The feel of the foliage is not the only element of texture. Plant texture can change with the play of light and shadow and even with viewing distance. Up close, feathery foliage looks airy and makes you want to reach out and run your hands along it. At a distance, a large mass of fine texture looks like a fuzzy blur. Too much of any texture can be inharmonious to the eye. Unless you are intentionally trying to be jarring, a major concept of any type of design is balance. In the garden, that means mixing textures so that they highlight one another, rather than hog the limelight. A nice balance can usually be achieved by blending about 1/3 fine texture with 2/3s coarse and bold. Luckily, there are many plant choices. Other bold leaved choices include Petasites, Colocasia, Arum, Ligularia, and Darmera (Umbrella Plant). Yucca is an under-appreciated plant. This hardy trooper can survive almost everywhere and the sword-like leaves can instantly calm a cluster of fuzzy, delicate foliage. Still don’t like yucca? Iris leaves remain attractive long after the flowers fade. If you live in a warm climate, try Phormium, Agave, or even Aloe.
