Have you ever noticed how accents of silver and gold really add sparkle to the holidays? By using these same colors in our gardens, we not only enhance the beauty of surrounding plants but substantially increase our overall botanical bling!
In my woodland garden, shown in the featured photo above, silver and gold perennials are used together to draw one’s attention to this shady spot. Although the garden would still look lovely with just green plants, it would lack the drama that these brighter plants impart.
Golden perennials and shrubs are all the rage right now and it’s easy to see why. These garden gems are useful in that the eye is immediately drawn to them and because of this phenomenon, they are especially effective in brightening darker, shady areas. Hostas, Creeping Jenny, Bugbane, Heuchera, Heucherella, Golden Oregano and Japanese Forest Grass are just a few gold foliage plants to use in shade to part sun.
Gold in the sun garden can be absolutely dazzling in its brightness! Golden-striped ‘Color Guard’ Yucca is a particularly bold accent plant and one of the best for dry, sunny sites. ‘Aztec Gold’ or ‘Sunshine’ Veronica are excellent low-growing groundcovers for smaller gardens, while ‘Sun King’ Aralia, eventually growing 4 to 6 feet in height and width, should be given plenty of room to spread. Some Hostas such as ‘Golden Sculpture’, ‘Sum and Substance’ or ‘Sun Power’ can also tolerate sun, although morning sun with some afternoon shade is always best for these beauties.
With a few exceptions, many gold foliage perennials tend to ‘burn’ with too much sun. You may notice the leaves blanching out (whitening) or the edges turning brown, especially in warmer climate zones. If you find this to be the case, just move your plant(s) to a little more shade until you find the perfect spot!
While far more subdued in appearance than gold, silver foliage plants also bring welcome light to the garden and blend well with both hot and cool colors. Some easy-care silver plants for shade include Brunnera, Lungwort, Lamium and Japanese Painted Fern. Even without flowers, their striking foliage patterns create visual interest all through the growing season!
Sun lovers like Lambs Ears and Berggarten Sage become even more intensely silver in color as temperatures dip. An added bonus with these plants is their soft fuzzy texture that begs to be touched!
Summer blooming Rose Campion produces abundant cool white or hot pink flowers that contrast boldly with its silver-leafed stems, while Snow-in-Summer is an early spring bloomer with bright white flowers that nearly cover the ground-hugging tiny silver leaves. Other sun-loving silver plants include Russian Sage, Artemisia, Silver Thyme and Lavender.
Silver plants also tend to ‘glow’ at dusk and because of this make excellent additions to white flower or moon gardens!
The well-known Burl Ives song includes the lyrics, “Everyone Wishes for Silver and Gold.” Instead of just wishing, I encourage you to add some of these sparkling plants to your garden next spring!
