Foliage planting guide

The Brine garden’s simple colour scheme and limited palette create a natural look. Thought has been given to year-round interest and ease of care, and an abundance of foliage softens the extensive rockwork.

1. RED CUTLEAF JAPANESE MAPLE

(Acer palmatum Atropurpureum Dissectum Group) This miniature tree makes a warm focal point between the two stone walls. Its red hue is echoed in a number of other shrubs and perennials. HARDY TO ZONE 6.

2. GULF STREAM HEAVENLY BAMBOO

(Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’) Beneath the hedge, this evergreen shrub provides textural change and red highlights. ZONE 6.

3. REDLEAF JAPANESE BARBERRY

(Berberis thunbergii ‘Cherry Bomb’) This deciduous shrub has burgundy leaves in summer that turn bright red before they drop in fall. ZONE 4.

4. ICE DANCE SEDGE

(Carex ‘Ice Dance’) This sedge forms dense clumps of evergreen, arching, cream-and-green leaves. ZONE 5.

5. HOSTAS

(Hosta cultivars ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Jade Sceptre’) These easy-to-care shade plants dot the lower planting area. They die back at the first sign of frost. ZONE 4.

6. CIMICIFUGA

(Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’) These tall maroon perennials stand out against the yellow home. They produce white, bottlebrush-like flowers in fall and become dormant in winter. ZONE 5.

7. BLUE OAT GRASS

(Helictotrichon sempervirens) This grass produces stiff tufts of narrow, very blue, evergreen leaves and dancing buff seedheads in summer. ZONE 6.

8. SOFT SHIELD FERN

(Polystichum setiferum) A charming, fuzzy evergreen fern, the Brine’s have it perched just above the lower wall. ZONE 6.

9. FLOWERING CURRANT

(Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward VII’) Low-key in summer, this shrub provides privacy to the west and is favourite hummingbird food when it blooms in spring. ZONE 6.

10. VARIEGATED RED-TWIG DOGWOOD

(Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’) This tree shows off its white-splashed leaves in summer. Once these drop, its stems glow bright red in winter. ZONE 2.

11. WINTER-FLOWERING VIBURNUM

(Viburnum × bodnantense ‘Dawn’) Producing fragrant pink flowers in winter, this shrub’s location just above the raised patio ensures that it will be seen from the front door. ZONE 5.

12. NEW ZEALAND FLAX

(Phormium ‘Yellow Wave’) This perennial sends up bold, arching, variegated leaves next to a cluster of standing stones. ZONE 8.

13. PERIWINKLE

(Vinca minor ‘Mrs. Bowles’) This evergreen groundcover flows between the other plants and suppresses weeds. When other perennials are dormant, periwinkle remains green. It has bright-blue flowers in early spring. ZONE 4.

14. EMERALD CEDAR

(Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) Taking up the rear, these easy-care hedge plants provide privacy atop the retaining wall and connect well with the surrounding native vegetation. ZONE 3.