Bands of Color

Some principles of good garden design emphasize the use of colored foliage to create pops of color in the garden. Colored foliage adds interest throughout the seasons in addition to explosions of color created by blooms.

Under the mature Quercus alba, white oak, shade-loving perennials are planted in stripes of blue, yellow, purple, and green. photo credit: R. Robert

Designer Sara Schuh of SALT design took this concept to a new level with her design for Whittier Hall. Instead of pops of color, she created bands of color. Under the mature Quercus alba,  white oak, and Diosypros virginiana, persimmon, shade-loving perennials are planted in stripes of blue, yellow, purple, and green.

Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ creates this striking band of yellow. photo credit: R. Robert

The yellow band consists of Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’, Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, and Hosta ‘Fire Island’. The purple band features Helleborus [HGC Cinnamon Snow], Helleborus ‘Black Diamond’, and  Helleborus x hybridus ‘Yellow Lady’. The green band relies on  Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’ and Heuchera  Americana (Dale’s Strain). Hosta ‘Big Daddy’ and Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans represent the blue band. Refer to the chart above to see the complete layout.

Instead of pops of color, bands of color were created with shade perennials. Chart by M. Tipping

Viewed from the second floor of Whitter Hall, these stripes create great interest in the garden.  At garden level, you can see varying textures and patterns across the planting.

Hosta ‘Fire Island’ makes up this yellow color band. photo credit: R. Robert

Consider planting “stripes” in your garden. Many of these shade-loving varieties will be available at the Scott Arboretum Selections: Fall Sale on September 15 to 17. We invite you come by and pick out your color bands.