Garden Textures

When discussing garden textures, it is the look of the material rather than the physical feel of the material we are talking about. Textures range from fine to coarse.

garden textures

Using all fine textured plants in your garden will make it seem larger and more open. Coarse textured plants will make it appear smaller and closed in. Using a combination of fine, medium and coarse textures works best. Texture can be added using plants but it also comes from the soil, the mulch and any structural elements you add to the garden.

Fine and Medium Texture

Fine texture is soft and airy looking. It is created by small leaves, thin stalks on a plant and/or tiny flowers. With fine textures creating a soft visual appearance anything with these qualities will fade into the background.

If you place all fine textured plants into one flower bed you'll end up with what I call the broccoli effect. When you see tree covered mountains from a distance they look like rounded green blobs blending together. It reminds me of broccoli! It's boring because there aren't any individual points to focus us.

Medium texture is the most common amongst garden textures. There are thousands of varieties that fit into this category. Medium sized leaves, flowers and/or plant stalks that are as thick as your index finger are qualities you will find for this grouping.

garden textures

The annual alyssum on the left has tiny leaves, tiny flowers and creates a soft fine texture.
The nepeta (catnip) on the right is a medium textured plant.

Coarse Texture

Coarse textures are rough and bold. They jump out at you and grab your attention. You may not have noticed it but your eyes will notice the coarse textures before the fine textures.

Coarse garden textures are achieved by the rough bark on trees, big leaves on plants and hardscaping that you've added to the yard. Too many bold items sitting in one area will become a jumble. One coarse item surrounded by a few medium and fine textured items will look much nicer.

garden textures

Combination of Textures

Some items contain a combination of textures. Soil has fine, medium and coarse all mixed together.

The horsechestnut on the right has fine smooth bark yet coarse leaves. When it flowers in the spring it has upright red flowers that grab your attention. In summer the leaves are the attention grabbers and in the fall the leaves compete with an almost obscene looking fruit pod the size of a ping pong ball.

Garden Textures can change through the season. Some plants and structures will retain their textures. Others will show off a texture that was hidden by leaves and flowers. In gardening change is happening at all times even though we don't notice it. That's one of the wonders of gardening.