Books: Fabulous Plant Combos

I can't imagine any designer who would want to be without this book ...Fine Foliage: Elegant Plant Combinations for Garden and Container (St. Lynn's Press, 2013).  The authors, Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz, are both designers in the Seattle area, and you'll want to carry around this small little book that is filled with their recommendations on foliage combinations that work -- in borders, containers, and larger landscapes.

The authors concentrate on successful color combos, as well as the role of light, texture, and form. Even if you're very good at designing containers and garden vignettes, you'll be inspired by ideas in this book that you've never thought of before.

The book is divided into combos for sun and combos for shade, and the authors also furnish info on hardiness zones and basic horticultural definitions.

Each combo is given a name, and there's a photo of it along with an explanation of why it works and descriptions and photos of each plant.  I loved "Rhythm 'N Blues" - a border comprised of of Red Leaf Barberry, Blue Oat Grass, Verbena 'Homestead Purple' and Sedum 'Angelina'.  And it can be adapted for a container as well.

"Lemon and Lime" is just two plants -- Variegated Weigela and Spotted Dead Nettle -- plenty of color echoes in this one.

"Plush Velvet" was another of my favorites: Ligularia 'The Rocket', Brunnera 'Hadspen Cream', Actaea 'Hillside Black Beauty', and Hosta 'Cherry Berry'.

Beautiful photos throughout by Ashley DeLatour.

 

 

Comments

[Christina Salwitz]

Thank you! We're so proud of this book and we're thrilled to see your review too!

[Karen Chapman]

Oh my goodness what a fabulous surprise to come across this review today - thanks for sharing Fine Foliage!