Using Foliage in the Garden -...

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Using Foliage in the Garden A Gardener’s Guide to Choosing and Using Plants

for Foliage, Texture, and Color

Co-authored by Hilary Foss and Julie Yasny WSU Master Gardeners – Kittitas County

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Tips on Using Foliage ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Purple, Copper, Bronze or Red Foliage ................................................................................................................................................ 3-4 Yellow, Cream, Gold, or Variegated Foliage ....................................................................................................................................... 5-6 Gray and Silver Foliage .......................................................................................................................................................................... 7-8 Finely Cute Foliage ............................................................................................................................................................................... 9-10 Sword-like Foliage .............................................................................................................................................................................. 11-12 Low Growing and Ground Cover Plants .......................................................................................................................................... 13-14

WSU EXTENSION KITTITAS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS Using Foliage in the Garden Page – 1-

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[Introduction

An important aspect of gardening that is often overlooked is the use of plant foliage. Foliage is the backdrop for your garden. The use of various textures of plant material and the difference in foliage and its color, creates a visual impact and an emotional response, providing a sense of tranquility, restfulness of a bright and cheery place to relax.

Tips on Using Foliage

Foliage offsets bloom very nicely, and works best when planted in large grouping. Plants lose their color emphasis when planted singly or too far apart. Avoid using too many foliage colors in a given area, which can be confusing to the eye. Use large blocks of foliage, which can be “read” at a distance and when placed at repeated intervals, can lend a unifying effect to a garden.

When buying plants for your garden, consider shape, color, and texture of foliage and how they will fit in with

your landscape. Listed in this pamphlet are some suggestions on types of foliage and how foliage can be used in your garden.

Purple, Copper, Bronze, or Red Foliage Purple foliage planted at the back of a garden bed blends well with yellowish green flowers or foliage, although the reverse does not hold true. Bronze leafed foliage mixes nicely with paler rose colored flowers. Violet or bright blue flowers also look nice against purple or red leaves. Foliage in these color ranges are best used in small amounts or saved for use in a larger landscape, being too dominate for small gardens.

Common Name

Botanical Name Plant Type

Plant Height

Type of Soil

Sun/ Shade

USDA Zone

Comments

Bronze Fennel

Foeniculum. Vulgare ‘Bronze’

Perennial 3-5 ft Loam Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Herb with lacy bronze colored foliage with an anise flavor. Adds great interest to a border. Great culinary herb. Host plants for the Monarch butterfly larva.

Coral Bells ‘Palace Purple’

Heuchera micrantha ‘Palace Purple’

Perennial 4 in Moist Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Low growing mounding, bronze-red foliage with 18-inch flower stalks. Pink, red, or white flowers. Nice used at the front of a border. Attracts hummingbirds.

Tender Fountain Grass

Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’

Annual 2-3 ft Any Sun Zone 9 (10°F)

This variety of fountain grass has reddish-brown leaves and dark plumes. Can be invasive.

Hazelnut (red)

Corylus avellana ‘Fusco-rubra’

Shrub 5-15 ft Well Drained

Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Hazelnuts are planted for production of nuts, but make wonderful ornamentals as well. Also called filberts.

Sage Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’

Perennial 18-24 in Well Drained

Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Culinary herb, good for rock gardens and containers. Flower spikes attract bees.

Stone Crop Sedum spathulifolium

Ground Cover

1-2 in Dry Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Fleshy spoon shaped green leaves with purple tinges. Variety “Purpurum: has deep purple leaves. Needs little water once established. Unusual Foliage. Good for rock gardens.

WSU EXTENSION KITTITAS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

Using Foliage in the Garden Page – 3-

Purple, Copper, Bronze, or Red Foliage (Continued)

Common Name Botanical Name Plant Type

Plant Height

Type of Soil

Sun/ Shade

USDA Zone

Comments

Japanese Blood Grass

Imperata cylindrical ‘Rubra’

Perennial 1-2 ft Rich, Moist

Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Upright green grass with red upper portions. Striking ornamental. Grow in containers or in garden beds. Is invasive. Use sparingly, to avoid overwhelming other landscape plants.

Royal Purple, Smoke Bush

Cotinus coggygria

Shrub 8-10 ft Well Drained

Full Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Dark purple leaves on a rounded shrub. Leaves turn red in autumn. Flowering season: summer. Flower color: purple. Requires INFREQUENT watering. (once established)

Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’

Shrub 3 ft Any Soil


Purple leafed with thorns on branches. Scarlet berries follow flowers. Flowering season: spring. Flower color: yellow. ‘Nana’ is a pygmy version – 1 to 2 feet tall.

Carpet Bugle Ajuga reptans ‘Purpurea’

Perennial 4-6 in Moist Soil

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Flowering season: late spring, early summer. Flower color: blue. Ground cover that spreads well in moist soil.

Brilliantissium form of Sycamore

Acer pseudoplatanus

Tree 15-20 ft Well Drained

Full sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Small deciduous tree that requires occasional deep root watering. Young leaves are pink, turning to yellow as summer arrives, then pale green. Slow growing, rounded head of branches on short trunk.


Yellow, Cream, Gold, or Variegated Foliage Variegated, cream, or gold foliage lends itself well to garden beds in a northern exposure. Cream, gold or variegated foliage adds light to brighten dark corners in a garden and when viewed from a distance, creates the effect of sun dappled leaves. Using plants with variegated or gold leaves adds movement to a garden and garden beds. In addition, garden beds that use variegated or yellow, gold, or cream colored plants are not dependent on flowers as a focal point, since the foliage adds enough interest on its own.


Plant Height

Type of Soil

Sun/ Shade

USDA Zone

Comments

American Arborvitae ‘Elegantissima’

Thuja occidentalis ‘Elegantissima’

Shrub 10 ft Moist Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 2 (-40°F)

Medium sized shrub with variegated green and yellow foliage. Can be prone to attack from red spider mite. Can burn under hot sun.

Golden Oregano Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’

Herb 6-12 in Rich/ Well Drained

Sun/ Light Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Low growing herb. Needs mid-day shade. Flowers attract bees & butterflies. Spreads to 12” wide. Edible.

Honey locust ‘Sunburst’

Gleditsia triacanthos

Tree 35-70 ft Any Sun Zone 3 (-40°F)

Golden yellow foliage. Looks best combined with green or bronze foliage. Fast growing tree.

Vicray Golden Privet

Ligustrum ‘Vicaryi’

Shrub 3-4 ft Rich/ Well Drained

Sun Zone 6 (-10°F)

Nice shrub for hedging. Leave unpruned for best color. Can be subject to Lilac leaf miner. Plant in protected site.

Hosta Plantain Lily

Hosta undulate Perennial 18-36 in

Moist Shade Zone 4 (-30°F)

White and green variegated, elliptic leaves. Three (3) foot flower stalks with lavender flowers. Slugs can be a problem.

Western Cedar ‘Rheingold’

Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’

Evergreen

3-6 ft Any Soil Full Sun Zone 2 (-40°F)

Small evergreen shrub with golden-yellow leaves and conical growth habit. Slow growing plant


Yellow, Cream, Gold, or Variegated Foliage (Continued)


Plant Height

Type of Soil

Sun/ Shade

USDA Zone

Comments

A form of Feverfew ‘Aureum’

Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’

Perennial 1 ½ ft Well Drained

Full sun/ Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Flowering season: midsummer to early autumn. Flower color: white. Small white daisies and lime-yellow leaves can be used as a summer bedding/border plant. Short lived.

A form of lemon-scented Thyme ‘Aureus’

Thymus citiodorus ‘Aureus’

Ground Cover – Herb

4-12 in Well Drained Dry Soil


Flowering season: summer. Flower color: pale mauve. Lemon scented golden leaves form dense little bushes. Is somewhat tender. Needs protection.

Bowles Golden Grass ‘Aureum’

Milium effusum ‘Aureum’

Perennial Grass

2-3 ft Moist Soil Partial Shade

Zone 6 (-10°F)

Bright greenish yellow grass, clump forming. Partial shade and moisture produce sharp coloring and strong growth.

A form of Spotted Dead Nettle ‘Aureum’

Lamium maculatum ‘Aureum’

Perennial 6 in Any Soil Partial/ Full Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Flowering season: late spring to early autumn. Flower color: mauve-pink. White striped greenish yellow foliage, used as ground cover on a small scale.

A form of Mock Orange ‘Variegatus’

Phildelphus coronaries ‘Variegatus’

Shrub 6-8 ft Any Soil Full Sun / Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Green and white variegated leaves and creamy-white fragrant flowers, appearing in early summer. Needs moisture and shade. Nice ornamental shrub.

Weigela ‘Variegata’

Weigela praecox caprifoliaceae ‘Variegata’

Perennial Shrub

6 ft Any Soil Full Sun / Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Flowering season: late spring to early summer. Flower color: pink. Bright green foliage variegated with cream. Funnel shaped flowers.


Gray and Silver Foliage Green and gray foliage work well together. Gray tones do not clash with adjacent hues and muted gray colors go well with wood and stone. Gray foliage will have yellow tints in sunny areas and violet tints in shady areas. Gray foliage enlivens dark colors and adds interest to what might be an otherwise monochromatic landscape.


Plant Height

Type of Soil

Sun/ Shade

USDA Zone

Comments

Artemisia ‘Silver Queen’

Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver Queen’

Perennial 2-3 ½ ft Dry Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Of the many Artemisia, one of the most striking is Silver Queen. Its gray foliage works well with brightly colored flowers.

Carnation or Sweet William

Dianthus Perennial 2in-2 ½ ft

Well Drained

Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Over 200 varieties available. Fragrant and good in a cottage border. Smaller varieties good for alpine plantings. Generally hardy in our area with some exceptions.

Edelweiss Leontopodium Perennial 4-12 in Moist/ Well Drained

Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Wooly-grayish plants with star-like flowers. Short lived perennial. Good in alpine plantings.

Lamb’s Ears Stachys byzantine Perennial 2-3 ft Well Drained

Sun/ Light Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Soft white woolly leaves, nice contrasting with darker green foliage. Good for edging paths and borders.

Lavender Cotton

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Perennial 2-3 ft Well Drained

Sun Zone 6 (-10°F)

Sub-shrub with nice foliage and button yellow flowers, aromatic when bruised. Looks best when trimmed. Somewhat tender, needs some protection.

Rose Campion syn. Maltese Cross

Lychnis chalcedonica

Perennial 2-3 ft Any Sun Zone 3 (-40°F)

Gray leaves and scarlet flowers. White flowering (alba) variety also available. Keep moist.

WSU EXTENSION KITTITAS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

Using Foliage in the Garden Page – 7-

Gray and Silver Foliage (Continued)


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Silvery Yarrow Achillea clavennae


Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Silky gray leaves, flat ivory flower heads. Fairly drought tolerant once established. Invasive.

Spike Speedwell ‘Wendy’

Veronica spicata subsp. Incana ‘Wendy’

Perennial 18 in Any Soil Full Sun Zone 3 (-40°F)

Flowering season: summer. Flower color: deep blue. Forms a sprawling clump of elegantly pointed silver-gray leaves below its dark spiking flowers. Ground Cover.

Spike Speedwell ‘Heidekind’

Veronica spicata subsp. Incana ‘Heidekind’

Perennial 12 in Average to fertile well drained soil

Full Sun / Part Shade

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Mat forming, plant with gray-green, lance shaped leaves and spikes of bright raspberry pink flowers. This plant needs good drainage that appears in summer. Good for rock gardens.

Spanish Sage Salvia lavandulifolia

Perennial 20 in

Light/ Moist/ Well Drained

Full Sun / Light Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Woolly gray-white leaves on a woody plant, with violet-blue flower spikes. Nice in containers or at the front of a border.

Willow-leafed pear

Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’

Tree 15-25 ft Fertile/ Well Drained


Weeping tree with silvery-white, lance-shaped leaves and white flowers in the spring. This is an ornamental pear, which doesn’t bear fruit.

Purple Osier ‘Nana’

Salix purpurea ‘Nana’

Shrub 3 ft Most/ Well Drained


Compact, small shrub w/ purplish branches and small blue-gray leaves. Works wells as a hedge. Nice background.

Sawara False Cypress

Chamaecyparis pisifera e.g. ‘Boulevard’

Tree 6-8 ft Well Drained


Zone 4 (-30°F)

Silver blue is most intense in part shade. Bushy habit of growth in a conical shape. In autumn, leaves are tinged purple.


Finely Cut Foliage Finely cut foliage adds interest to the garden by adding contract to heavier, denser foliage. In addition, finely textured foliage has the benefit of making small spaces look bigger, which can be useful to the gardener with a small yard or garden.


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Japanese Maple ‘Red Pygmy’

Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’

Small Tree

5 ft

Fertile/ Well Drained/ Moist


Zone 6 (-10°F)

Vase shaped tree with lacy red leaves. Japanese maples are somewhat tender for our area and don’t like wind, so place them in a protected area. Leaves turn yellow in the fall.

American Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum pedatum

Fern 12-16 in

Moist/ Well Drained/ Average

Part Shade

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Fronds are lance shaped with pinnate kidney-shaped to oval leaves. Leaves are medium green on dark brown stems. Use near a semi-shaded pond or in a woodland garden.

Anemone ‘Plenifora’

Anemone ranunculoides ‘Pleniflora’

Perennial 2-4 in Rich/ Well Drained

Part Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Small plant with deeply divided basal leaves and double, dark yellow flowers. This anemone spreads by rhizome, making it good for naturalizing in a woodland landscape.

Western Columbine

Aquilegia Formosa

Perennial 24-36 in

Fertile/ Moist/ Well Drained

Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 4 (-30°F)

A lovely plant with airy blue-green foliage. Bears reddish-orange flowers with yellow centers and red spurs. Use in garden beds, containers, or a woodland garden.

Clematis ‘Pamela Jackman’

Clematis Alpina ‘Pamela Jackman’

Flowering Vine

6-10 ft

Rich/ Moist/ Well Drained

Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 5 (-20°F)

A spring blooming clematis, with finely cut leaves and blue bell-like flowers. Use on a wall or trellis at the back of a garden bed. Blooms on old wood, so keep pruning to a minimum.


Finely Cut Foliage (Continued)


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Corydalis lutea Corydalis lutea Perennial 12-16 in


Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Erect plant with delicate, lacy leaves and bright yellow, spurred flowers. Blooms all summer. Self sows readily.

Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis

Perennial 4 ft Rich/ Moist/ Well Drained

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Tall, arching plant with finely dived fern-like foliage and small pink and white flowers. Foliage dies back in mid-summer.

Rosa Glauca Rosa glauca syn. R. Rubrifolia

Shrub 6 ft Average/ Well Drained

Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 2 (-50°F)

Tall, erect canes with gray-green and purple, finely cut foliage. Tiny star-like cerise pink flowers in the spring, followed by hips in the fall. Very drought tolerant once established.

Meadow Rue Thalictrum Perennial 1-6 ft Cool/ Moist/ Humus Rich

Part Sun / Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Tall perennial with lacy, basal leaves and stems of fluffy, airy flowers. Flower color and plant height depends on variety.


Sword-Like Foliage Sword-like foliage can be used in striking combination when planted with larger or coarser textured leafed plants, creating a dramatic effect. Plants from this category can be used either in the foreground or as a backdrop, depending on plant height. Shorter plants would be planted at the front of the bed and taller plants would be planted at the back.


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Daylily Hemerocallis Perennial 1-6 ft Any Sun Zone 3 (-40°F)

Very pest free and tough. Wide variety available. Blooms mid to late summer. Multiplies quickly, needs dividing frequently.

Gladiolus Gladiolus Tender Perennial

1 ½ - 6 ft

Well Drained

Sun Zone 8 (10°F)

Treat as an annual or lift corms for winter storage. Replant in spring. Blooms throughout season.

Japanese Iris Iris ensata Perennial 4 ft Rich/ Moist

Sun/ Light Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Nice used in water gardens or at edge of pools. Bears large single or double velvety flowers.

Siberian Iris Iris sibirica Perennial 1-2 ½ ft Any Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Graceful narrow leaves. Flowers come in shades of blue, purple or white. Keep well watered.

Spiderwort Tradescantia Perennial 1 ½ -3 ft

Loam Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Large sword-like leaves. Blue, purple, violet, or mauve flowers.

Gray’s Sedge Carex grayi Perennial 24 in Fertile/ Moist to Wet

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Clump-like plant with deep green leaves and flower spikes with star-like pale green seed heads, which appear in summer.

Bird’s Foot Sedge

Carex ornithopoda

Perennial 2-6 in


Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Clump-like plant with light green leaves. Has orange-brown grass-like flower spikes in spring.

Crocosmia aurea

Crocosmia aurea

Perennial 32-36 in


Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 6 (-10°F)

Clumps or pale green, sword like leaves. Bears spikes of orange flowers in early to mid-summer. Tender plant, so place in a protected area.


Sword-Like Foliage (Continued)


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Alpine Meadow Grass

Poa alpine Perennial 1-4 in Fertile/ Light/ Well Drained

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Mounding plant with short, linear, medium green leaves. Has 12” purplish-green flowering panicles in early to late summer.

Eulalia Grass ‘Punktchen’

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Punktchen’

Perennial 4 ft

Fertile/ Moist Well Drained

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Stiff, upright, grass-like leaves, green with light-yellow banding. Has large silky, gray to purplish-brown panicles that are very showy. Nice in the back of a border.

Eulalia Grass ‘Zebrinus’

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’

Perennial 4 ft

Fertile/ Moist Well Drained

Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Upright, arching, grass-like leaves, green with creamy-white to light-yellow banding. Has large silky, gray to purplish-brown panicles that are very showy. Nice in the back of a border.

Yucca Yucca filamentosa

Perennial 3 ft Dry Sun Zone 5 (-20°F)

Narrow leaves. Variety “Bright Eagle” has creamy white leaf margins. Good for drought tolerant garden.


Low-Growing and Ground Cover Plants When planting a garden, we often overlook the importance of ground cover and low growing plants. Without them our taller plants would look bare around the ankles. Plants from this category help fill in the gaps and anchor our garden beds. Ground covers lend themselves well to rockery areas and stepping stone paths.


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Bunchberry Cornus canadensis

Perennial 6-9 in Moist Sun Zone 3 (-40°F)

Oval or round leaves, white flowers in June, red fruit in the fall. Related to Dogwood. Nice in a woodland setting.

Foam Flower Tiarella trifoliate

Perennial 10-20 in

Moist Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Green and bronze foliage. Small spikes of white frothy flowers.

Perennial Forget-me-not

Viola ‘Etain’ Perennial 8-10 in Rich/ Well Drained

Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Large heart shaped leaves, sprays of tiny blue flowers.

Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum

Perennial 6-12 in Rich/ Moist Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Slender stems surrounded by whorls of green leaves. Can be invasive.

Thyme Thymus praecox articus


Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 4 (-30°F)

Many thymes are available. Creeping thyme is effective planted between stepping stones. Fragrant when walked on. Culinary herb.

Corydalis lutea Corydalis lutea Perennial 12-16 in


Sun/ Part Sun

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Erect plant with delicate, lacy leaves and bright yellow, spurred flowers. Blooms all summer. Self sows readily.

Snow-in-summer

Cerastium tomentosum


Full Sun

Zone 3 (-40°F)

Flowering season: late spring to early summer. Flower color: white and silver-gray leaves. Very vigorous ground cover. Can be invasive.


Low-Growing and Ground Cover Plants (Continued)


Plant Height

Type of Soil Sun/

Shade USDA Zone

Comments

Anemone ‘Plenifora’

Anemone ranunculoides ‘Pleniflora’

Perennial 2-4 in Rich/ Well Drained

Part Sun Zone 4 (-30°F)

Small plant with deeply divided basal leaves and double, dark yellow flowers. This anemone spread by rhizome, making it good for naturalizing in a woodland landscape.

Golden Oregano

Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’

Herb 6-12 in Rich/ Well Drained

Sun/ Light Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Low growing herb. Needs mid-day shade. Flowers attract bees & butterflies. Spreads to 12” wide. Edible.

Stone Crop Sedum spathulifolum

Ground Cover

1-2 in Dry Sun/ Part Shade

Zone 5 (-20°F)

Fleshy spoon shaped green leaves with purple tinges. Variety ‘Purpureum’ has deep purple leaves. Needs little water once established. Unusual foliage. Good for rock gardens.


For More Information Contact the Master Gardener Diagnostic Clinic

May through September Tuesdays 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

At

WSU Extension Office 507 N. Nanum, Room 2 Ellensburg, WA 98926

Monday through Friday – 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone: (509) 962-7507

Upper County Toll Free: (509) 674-2584 ext 507

Kittitas County Extension Website: http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/extension/default.asp WSU Publications: http://pubs.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/index.html

Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Trade names may have been used to simplify the presentation of information.

No endorsement of products is intended.

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