Adding Colour to Your Flower Border with Vibrant Foliage colours

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola

To create a dynamic and visually captivating flower border, consider incorporating plants and shrubs with foliage colours beyond the typical green. These plants not only bring vibrant hues but also add varied textures, enhancing the overall appeal of your garden. Here are some excellent choices to consider:

1. Golden Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’): This ornamental grass features striking variegated leaves with green and yellow stripes, providing a bright contrast in your garden​ Learn more
2. Silver Foliage Plants:
   • Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’: This plant has soft, silver foliage that can add a shimmering effect to your borders​ Learn more
   • Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ear): Known for its woolly, silver-grey leaves, it can create a lovely, textured backdrop​ Learn More
3. Purple and Red Foliage Plants:
   • Heuchera (Coral Bells): These plants come in various colours, including purple, red, and bronze. They offer both colourful leaves and delicate flowers​ Learn More
   • Echinacea (Coneflower): While primarily known for their blooms, certain varieties also have reddish stems and foliage that can add depth to your garden​ Learn More.
4. Yellow and Gold Foliage Plants:
   • Carex elata ‘Aurea’ (Bowles’ Golden Sedge): This grass has bright yellow foliage that can lighten up a dark corner of the garden.
5. Blue Foliage Plants:
   • Hosta ‘Halcyon’: This variety of hosta has blue-green leaves that can add a cool, soothing tone to your garden.
   • Festuca glauca (Blue Fescue): This ornamental grass has blue-grey foliage, offering a unique colour contrast Learn More

Other shrubs that can add foliage colour to your borders 

Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’: This elderberry shrub features dark purple, almost black foliage that can provide a dramatic contrast to green plants in your garden. It’s also known for its pink flowers in summer and dark berries in the fall.

Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ (Golden Mock Orange): This shrub is valued for its bright yellow-green foliage, which stands out in any garden border. It’s also known for its fragrant white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer​

Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’: This barberry shrub has striking purple and pink variegated leaves, making it an excellent choice for adding colorful foliage to your garden. It also produces small yellow flowers in spring and red berries in fall​ Learn More

Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’: Known as Mexican Orange Blossom, this shrub has bright yellow leaves and produces fragrant white flowers. It’s great for adding a golden touch to your garden border​ Learn more

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