Perennial Profile: Silver Foliage Plants

Lamb's Ear

Foliage plants provide color, interest, depth and texture to garden beds. One of the most fun foliage colors to work with is silver. Just as the metal is reflective, so are silver foliage plants in the garden. During the day, these plants create reflective areas of light which highlights surrounding plants. At night, the silver foliage is luminescent making them ideal choices for pathway edgings. Silver foliage blends well with cool colors such as blues, purples and pinks and pastels. It also combines well with black, deep purple or deep burgundy foliage plants for a dramatic contrast. 

Another plus for silver foliage is that many of them are incredibly easy to grow, standing up to hot, dry conditions where other plants may struggle. As a bonus, most are resistant to deer and rabbits. There are many different plants with silver foliage both for shade or sun and in many different growth habits. In addition, many silver foliage plants have some of the most "touchable" foliage of all plants, the most notable being Lamb's Ear (Stachys).

While silver brightens shady spots, silver in the sun is a harmonizing color that pulls together contrasting colors. Below are some of the best silver plants for sun. 

Artemisia

Artemisia 'Silver Mound' (also known as Wormwood): This low-growing plant (6-12 inches) is ideal for the front of borders or lining pathways. The delicate, fern like foliage is soft to touch and adds a great contrast to coarse foliage plants. The plant does well in hot, dry areas in the garden and is especially suited to northern summers. 'Silver Mound' will get quite large after a few seasons and can be divided in the spring and fall. To prevent the plant from getting leggy towards the end of summer, shear the plant back to 2 inches in late June. The plant will quickly regrow into a compact mound. 

Lamb's Ear 'Helen Von Stein' (Stachys): The velvety foliage of this plant is nearly irresistible to touch. Lamb's Ear forms a low mat (12-18 inches tall) of large velvety silver leaves. The plant will put out tall semi-pink flowers scapes but often the plant looks much better when these are trimmed off. Lamb's Ear is easy to grow with little care and can be divided in early spring or fall. 

Russian Sage

Russian Sage:This plant's foliage is slightly more green but gives off a silvery glow especially when in bloom with it's airy lavender-blue flowers. Russian Sage gets quite large (24-36 inches tall and wide) making it ideal as a focal point or in the back of borders. In addition to having delicate silvery foliage on a large plant, Russian Sage is aromatic giving off a wonderfully savory scent in the garden. This plant is very drought tolerant. 

These easy to grow perennials will harmonize your garden and provide interesting luminescent pools of light at night. Try some silver foliage plants in your garden to tie together contrasting colors.