Shape

Contrasting flower and foliage forms is a clever way to bring a monochromatic border to life

Playing with plant shapes is hugely rewarding. Too many rounded flower forms of similar size can look a bit samey, but getting the balance right isn’t easy. Again – flower colour always seems to seize the attention, but if you can deliberately limit the colour in order to contrast shapes instead, you can create a much more pleasing result. Think of the way that monochromatic Japanese gardens keep the eye excited, using ovate, palmate, linear, ferny, feathery, mossy, strappy and heart-shaped leaves in every size and shade of green. Such designs always have a calm and sophisticated look. Working with a limited palette like this is an excellent way to highlight the variety in flowers too. Take a step back to analyse your garden and you may discover you have a favourite flower type – perhaps showy double blooms or little cups and bells. Finding and planting the opposite shape might be just the thing your borders need to help create a better sense of balance.

FAT & THIN The fancy scalloped foliage of heuchera ‘Beauty Colour’ contrasts with the skinny, grass-like leaves of black ophiopogon, spiky blue salvia ‘Mainacht’ and arching Stipa tenuissima White spikes of veronicastrum ‘Lavendelturm’ with white...

SPHERES & BEARDS Repeated use of ball shapes (from the box topiary and drifts of alliums) creates a sense of cohesion against which other flower and foliage shapes stand out – including the bearded iris ‘Royal Storm’