Great Foliage Plants for the Garden

It’s not just about the flowers when it comes to selecting perennials for the landscape.

The purple leaves of Brunette or James Compton bugbane add color to the shade garden until the white flowers appear in fall. Combine with hakone grass (Hakonechloa), hosta or another contrasting plant to help the dark foliage stand out in the shade.

The bronze leaves of chocolate eupatorium make a nice backdrop for its white flowers that appear in mid-summer through fall. And its tolerance of dry shade makes it a good option for low maintenance gardeners.

Lady’s mantle’s beauty is enhanced by the early morning dew or after a rainfall when the water beads up and glistens in the sun. Shade from the hot afternoon sun will help prevent leaf browning.

The silver and red highlights on the delicate fronds of Japanese painted fern contrast nicely with the bold leaves of hostas.

A bit more information: The twisted leaves of curly sedge as well as the ruffled foliage of curled parsley add texture to both container and in-ground gardens. And consider including a few ornamental grasses for year round foliage and seasonal bloom.