Texture in gardening is not only about the physical appearance of plants, although this is an essential element. It’s easy to create texture with bold spikey plants paired next to delicate and flowy flowers, for example. Let’s take this a step further! Life is a Garden invites you to come and explore the tenacity of specific mood-generating plants and accessories that extend a theme, create movement, and cultivate depth around the garden.
“Think of texture as the relationship between the physical appearance, colour, and growing habit of certain plants that together, create layers of atmosphere and dramatic diversity in the landscape”
– Life is a Garden
The Shire: Frolicky and friendly
Plant picks
1. For full sun, plant trays of dianthus ‘Dash’ and ‘Bouquet purple’, along with petunia ‘African sunset’, and alyssum. These will add dainty charm in shades of purple, pink, plum, white, and orange-peach throughout the cooler months. Mini pots at the tea table, anyone?
2. Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) like semi-shade to full sun. Their fairytale-like dangling bell blooms will dance cheerfully in the breeze, adding movement and a whimsical feel. They reach around 60 cm in height and are frost-hardy.
3. The white stinkwood (Celtis africana) is loved for its sculptural shape. This stunning indigenous tree also attracts birds, creating a sweet soundscape to your Shire. Plant this tree for the perfect picnic spot and enjoy its flowers in spring. In winter, you can look forward to its illuminating bark that turns white like the wizard’s beard!
Accompanying accessories: log seaters, driftwood and moss, river stones, water features, birdbaths and bird feeders, chimes in trees, bark mulch, mosaic pots, fairy lights over arches, floating tea candles in the pool, hammocks, and raised, wooden edible beds.
Top tip: Avoid planting the same seedlings into the same beds every year as this can deplete the soil of nutrients that lead to fungal diseases.
For more inspiration on how to create a child-friendly, sensory garden, check out these epic articles:
Mother natures sensory classroom
A bee friendly backyard
Wednesday Adams: Big mood and mysterious
Plant picks
1. Silver bush (Helichrysum petiolare) is a pioneer plant with velvet-textured, silver foliage. Plant or sow now as a low-growing scrambler between stepping stones. Often dried and burnt to ward off evil, they’ll make quick work in part/full sun areas.
2. Ophiopogon ‘Black dragon’ is a dashing black, strappy grass-like perennial that will give you flowing texture like no other. Plant gothic must-have, petunia ‘Black velvet’ as a border or in sunny hanging baskets and pots as a feature plant on its own.
3. Colocasia ‘Black magic’, or black elephant’s ear, has very large, dramatic leaves and is best suited to a shady spot in the garden. They also have pale purple veins that add to the magic of this focal point beauty. They spread quickly too, so you’ll soon have THE most glorious moody jungle vibe going. Place a reading bench in the centre and voila!
Accompanying accessories: smooth black pavers, gravel walkways, stained wooden decks or pallets, steel screens, bottom-up shining spotlights, bones and mounted horns, archways with climbing roses, Victorian concrete benches, decorative goblins and creature ornaments.
For more strange and stunningly mysterious plants, check out these epic articles:
Black is the new green
Ethereal air plants
Predator plants
The Flintstones: Succulents in the Stone Age
Plant picks
1. Pig’s ears (Cotyledon orbiculate) is a sunny local succulent with grey-green round leaves and a red margin. Plant them now to enjoy their prehistoric-looking, bell-shaped flowers in late spring. They are considered a xeric plant, ideal in rockeries.
2. Bushveld kalanchoe (Kalanchoe sexangularis) is another textured succulent with robust red foliage AND Stegosaurus-like ridges outlining the leaves. Plant them in full sun to get more red colour and look forward to a deep fiery flush as the temperature drops.
3. For a unique structural standout, the aloe tree (Aloidendron barberae) does not disappoint. They are great for pots or beds, coastal areas, wind, cold, drought, wildlife, clay soils – the list goes on. Their showy, toothy leaves are a textured treat, as is their tubular, rose-pink flowers in winter.
Accompanying accessories: geometric pebble paths and pebble floor features, rough stone pavers, bold cement ornaments and vases, standing oil lanterns, pebble stacking décor, ponds with stone benches, gravel zen garden square, big fire bomas, and DIY sundials.
To learn more about xeric plants and modern stone landscaping, check out these epic articles:
Xeriscaping Botanical Boss
Xeriscaping Expert Q&A
Sundial DIY
Top tip: Remember to ask your GCA Garden Centre assistant for advice on which plants to grow in your area, based on the season, your region’s rainfall, and frost.
Whether you’re conceptualising a new look, planning ahead for winter colour, or totally obsessed with creating your ultimate backyard atmosphere – your Life is a Garden, so feel it good!
Grab all your plants and accessories from one of our Garden Centres and enjoy the tenacity of texture this autumn.
