Want More Beauty And Less Work? The Answer Is Foliage,Not Flowers
Time and energy - that’s what it takes to maintain a garden. Each year I have less of both. You know what I’m talking about - maybe you’re getting older, your knees hurt, or you don’t have enough hours in the day to keep things under control. Perhaps - God forbid, you’d just like to do something else with your free time.
So what can you do if you want a garden that’s less work without sacrificing beauty? The answer is fewer flowers and more foliage. Sure, I adore flowers, but they’re a lot of work. And do I really need so many of them? Maybe I could replace some of that color by adding dwarf (3-6’) shrubs with interesting foliage and/or flowers.
Allow me to expand on their virtues.
Less maintenance: In the garden below I ripped out half the original perennials and annuals and planted a combination of gold shrubs (read more the plants I used here). They take up more territory and the dense foliage shades out weeds. I still have some flowers, but I’ve cut weeding time in half. Another perk of shrubs - they don’t require deadheading or staking. One seasonal pruning keeps them looking good. I can live with that.
Gold foliaged shrubs add vibrant color to this garden.
Color combinations: With so many new shrub introductions around, there’s no shortage of gold, burgundy or variegated varieties to choose from. Going bold doesn’t have to be loud either. Below is a more subdued palette I put together in the backyard.
A monochromatic mix of green, white and gray foliaged plants make up this composition - Ilex meservae ‘Blue Maid’ (Holly)’ Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ (red twig dogwood) and Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’.
Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ (red twig dogwood) is tough little shrub (4-5’) that puts forth crisp green and white foliage til fall. It can be grown in partial shade or full sun. When the leaves drop, bright red stems take center stage in the winter landscape. It’s worth having just about anywhere you put it, but I find it especially effective when viewed from a distance (below photo).
Variegated red twig dogwood foliage shows up well from a distance.
Another variegated shade lover, Diervilla ‘Cool Splash’ (bush honeysuckle) covers the ground under that large tree.It’s a small (about 18”), tidy shrub - a real standout in a shady spot. Tiny yellow flowers spring forth in June and July. Next on the list for removal are those daylilies. Whoever decided they were low maintenance? I’m done diddling around with the spent heads and looking at tattered foliage at the end of the summer.
Diervilla ‘Cool Splash’
Texture: In addition to opportunities for dynamic color combinations, shrubs provide plenty of textural possibilities. This burgundy foliaged Elderberry (Sambuccus niger ‘Black Lace’) lends a delicate touch, especially when contrasted against bold leaves like hostas or big leaved hydrangeas. It grows happily in sun or partial shade, but the color is a little brighter in the sun. The one below is growing in my partially shaded backyard.
Sambuccus niger ‘Black Lace’
Here it is in a sunny spot paired up with Sambuccus ‘Lemony Lace’ a gold foliaged cultivar. Love the contrast.
Repetition of Color: A visit to Hollister House Garden in Washington, Ct. inspired me to attempt rhythmic repeats like this in my own gardens. That burgundy foliage is powerful, it draws your eye down the path and leads your eye around to carefully showcased flowers in the same color wheel. I like the gold contrasts too.
View of gardens at Hollister House
Even though these are much bigger gardens than my own, the same concept of repeating color applies. This vibrant vignette (below photo) gave me ideas for the combinations I used in my front garden.
Planted stair steps and brilliant foliage.
Flowers: Planting shrubs doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flowers - plenty of them blossom. I choose shrubs for both foliage and flowers. Hydrangea macrophylla x serrata ‘Lady in Red’ is one I’ve fallen in love with. This roundy moundy little shrub always has it going on. I like using the burgundy tinged leaves against gold leafed shrubs.
Hydrangea macrophylla x serrata ‘Lady in Red’ and Spirea ‘Ogon’
You can count on abundant flowers all summer, but honestly, It’s most sensational in the fall (below photo). I’d grow it simply for the color and red veining in the leaves. Any shrub that changes color in fall, berries or has interesting bark gets big points in my book.
Hydrangea 'Lady in Red' fall foliage
I haven’t looked back since I began making these changes. I spend less time assuming the position (hands and knees) and more time enjoying the new look I’ve got going on. I think of shrubs as the main course, the perennials and annuals are the dessert. If you’ve found this post helpful and you’d like to know more about shrubs with great foliage, subscribe to my blog and receive my free guide, ‘Flash With Foliage.’ If you follow my February foliage extravaganza on Instagram, you can see I’ve become a bit of a nut on the subject. Just one warning, working with foliage is addictive, once you start you won’t want to stop!