Delicate, fine foliage and flowers help create a soft and welcoming atmosphere in the garden. But these wispy elements can disappear in the landscape if they aren’t used correctly. Here are three basic guidelines to help you best incorporate fine-textured plants in your garden design.
1. Place fine-textured plants up front. When using only a few fine plants, place them along the front of the border or in a container on the patio, where their intricate details can be appreciated up close. Placed farther back in the garden, a plant with delicate details, like Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) or ruby grass (Melinus nerviglumis), is likely to disappear among its coarse-textured neighbors.
2. Plant fine-textured plants in multiples for a strong impression. If you want to try placing fine-textured plants farther back in the garden, plant them in large drifts or masses. This will ensure they make an impact. Drifts of fine textures also have a magnificent ethereal effect, and they can softly fill the negative space in between larger, bolder plantings.
3. Use fine-textured plants sparingly and strategically. I often think of my garden as a grand theatrical performance, filled with highs and lows, lots of dramatic twists and various stars that make their appearance throughout the year. Finely textured plants are the play's supporting cast, helping those heavily textured drama queens stand out. For example, the lacy foliage of threadleaf coreopsis (C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’) or the wispy blades of Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa) can help shine the spotlight on the big, bold leaves of an artichoke plant that they surround.
But as with most things in life, if a little is good, a lot isn’t necessarily better. A scene should comprise one-third fine-textured plants and two-thirds coarse-textured plants. This proportion maintains enough contrast without visually tipping the scales in one direction or the other.
