ALWAYS in demand, but not always available, are grey and silver-leafed plants.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This colour is extremely popular in the garden for contrast but also because plants with this leaf colour are generally hardy.
Preferred above others is lavender, of which there are many varieties - the hardiest for our area is French lavender, which blooms and blooms.
It can become tall and rangy and should be regularly pruned so as it doesn't grow to hard wood.
Not quite as hardy as lavender but equally as beautiful is Actinotus helianthi, flannel flower.
This furry-foliaged Australian native is in bloom now and I find this is often the only time of year that it is available in the marketplace.
Flannel flowers like well- drained soil and will grow in full sun or part shade, but do avoid overhead watering.
PGA from Victoria have a beautiful range of dianthus "Scent First" that are highly perfumed - they are available in white, red and shades of pink. This low-growing perennial has silver foliage that enhances the multiple, repeat blooms.
Convolvulus is a popular ground cover which blooms in spring, but there is now a fine silver-leafed form that bears pink flowers growing to a height of 40cm.
Convolvulus "Tangier Pink" only spreads 60cm, unlike green convolvulus that are prolific groundcovers.
An interesting little plant, Helianthemum "Pink Angel", known as Sunrose, has grey leaves and bears masses of double pink flowers during warm months. This hardy little plant looks great mass-planted in rockeries or as a border.
Santolina is a dry-tolerant silver/grey plant that I have used to cascade over retaining walls. Its silvery foliage is aromatic, a great contrast under white roses.
Look for the new release "Little Silver" which has a more compact habit, only spreading to 60cm.
If you're seeking a fine, lacy silvery plant that flowers, I'd recommend rhodanthemum "African Eyes". I love the creamy white daisy-like flowers with a dark centre that mass through the silver foliage.
Euphorbia "Silver Swan" and Convolvulus "Silvery Moon" are both hardy. Silver Swan grows to 75cm, loves the sun and bears spikes of creamy coloured flowers in spring.
Silvery Moon has shiny silver leaves, spreading to 60cm with a long flowering period, producing crisp white cup shaped blooms.