Variegated Buildup on Aisle Ten

I was cruising through a catalog this morning, enjoying all the flowers images inside its  covers.  Stunning photos of remarkable blossoms help nurseries sell their wares; however, what I want to see is foliage.  I love foliage.  It’s the reason I am keen on banana plants, cannas, and variegated foliage.  Almost any leaf that is bumpy or lumpy, brightly hued or unusual receives my attention.  Some leaves look like an impressionist painter created the artistic patterns and textures; other leaves such as the porcupine tomato (Solanum pyracanthum), look like Picasso had a bit of fun with it.

Foliage is the mainstay in the garden and without it, my little oasis would seem like a desert.  Don’t get me wrong; I love flowers just as much as the next woman does.  While blossoms take center stage, the leaves set the stage. Too many flowers in the garden is too syrupy for these eyes, I need a place to rest them in between the eye candy.  That’s where beautiful foliage creates balance and harmony, and a place to relax the eyes.

Too Much of a Good Thing

I’ve toured a few gardens where variegation has taken over. Ouch, my eyes!  Too many plants with variegated foliage, leaves me feeling slightly nauseous, like just before a huge migraine headache strikes.  I remember one home where acuba plants grew everywhere. They were foundation plants for the home as well as used as hedging for one side of their yard.  Whoever planted them; either received an excellent deal on them from a nursery, or really liked these plants to the point of obsession. Their bright gold and green foliage screamed at me whenever I walked down their long driveway.  Even now, I dislike this shrub even though I’ve seen single specimens used as understory plants in a shaded garden with toned down splashes of yellow on its leaves.  It immediately reminds me of the gaudiness of my first encounter with the plant.

Good Garden Design Includes Foliage

Foliage is an integral part of garden design. Gardeners, who design garden masterpieces, use foliage extensively in their artistry.  With all the diversity of size, color, and form in leaves, a creative gardener can give rise to combinations of plants that make any onlooker appreciate the garden canvas in front of them.

One of my favorite books, Consider the Leaf by Judy Glattstein, goes into much detail about using foliage in garden design.  Her fabulous foliage combinations are enough to make any flower gardener turn strictly to leaf gardening.

Click on images to view larger.
Top photo: Ilex 'Golden Milkboy' photographed in Wendy Tweten's garden.
Middle: Solanum pyracanthum photographed in Debbie Teashon's garden.
Bottom: Hosta 'War Paint' photographed in David Fishman's garden.

Comments

[Les]

I agree with you that a little goes a long way. I have a very small yard and it is important that whatever I put in the garden is able to provide interest well beyond a brief flowering.

[Deirdre]

I'm a sucker for leaves, but I'm fussy about variegation. Any variegation that looks like the plant might be ill is out. That precludes most blotched leaves. Edgings and venation are another story. I'm also a sucker for glaucus and red/purple leaves as well as interesting shapes and textures.

[jeff-nhn]

I love all my variegated hosta's. They add texture and color to my shady areas. In fact I prefer variegation over a plain green leaf.