Rely on this key element of design to create a garden that always keeps your interest
Texture is often concern to as the third component of garden design . We all incline to get overly focused on color and form , but grain is that hard - to - explain “ little something extra ” that brings a landscape painting from good to great . Joann Currier and Sebastian Hamilton rely on this essential third element when they turned their 4 - acre North Carolina holding from horse pastures into the glorious garden they always dreamed it would be . Throughout the landscape painting , they have repeated coloring material , forms , and — most important — texture . But while the colors can fade and figure will change in this Zone 7 garden , the grain keep open thing interesting and attractive yr - round .
The Plan: United by texture
This garden spans near 4 Acre , and each area has a typical feeling and plant palette . However , the various section are united by repeating colors , chassis , and , perhaps most strikingly , textures .
2 . Scree garden
3 . primal lawn
5 . Weeping katsura
6 . Main mansion
See more:View plant lists for this garden.
Select focal points that are texturally significant
If you were to ask even the most veteran nurseryman to name why some of the focal points in their spaces place upright out , they would likely remark the color of those plants first , and then perhaps their shape second . seldom do gardener cite texture — although most lie with that it is an important element to have if a design is to be successful . Although Sebastian and Joann weigh theirs to be for the most part a collector ’s garden , they be intimate that their love of plants had to be balanced by secure design . “ In this landscape , we select grain over bloom , ” Sebastian explains . When blooms fade or a signifier change over time , texture can be broadly counted on to be ever present — especially when you check that the focal points of the garden are textural gem .
After a visitant travels down the private road and head through a small gate , one of the first domain to draw in attention is the scree garden . The plants in these bed are a sublime mix of trees , shrubs , and evergreen plant ( from coniferous tree to hardy succulents ) . The plants that squall , “ Look at me ! ” are textural wonders that shine in all 12 months — gaffer among them whale ’s tongue agave ( Agave ovatifolia , Zones 7–11 ) and ‘ Little Diamond ’ overshadow Nipponese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica‘Little Diamond ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . These will interchange Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe over meter , and their coloration can motley depending on the time of year , but their texture never change , and that is why they were chosen as focal points .
Just outside of the scree garden are more traditional long borders occupy with a mixture of trees , shrubs , perennials , and even some tropicals . Again , it is the plant with the impregnable texture that stand out from the crowd , whether these textures add up from the bold , dull leaves of ‘ Thailand Giant ’ elephant ’s ear ( Colocasia gigantea‘Thailand Giant ’ , Zones 8–10 ) , or the cushy and weblike canopy of one of the many Japanese maple . These were the focal decimal point that were first plant , and then partner plants were add around those stars . Each partner was chosen for its ability to accent the texture of the focal peak — to aid it really reflect . ‘ Amazing Grace ’ weeping katsura ( Cercidiphyllum japonicum‘Amazing Grace ’ , Zones 5–9 ) takes center point in one oblong bed , and its willowy , soft texture is quite spectacular in its own rightfield . But with the bulky , bluff leafage of ‘ Hawaiian Punch ’ elephant ’s ear ( Colocasia‘Hawaiian Punch ’ , Zones 8–10 ) and the ultrafine needles of ‘ All Gold ’ spreading retem ( Juniperus conferta‘All Gold ’ , Zones 6–8 ) at its feet , this show - show-stopper of a tree really takes center point . The partners here bid contrast texture to the focal point , and that makes the pairing work .
Even a plant that you would n’t ordinarily think of as have what it take to be a focal dot can be elevated to that position if it has exceptional texture and is given the ripe planting partners . First Knight ™ outpouring sess ( Pennisetum‘Tift 10 ’ , Zones 8–10 ) has thick-skulled , glossy over-embellished sword but would n’t necessarily place upright out as a textural focal point if it were n’t wall by the contrasting airy billowiness of prairie dropseed ( Sporobolus heterolepis , Zones 3–9 ) . Partnerships of plants should be build by forming textural line ; however , colour and form should play a role in connecting plant . If a garden were filled with only solid contrasts , everything could look disjointed and disorderly . Here , both plants are grasses and thus have a similar form .
Ensure that the hardscaping plays a prominent role
rarely do we think of the brick , boulder , and crushed rock pathway that serpent through a garden as being of the essence elements . But in this North Carolina landscape , the hardscape play a textural role just as important as that of the flora . The materials and localization of the hardscape were see by the same requirement as the plants : strongest demarcation for maximal optic impact . “ We gave equal weight to the plants and hardscaping , ” Sebastian say .
This idea of equal charge is visualize right as you take out into the drive . “ As you enter the garden from the route , ” say Joann , “ the big stones bordering both sides lie in bold purple contrast to the delicately flow ‘ Silk Tassel ’ sedge ” ( Carex morrowiivar.temnolepis‘Silk Tassel ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . The rasping and pit flagstones are fabulously eye - catching , but perhaps more so because they are paired with the soft , fine - textured blades of the locoweed . This same pairing of uncouth flagstones and diffuse , lush tropical and repeated plants is seen just off the lawn in a more traditional orbit of the landscape painting .
The scree garden offers another example of how hardscaping can add together ask texture to a infinite , yield it that fiddling extra something . The hardscaping here provides persistence among the various planting . A mix of smooth boulders surrounds the bed perimeters , and rough gravel pathways snake throughout . The grain of the boulders contrasts with the downy midget conifer and other fine - textured perennials . The crushed rock is accentuated by the soft billowy ‘ Lavender Frappe ’ verbena ( Verbena catherinae‘Lavender Frappe ’ , Zones 7–10 ) that damp the edges of the stones . As you move out of the scree garden sphere toward the house , several tropic plants with fine textures take over the obligation of diverging from the hardscape . These larger plants contrast strikingly with the crushed rock paths and pitted rock music edges .
At the back of the house is a series of shade gardens that surround a brick patio . The bricks , which have an almost sandpaper - like texture , are the perfect foil to the many smooth - leave subtlety plant life around them . In this way , the patio play a role in guiding the plant choices . The crushed rock pathways around the terrace are alike to those that run throughout the garden , and again , the plant surround the edges here provide a different texture from that of the jolty pieces of peastone .
Form is still important, especially if it provides contrast
Although texture is the first thing that jumps out at you when visiting Joann and Sebastian ’s incredible garden , it ’s hard to disregard the multifariousness of forms throughout every layer . Joann is a skipper at pruning Japanese maples ( Acer palmatumand cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) , and there are several standout specimens throughout the holding , include ‘ Baldsmith ’ and ‘ Orangeola ’ . First you notice their bonsai - same silhouette , and then you see the lacy , diffused texture of their canopy . Form is indeed authoritative for capturing the eye ’s attending , but the texture of those diverse forms is what keeps the eye engaged . It ’s a exchangeable scenario in the scree garden , where there are pines and firs with highly distinctive shapes . Again , first you discover their form , but then you focus on the fine grain the needles allow , or even the common appearance of their bark . This duple punch of form followed by texture bread and butter and control nearly everyone ’s attention and give the garden an extra degree of involvement .
As you move through this large garden , it feel seamless . There is a delicious admixture of flora in an array of colors and chassis , but it is the textures that keep the middle engaged and moving . These are why this landscape looks in effect and feels good class - round .
Joann and Sebastian’s favorite textural gems
It ’s authoritative to have a selection of works with outstanding texture for every season . The following list includes evergreen plant ( including a holly Joann give away ) , conifers , herbaceous perennial , and even a tropical or two .
1. ‘Mini Twists’ Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus‘Mini Twists’)
Zones:3–9
Size:6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Conditions : Full sun ; well - run out dirt
Native range : Northeastern North America
2. ‘Solar Flare’ holly (Ilex× ‘Solar Flare’)
Zones:6–9
Size:6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet encompassing
condition : Full sun to partial shade ; moist , well - drain soil
Native range : cross
3. ‘Green Spice’ Persian ivy (Hedera colchica‘Green Spice’)
Size:4 pes improbable and wide
Conditions : fond to full tint ; well - drain grease
Native mountain range : Western Caucasus , northern Turkey
4. Braun’s arborvitae fern (Selaginella braunii)
Size:18 inches marvellous and 24 inches broad
shape : fond to full shade ; moist , well - drain ground
aboriginal ambit : China
It’s the textural elements that truly stand out.A diverse plant palette is always interesting during peak season, but when a landscape is filled with texture, it’s interesting all the time.
pic : good manners of Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
5. Japanese banana (Musa basjoo)
Zones:5–10
Size:6 to 14 foot tall and wide
condition : Full sunshine to partial shade ; moist , rich soil
Take a quick look, then close your eyes.The two plants you will remember are the katsura (above) and the fountain grass (below). They dominate the scene because of their impressive texture.View plant lists for this garden.
aboriginal range : Japan
6. ‘Baby Tut’ umbrella plant (Cyperus involucratus‘Baby Tut’)
Zones:9–11
Size:1 to 2 feet tall and wide
weather : Full sun to fond shade ; dampish grease
Take a quick look, then close your eyes.The two plants you will remember are the katsura (above) and the fountain grass (below). They dominate the scene because of their impressive texture.View plant lists for this garden.
Native image : Eastern Africa , Arabian Peninsula
7. Variegated bitter cassava (Manihot esculenta‘Variegata’)
Zones:10–12
Size:6 to 10 metrical foot tall and wide
Conditions : fond shade ; moist , fertile soil
Native range : Brazil
8. ‘Nico’ Swedish ivy (Plectranthus‘Nico’)
Zones:8–11
Size:10 inch tall and 18 inch wide
Native compass : South Africa
What stands out more—the form or the texture?This elephant’s ear definitely has an eye-catching silhouette, but its bold texture shines even brighter because it contrasts so strongly with the fine-textured surroundings.View plant lists for this garden.
9. Dwarf loblolly pine (Pinus taeda‘Nana’)
Size:10 to 20 fundament tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Native range : Southeastern United States
*Invasive alert: Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)
This plant is considered encroaching in NJ and TN .
Please visitinvasiveplantatlas.orgfor more information .
Danielle Sherry is the older editor .
Gravel pathways have their own role to play.The pitted and rough expanse of this walkway becomes compelling on its own with help from the smooth, large-leaved annuals and tropicals on either side.
Photos , except where noted : Danielle Sherry . instance : Elara Tanguy .
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Equal parts texture, hardscape, and form is a recipe for success.Along the driveway is an explosion of texture from the rocks, gravel, and grasses, as well as several plants with exceptional form.
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When the hardscaping is rough, the plants should be soft.Turf gives way to large, textured flagstones in this section of the garden, and accordingly, the plants become finer in texture to highlight the coarseness of the rock (above). Similarly, the brick patio has a sandpaper-like quality, so the surrounding ferns and grasses are fluffy to provide contrast with the pavers (below).View plant lists for this garden.
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Distinctive shapes certainly stand out, especially if they also have great texture.An array of evergreens scattered throughout the scree garden act as focal points, from the lollipop-shaped dwarf loblolly pine to the pyramidal ‘Sulphurea’ Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica‘Sulphurea’, Zones 6–9). Even the round gumdrop-like ‘Golden Helleri’ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata‘Golden Helleri’, Zones 5–8) provides a handsome silhouette.View plant lists for this garden.*
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Form and texture are the ultimate pairing.It’s hard to decide what’s more noticeable—the form of the agaves, yuccas, and conifers, or their textures. When you have both qualities in one plant, you know it’s a must-have.View plant lists for this garden.
