Rosalind Reed's List of Most Useful Foliage Plants
by Rosalind Reed

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED: 1999 Spring

Here are some of my favorite foliage plants. These plants are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance. (A "T" indicates this plant might be tender, especially if grown in Zone 5A or colder, so give it a protected site.) I usually select non-flowering annuals and herbs for their foliage color--I rarely look for cultivar names.

Red foliage: Barberries, including `Rosy Glow', some Japanese maples (T), some weigelas, Heuchera micrantha ÔPalace Purple', some astilbes such as ÔFanal' or ÔSprite'. Annuals: red fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ÔRubrum'), coleus, and caladiums.

Yellow foliage: I like many yellow-hued garden conifers, especially yellow cultivars of Chamaecyparis pisifera, Picea pungens ÔWalnut Glen' and Pinus mugo ÔAurea'. Other great foliage "yellows" are: Miscanthus sinensis ÔStrictus', Hakonechloa macra ÔAureola' (T), some hostas (ÔSum and Substance', ÔAugust Moon'), variegated yucca, Alchemilla mollis (because the flowers last so long, although the foliage rightly belongs in the blue category). Annuals: variegated sage, ipomoea ÔMargarita', canna ÔPraetoria', Helichyrisum petiolare ÔLimelight', and coleus.

Blue foliage: Many dwarf conifers, hypericum, baptisia, Macleaya cordata, many blue hosta, Festuca glauca ÔElijah Blue', Molinia caerulea cultivars, all iris, yucca, culinary sage, Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum ÔPictum'), sedum ÔAutumn Joy' (ÔHerbstfreude'), gypsophilia.

Purple foliage: Prunus x cistena, Rhododendron ÔPJM' and others, Penstemon digitalis ÔHusker Red', Ajuga reptans ÔBronze Beauty' and ÔCatlin's Giant', sedum ÔVera Jameson', variegated sage. Annuals: ipomoea ÔBlackie', canna ÔWyoming', some dahlias, bronze fennel, basil ÔPurple Ruffles', coleus.

Silver/white foliage: Caryopteris (T), variegated kerria, most buddleias, Miscanthus sinensis ÔVarigatus', stachys, pulmonarias, perovskia, Physostegia virginiana ÔVariegata', all artemisias (be sure to en-cage the spreaders), some hostas, Cerastium tomentosum, Ajuga reptans ÔBurgundy Glow', Lamium maculatum ÔWhite Nancy', lavender (T), Annuals: helichrysum, caladiums.

TWG Editor: For recommended sources, please consult weedpatch.com's Plant Catalog.

(TOP OF PAGE)