Mixing course and fine plant textures creates depth that keeps landscapes looking fresh long after the first flowers of spring fade.
Coarse foliage acts as a visual anchor, providing structure and grounding sprawling beds. Fine foliage softens harsh transitions and fills tight spaces. Combining coarse and fine foliages creates a layered finish.
June Hosta (Hosta x ‘June’)
Loma Vista Nursery grows a mix of foliage plants that do the heavy lifting on commercial and residential landscapes. For example, June Hosta is a reliable, coarse-leaf selection for instant mass plantings and structural presence.
Wide, smooth, heart-shaped leaves have bright yellow inserts that lend visual weight to shaded borders and woodland paths. Its thick foliage makes June Hosta an excellent backdrop for thinner, more delicate plant companions.
Vision in Pink Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Pink’)
In shady spots, pairing June Hosta with Vision in Pink Astilbe creates high-impact contrast. The pairing balances the plants’ structural extremes. Astilbe’s deeply cut foliage smooths hosta’s harshness. Upright, feathery pink flower spikes add fine detail.
Lemony Lace® Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Lemony Lace® Elderberry is ultra-fine and highly texturized, perfect for the middle of a perennial bed in full sun. The durable shrub has excellent regional hardiness and the premium look of a laceleaf Japanese maple.
Bright yellow leaves add movement when they catch a breeze. Lemony Lace® Elderberry has an open, airy canopy. It pairs well with plants that have a more solid leaf structure.
Red Pillar® Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Purple Pillar® Rose of Sharon has a rigid, upright shape that balances the plant’s loose, spreading branch structure. The cultivar matures into a narrow vertical column that is covered in dark green, crinkled leaves.
The shrub’s upright growth adds a sharp architectural line that stands out against low, more rounded garden shrubs. Large summer blossoms add mid-season visual weight.
Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’)
In transition areas and mixed borders, Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea illustrates how beautifully texture and color work together during seasonal changes. The compact cultivar has rugged, deeply lobed foliage that turns wine-red in the fall. Large white panicles in early to mid-summer age to soft, then rosy-pink before fading to papery brown for winter interest.
Autumn Joy Sedum (Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’)
The clean, succulent foliage of Autumn Joy Sedum adds an ideal finish to a sunny foreground, introducing a completely different tactile element to a sunny foreground. Its thick, fleshy, jade-green leaves hold up flat flower heads. The plant’s strong horizontal nature contrasts with upright grasses or shrubs. As the season progresses, the flower heads transition from light pink to a deep coppery rust.
Grouping foliage plants that have similar water and sun needs ensures landscape establishes uniformly. Giving bold-textured plants plenty of room to mature prevents them from overshadowing finer neighboring plant selections. Review our plant catalog for detailed information and to order.
About Loma Vista Nursery ‒ Midwest Wholesale Plant Grower
Celebrating 35 years in business in 2026, Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of perennial plants, shrubs and trees for garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors.
Visit our website to learn more about our nursery, including our processes, plant varieties and business values. For assistance with orders or plant-related questions, please call (785) 229-7200 or send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com. Our team of plant experts is happy to answer questions and provide information about the reliable varieties we grow.
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