Mon Jardin
Accent plants. Structure in the small garden is not just about solidity of dense evergreens, but also includes the use of striking accent plants such as Flaxes (Phormium spp). In a small garden, Phormiums can be the key ingredient of the planting. Their straplike leaves not only offer a wide variety of foliage color — from traditional green to variegations of yellow, green, red and deepest purple — but also provide movement, that other vital feature in small garden design.
Another great alternative to Box is a member of the holly family — Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata), zones 5-9. Ilex crenata is great as an evergreen in small gardens. It is slow growing and, left unclipped, has small, shiny black fruit in the autumn that contrasts so well against its tiny, glossy leaves. My choice, though, is the golden variety Ilex crenata 'Golden Gem'. Leave it unclipped for a wonderful flat-topped golden sphere that provides wonderful color throughout the year — especially in winter and spring
My third small-leaf evergreen choice is Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold', a favorite of landscapers that makes a great low hedge. Another shrubby honeysuckle, it is less tidy in habit than Lonicera pileata, having outward-pointing branches composed of small ovate leaves. Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold', though, has golden yellow leaves through the summer that turn yellow-green in the autumn.
The most popular of all blue grasses, common blue fescue (Festuca glauca), zones 4-9, is made for the smaller garden. It punches above its weight, bringing not only superb color but also movement with the discreet rippling of its blades in the wind. The foliage is a metallic blue during the spring and summer, though a touch greener in winter. It has the most delicate of flower heads in spring, held well above the foliage.
Love the flowers over the door
Q