Considering Leaf Texture

Using color as a design consideration is pretty well understood by most gardeners. Even the different colors of foliage receive attention. Leaf texture as...

Oenothera fremontii ‘Shimmer’
Item # 72122 		Oenothera fremontii 'Shimmer' PPAF
Shimmer Evening Primrose

each $7.99
3 to 6 plants $7.79
7 or more $7.59

30% Off! $5.60
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Item # 27550 		Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

each $8.99
3 to 6 plants $8.79
7 or more $8.59
Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam'
Item # 22632 		Artemisia versicolor 'Seafoam'
Curlicue Sage

each $5.99
3 to 6 plants $5.79
7 or more $5.59

30% Off! $4.20
Sedum x 'Autumn Joy'
Item # 89285 		Sedum 'Autumn Joy'
Showy Stonecrop

each $7.99
3 to 6 plants $7.79
7 or more $7.59
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
Item # 37990 		Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
Zagreb tickseed

each $7.99
3 to 6 plants $7.79
7 or more $7.59
  • Topic: Garden Design
  • Author: Mary Ann Walz
  • Keywords: design, foliage leaf, leaves, color, texture,
  • Date: November 2005

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Using color as a design consideration is pretty well understood by most gardeners. Even the different colors of foliage receive attention. However, leaf texture as a design consideration often is ignored or happens by accident. Take a look at your garden and see if you can get some ideas for improving or incorporating this element into your landscape.

In plant taxonomy leaves are classified into a number of shapes, but this can get rather technical. To simplify things, I’ve included my own easy classifications.

  • Swordlike or Spikes- Grasses, Iris, Allium, Kniphofia, Hemerocallis, Hesperaloe
  • Feathery or Fern-like—Artemisia, Coreopsis verticillata, Diascia
  • Large—Rhubarb, some Hostas, Cannas
  • Medium—Heuchera, Echinacea, some Sedums, Peony
  • Small—Veronica, Thymus, Aster, Agastache, Nepeta
  • Fuzzy—Lambs’ Ears, Marrubium

Perhaps the main rule of thumb is try not to have all the same type of leaves together.
Below are a few combinations I’ve used that have worked well:

  • Iris and Aquilegia, Kniphofia and Nepeta, Helictotrichon and Nepeta
  • Artemisia, Panicum and Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
  • Symphytum, Nepeta, and Aquilegia; Dasylirion, Agave and Nassella
  • Marrubium and Agastache, Lambs’ ears and Penstemon strictus

Countless combinations of leaf textures exist and when visiting other gardens, it’s always worth noting the combinations you find there. On a recent art studio tour, I found myself gazing at a large drift of Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ combined with two tall varieties of ornamental grasses, Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and Sporobolus wrightii. I caught myself making mental notes about possible areas in my landscape where I could place a similar combination.

Designing with leaves is another way to add interest to any garden.