The Star: November 04, 2021

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Thursday November 4 2021 The Star
GARDENING 27
Create a dramatic scene with an accent plant
SIMPLE, uncluttered garden
design is especially appropriate
when space is limited.
Whether you want a serene look
or something dramatic, you can
achieve it by mass planting just a
few carefully chosen plant species,
each with strong features.
Flowers are not essential (year
round good looks and healthy
foliage are more important), but
as seasonal highlights they can
make the garden all the more
interesting.
Mass planting by itself can be
dull. Break up the monotony by
choosing an accent plant that
can be repeated throughout the
design.
Planting in pots adds extra zing
and makes it easy to change or
relocate your accent plants when
you feel like a new look, or a
change between seasons. As well
as accents, every garden needs a
strong focal point.
Often a sculpture, this could
also be a piece of furniture or
garden architecture, a water
feature, or just one stunning plant
in a spectacular pot. Container
gardening is a great way to enjoy
getting your hands dirty. The
trend is towards simplicity –
bigger pots and less of them.
Classy containers deserve classy
plants, and those that last the
distance.
For pots in prime positions
choose plants with a strong
well defined shape, preferably
symmetrical so that they look
good from all angles.
Cordyline red fountain is one
such plant. Its cascading mass of
bright burgundy leaves rises from
a short central base, becoming
thicker and more lavish with time.
Tolerant of dry spells,
cordyline red fountain performs
exceptionally well in a large pot.
Other spectacular container plants
are cordyline electric pink and
cordyline caruba black.
With wide shiny leaves and a
strongly upright habit (up to 1.2m
tall by 45cm wide), they make a
striking contrast in both colour
and form.
The first priority in planning
a garden is to choose plants that
look great for at least most of the
year.
BRIGHT: Cordyline electric pink has wide shiny leaves that
will grow to 1.2m.
LANDSCAPE
SUPPLIES
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