After I posted for Foliage Friday last week, I realized that I missed a lot of combinations, so here is a second post of foliage, including a couple of contrasting combinations, such as the Sedum 'Bertram Anderson,' Heuchera 'Citronelle,' and Ceratostigma plumbaginoides in the above photo. I like the way it looks now, but I planted this for autumn interest, when the Ceratostigma's blue flowers and red foliage will shine next to the Heuchera. This grouping in in partial shade.
Below is another grouping that will look even better in autumn, but provides interest in shade in the summer.
Clockwise from top left: Tree Peony, unknown Hosta, Actaea simplex 'James Compton,' Labrador Violets, same type of Hosta, Dicentra 'King of Hearts,' unknown Iris siberica, and in the middle Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge.'
Returning to the color echo theme of the last foliage post, and to one of the same plants,
here the red violet of the Painted Fern (Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum') is echoed in the color of the Oxalis foliage. I'm so impressed with the performance of the Oxalis, which I'm trying for the first time this year, after falling in love with them in Austin last year at Spring Fling.
My favorite color for foliage combinations is chartreuse, and here are several examples.
Hosta 'Sweet Home Chicago' with Heucherella 'Sunspot'
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Leprechaun Gold' backed up by Hakeonechloa macra 'Aureola,' Violets, and Jack in the Pulpit (Arisamea triphyllum)
Below: the same mystery Hosta as above, with Aquilegia vulgaris 'Sunburst Ruby' and a Hellebore
Cotinus coggygria 'Ancot' (Golden Spirit) and Sedum 'Becka' (Autumn Delight)
The above photo and the next one are both full sun foliage combinations. Why should shade have all the fun?
monochromatic blue of Baptisia and Little Bluestem, marred only by a persistent Milkweed