More High Impact Garden Design Tips

High Impact Garden Design – Part Two

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' at Portland's Rose Garden

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' at Portland's Rose Garden

In the previous article it was revealed here that it is easy to make a dramatic statement in the garden if masses of Goldsturm Rudbeckia are planted.   Even though masses of bright, golden daisy flowers do make a showy statement, they do tend to shout loudly at times.  Even though the reliable, showy, lovable Goldsturm is such a useful plant in the garden, there are other ways to create a show-stopping display.   Instead of considering neon magenta impatiens with scarlet geraniums, think about using plants (and plant combinations) in a way that accentuates their positive characteristics. Take, for example, the drama and striking architectural qualities of an Acanthus (bear’s breeches) leaf and flower that has inspired artists and garden lovers since the times of ancient Greece.   This is a high impact plant all by itself.

Formal (and modern-style gardens too) have a naturally occurring impact as a result of their symmetry.   Many modern garden designs use simple geometric shapes to portray a message of simplicity.  The use of just a few plants in a simple design diverts all attention to this one area.  The resulting impact is substantial.  Formal designs can attract attention as a result of their simplicity too.  This style of design often involves clipped hedges, sculpture, topiary and a select list of annuals or perennials that have a formal “look”.  Masses of one colour in a design using fibrous begonia, coleus, impatiens, mealy-cup sage,  mondo grass, or the sword-shaped leaves of tall bearded iris are very effective in formal gardens and have good impact. 

An informal garden, because of its nature is harder to use as a high impact garden.  Informal designs traditionally have lots of diversity and often are a riot of colour and textures.  Plants weave into each other and have a natural, meadow-like feel.  Most gardens in the extreme informal style are quite subordinate and only dominant in a minor way.  

 

Cool colors of New Guinea impatiens, asparagus fern and Diascia in Francis H. Cabot's garden, Les Quatre Vents in La Malbaie, Quebec

Cool colors of New Guinea impatiens, asparagus fern and Diascia in Francis H. Cabot's garden, Les Quatre Vents in La Malbaie, Quebec

The most popular style of garden design combines lots of informality with some formal basis.  This “happy medium” uses the best aspects of both styles and can be used well for successful high impact designs.  The formal parts of the design create the framework that contain and sharpen the informality of the design.  The contrast between these two styles creates a portion of the impact.
 
Texture and form (both the flower and the plant form) are very useful when designing with plants.  They are very often overlooked and much underrated as a design feature.  So many other more noticeable elements (like colour or quantity) steal the limelight.   Consequently, a bold texture statement is needed to have any impact.  The biggest texture impact can be achieved by using glossy leaves and diffuse sunlight to bring out the full effects of the texture. This is particularly helpful when designing with perennials.

Look around the garden and chances are good that the majority of the flowers are of a round shape.  This is the most common flower form in the garden.  So, to get more impact, add non-round flowers!   There’s more blooming in the garden than daisies.  Think about spikes (cardinal flower), horizontal forms (Crocosmia), cascading blooms (ornamental grasses), or star-burst (Russian sage) flower forms for more excitement. 

Dramatic textures and color with Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' and Hakonechloa 'All Gold' at Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon

Dramatic textures and color with Echinacea 'Ruby Giant' and Hakonechloa 'All Gold' at Terra Nova Nurseries in Canby, Oregon

High impact gardens are very easy to create by using lots of hot colours (reds, yellows and oranges).  These colours are psychologically more dramatic and draw attention to plants.  Use these colours with caution or else their effect will be diminished. These colours naturally attract attention, particularly if they are used sparingly in large quantities.   Hot colours are best used as brief splashes of alarm among other colour harmonies.

Orange, unlike all the other colours seems to evoke emotions of either intense liking or a strong dislike.  Colours produce an emotional response in their viewer, and orange is no exception. This response will be different from one person to another as our ages, background, and learned associations have an influence on how we feel about the colour orange.

Whether pumpkin orange is despised or adored, orange has become a popular colour for gardeners to integrate into their planting design.  Orange can be added easily either by including some new annuals or permanently planting specific perennials in key strategic locations.  Used any way, orange is a high impact colour.

The cool colours are easier to use in the garden than the hot colours.  Most blue flowers contain some reds so they harmonize well with purples and violets.  Creating high impact with cool colours, such as blue, purple or green is more difficult since these colours recede into the background.   Many more massing of them is required to have an effect.
  
Anyone a little hesitant about combining colours should try yellow with violet (or blue).  This is a sure-win situation.

High impact green and red colors in a private Austin, Texas garden

High impact green and red colors in a private Austin, Texas garden

Designing for impact with annuals and perennials is a challenging, yet rewarding garden task that forces gardeners to look at their plants in a different light.  Texture, foliage, hot or cool colours, and flower forms are a few facets of plants that make high impact designs successful. 

 The principles of design go beyond the use of annuals and perennials (which is the focus this article)  Think about them for the entire garden.

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