Gardening with Foliage First: 127 Dazzling Combinations

Gardening with Foliage First is a digital gardening design book by Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz. This PDF presents 127 plant combinations that begin with foliage and add flowers, bark, berries, and more.

Explore practical ideas for containers, borders, sunny locations, and shaded spaces. The digital format is available for instant download after purchase.

The book uses foliage as the foundation for cohesive garden compositions across all four seasons.

Book Overview

Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz explain how to design plant combinations by starting with leaves rather than flowers. They examine color, texture, form, light, and seasonal development, then show how to layer in additional elements for a finished planting.

The book is organized into combinations for spring and summer, followed by combinations for fall and winter. Each seasonal section includes ideas for bright or sunny locations and cool or shaded spaces. The examples range from small patio containers to large sweeping borders.

Gardening with Foliage First is suited to new gardeners learning plant selection, intermediate gardeners refining collected plants into composed designs, and experienced gardeners seeking fresh combinations.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• 127 foliage-led combinations pairing leaves with flowers, bark, berries, seed heads, branches, and other elements.
• Design ideas for spring, summer, fall, and winter.
• Plant combinations for sunny and shaded locations.
• Ways to use color, texture, form, and light in garden and container compositions.
• Guidance on selecting plants that work together and maintain interest across the year.
• Examples including deer-resistant ideas, winter interest, fall containers, and varied color palettes.
• Metric conversions, further reading, photo credits, design and location credits, and an index.

Why This Book Matters

This book presents garden design as a process of observation and deliberate plant selection. Its foliage-first approach helps readers create structure and visual connections before adding seasonal flowers or unexpected accents.

By addressing color, texture, form, sun, shade, and changing seasonal interest, the book connects individual plant choices with broader garden composition. Its examples support both practical planting decisions and creative design exploration.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital PDF download with no physical shipping. Access is available after purchase.

The file works with appropriate Kindle apps that support PDF files, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps. Printing is not promised.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access to the digital download is available after purchase, with instant download delivery.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This product is a digital PDF, and no physical shipping is provided.

What devices can open the file?
You can use a compatible Kindle app, tablet, desktop, mobile device, or reading app that supports PDF files.

Download this digital edition of Gardening with Foliage First to explore foliage-led planting combinations and seasonal garden design ideas.

Verified Bibliographic Details