Space
When planning our gardens, we often consider the effect it will have on our eyes and noses, but tend to forget the other senses. As well as using plants with colour and scent, why not consider touch, through softly felted leaves like this lamb’s ear edging?
More: How to Choose the Right Garden Edging for Your Outdoor Space
7. Choose sculptural shapes
The architectural form of a spreading silver grey dragon tree (dracaena draco) and multi-coloured agaves turn this Perth entrance garden into a living sculpture gallery. Other plants with sculptural form include bird of paradise, flaxes, tree ferns, palms and cycads. Adding uplighting enhances the dramatic presence of such architectural plants.
The architectural form of a spreading silver grey dragon tree (dracaena draco) and multi-coloured agaves turn this Perth entrance garden into a living sculpture gallery. Other plants with sculptural form include bird of paradise, flaxes, tree ferns, palms and cycads. Adding uplighting enhances the dramatic presence of such architectural plants.
8. But don’t overdo it
It’s important to treat your living sculptures as you would the inanimate variety. Less is definitely more. Use as focal points or to mark different areas in a garden (for example, a change of direction in a path). Surround bold-leaved plants with those of finer foliage such as mondo grass, pittosporum, buxus or ferns.
It’s important to treat your living sculptures as you would the inanimate variety. Less is definitely more. Use as focal points or to mark different areas in a garden (for example, a change of direction in a path). Surround bold-leaved plants with those of finer foliage such as mondo grass, pittosporum, buxus or ferns.
9. Create a tropical theme
A distinctive theme for your garden can be easily developed by grouping several plants with similar foliage together. Here, in this Perth garden, the mass planting of philodendron around a water feature with a frangipani overhead makes it very clear that this is a subtropical-themed garden.
A distinctive theme for your garden can be easily developed by grouping several plants with similar foliage together. Here, in this Perth garden, the mass planting of philodendron around a water feature with a frangipani overhead makes it very clear that this is a subtropical-themed garden.
10. Or try Japanese minimalism
Just three plant species signal the Japanese theme of this garden. It’s all about the shaping and positioning of the cloud-pruned conifer with its mossy green base, juxtaposed against the lacy texture of the bamboo against the wall.
SHOW US
Have you used leafy foliage to great effect in your own garden? Send us a photo in the comments section below.
MORE
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Ground Force: Top 10 Ground Covers for Your Garden
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Just three plant species signal the Japanese theme of this garden. It’s all about the shaping and positioning of the cloud-pruned conifer with its mossy green base, juxtaposed against the lacy texture of the bamboo against the wall.
SHOW US
Have you used leafy foliage to great effect in your own garden? Send us a photo in the comments section below.
MORE
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Ground Force: Top 10 Ground Covers for Your Garden
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
In this fabulous Mosman garden, the designer has used a variety of foliage plants to enclose and define the courtyard, including grasses, clipped topiary balls and a hedge. The contrast in plant forms, leaf shapes, colours and textures gives the garden plenty of interest with not a flowering plant in sight.