High Drama
By: Garden Gate staff
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Colorful foliage
Not all leaves of all plants are green, of course, but what’s the best way to use colorful foliage?
Here, ‘Mahogany Splendor’ false roselle (Hibiscus acetosella) (also called “red-leaf hibiscus”) adds a splash of color to the backdrop and gives the illusion that the garden is more vast than it is.
The burgundy leaves of this tender perennial (hardy in USDA cold zones 8 to 11) make the white and yellow flowers in this bed really stand out, too.
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Bright flowers
Turn up the energy with bright orange annual ‘Fiesta del Sol’ Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). This color livens up the bed by providing complementary hues to the burgundy false roselle, adding an extra layer of contrast.
Use hot colors carefully — too much can be hard on your eyes. Instead, incorporate it sparingly to create a well-balanced design.
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Create texture
Make your landscape come to life with a variety of leaf and flower shapes and sizes. Using a combination of both large and small leaves and flowers creates a visible texture as your eye takes it all in.
This curry plant’s mound of fine silver foliage contrasts the other plants in this bed and ends up standing out more. Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) is a tender perennial, cold-hardy in zones 8 to 11.
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