ursery newsletters are known for their lists. Lists of things you should be doing in the garden, lists of new products, lists of appropriate plants. While not unheard of on these pages, lists rarely appear on this cover. So, I plan to break that spell by listing some of my Favorite Plants for Foliage. Ask any gardener what they think of first when selecting plants and they will likely respond “flowers”. At best, this only addresses half of the interest in any garden. Much of what we remember in gardens comes from structure, texture, form, aroma and contrast; elements best provided by leaves and branches.
Keep in mind that these are only a sampling of ideas; some plants for you to see on your next nursery visit.
– Paul
My Favorite Plants for Foliage
| Dramatic |
|
| Stipa gigantea |
Giant Feather Grass |
| Campanula pyramidalis |
Chimney Bellflower |
| Yucca whipplei |
Our Lord's Candle |
| Soothing |
|
| Polystichum munitum |
Western Sword Fern |
| Otatea a. aztecorum |
Mexican Weeping Bamboo |
| Aquilegia spp. |
Columbine |
| Delicate/Soft |
|
| Nassella tenuissima |
Mexican Feather Grass |
| Foeniculum vulgare |
Common Fennel |
| Asparagus setaceus |
Emerald Feather |
| Bold |
|
| Gunnera tinctoria |
Dinosaur Food |
| Hosta sieboldiana |
Plantain Lily |
| Sparmannia africana |
African Linden |
| Aromatic |
|
| Buxus spp. |
Boxwood |
| Salvia spp. |
Sage |
| Thymus spp. |
Thyme |
| Glossy |
|
| Fragaria chiloensis |
Ornamental Strawberry |
| Coprosma repens |
Mirror Plant |
| Camellia sasanqua |
Camellia |
| Golden |
|
| Sedum m. 'Ogon' |
Golden Stonecrop |
| Calluna v. 'Robert Chapman' |
Scotch Heather |
| Helichrysum p. 'Limelight' |
Licorice Plant |
| Silvery |
|
| Artemisia 'Powis Castle' |
Wormwood |
| Sedum s. 'Cape Blanco' |
Stonecrop |
| Stachys byzantina |
Lamb's Ears |
| Bronze |
|
| Lobelia fulgens |
|
| Heuchera m. 'Palace Purple' |
Alum Root |
| Loropetalum c. 'Pippas Red' |
|
| Spiky |
|
| Phormium hybrids |
New Zealand Flax |
| Astelia n. chathamica |
Silver Spear |
| Watsonia hybrids |
Watsonia |
| Lacy/Fine |
|
| Acer palmatum Dissectum |
Laceleaf Maple |
| Coreopsis verticillata |
Coreopsis Daisy |
| Chamaelaucium uncinatum |
Geraldton Waxflower |
| Vertical |
|
| Salvia uliginosa |
Bog Sage |
| Physostegia virginiana |
Obedience Plant |
| Miscanthus s. Strictus |
Porcupine Grass |
| Variegated |
|
| Buxus s. Variegata |
Variegated Boxwood |
| Polemonium 'Brise d'Anjou' |
Variegated Polemonium |
| Iris pallida 'Aureo Variegata' |
Variegated Orris |
Please note:
We list Fennel as an example for “delicate/soft” foliage. Be aware that this plant, Foeniculum vulgare, is considered an 'invasive exotic' which can colonize and have a negative impact on CA Native plants and ecosystems. We neither sell nor encourage planting where it might escape to wildlands.
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