In a tangle…
Harry Lauder’s walking stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) plays the leading role. Its dormant bony form on full display will add a goulish touch. Greenish yellow catkins will soon dangle from the tree’s twisted branches, followed by a covering of bright green leaves in spring and summer. The supporting cast member would have to be our Heuchera ‘Marmalade’ for its large, amber-bronze ruffled foliage.
Kaleidoscopic color…
It’s hard to pick a best moment for Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’, whose spring foliage starts out coral, ages to green, and then turns red. But the two-toned nature of its autumn habit is something spectacular.
To create the look indoors try Croton Codiaeum for its nearly limitless leaf forms and beautiful explosion of colour. Or Calathea crocata ‘Tassmania’.
It’s in the veins…
Fill your house with Fittonia ‘Skeleton’. Its blood red veined leaves will complement your Halloween decorations nicely.
Thriller…
Redtwig dogwoods (such as Cornus alba ‘Sibirica Variegata’) may be dormant, but bare of their green leaves, the branches almost glow. The bright striking stems of the Cornus would look great surrounded by the spiderlike leaves of black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) as it appears to crawl over the edge of a container or pot. Ophiopogan ‘Nigrescens’ also looks fantastic with other grasses (such as Carex comans ‘Bronze’), especially if grouped in tubs or planted into gravel, and it provides a brilliant contrast with silvery plants in sun, or bright green ferns in shade. It’s not just for Halloween either – clusters of pale purplish white flowers appear in Summer followed by dark blue-black fruit – a plant for year-round interest.
Daggers through the heart…
Sansevieria (Mother in Law’s Tongue) is not only easy to grow but it’s tough and near indestructable. Despite its tough nature it’s still stylish, simple and loved by interior designers. Strong, dagger-like leaves create the perfect look for Halloween!
Go on, trick or treat yourself……Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!
