Clever combinations make an impact
BEAUTIFUL amenity plants are worthwhile on their own, but it is the art of combining plants to utilise their colour, structure and texture that make the biggest impact in a garden.
In the lower botanic garden, Rhododendron (Cilpinense Group) ‘Cilpinense’ is covered in blushpink flowers, enhanced by the fragrant cream flowers of Osmanthus alongside. This combination is easily seen from the northern end of the main drive in the winter and springflowering theme border.
What draws your eye, though, is a continuation of these merging colours in the next border, the dry shade theme. First you see repetition of the pink Rhododendron ‘Cilpinense’, then a group of Camellia ‘Donation’ smothered in brightpink blooms. The entire area is topped off by the masses of white plum blossom produced by a very old Prunus. Although floral combinations can sometimes be shortlived, this adds to their specialness and they are often spectacular.
In the neighbouring coloured and variegated plants theme border, evergreen coloured foliage grows in interesting combinations year round and works equally with deciduous plants during the warmer growth season. Leaves emerging from Berberis thunbergii ‘Aurea’ right now are a brilliant lime green, creating a vivid contrast to the purple mottling of the New Zealand pepper tree (horopito), Pseudowintera colorata ‘Red Leopard’.
Every plant hunter is thrilled to discover a long soughtafter plant. Sometimes, it needs to be followed by a time of careful contemplation to decide where will be the perfect place to grow your new treasure.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information, contact Marianne Groothuis.