Thursday, April 23, 2015

Silver and Other Colours

For April's Garden Blogger's Foliage Day, I thought I would look at some special foliage colours.  Silver - or at least grey - is commonly associated with dry climate plants.  So I've been surprised that I have had to deliberately select for this colour.  Perhaps I should put that differently.  It has been easy to find plants in the muted grey-green range, not so easy to find good silvers.

Lavenders are an obvious choice, though some are more silver than others!  My new addition of Lavandula "Goodwin Creek Gray" has been a step in the right direction.
Curiously, the new leaves now sprouting on Lavandula stoechas "Madrid" sport a distinct yellow-green hue.  At first I was worried about chlorosis, but the plant looks (and acts) very healthy with all that new growth and some buds coming on.
In the same tones, the normally grey-leaved Acacia salicina also shows a distinctly yellow hue to its new growth - of which there is plenty.  This is supposed to be a rapidly growing tree, but its tendency to a weeping habit makes it difficult to realize just how much height it has put on in the last few months.  It is taller than I am now, but that is not saying much!
The new growth on Perovskia atriplicifolia is very much of the same silver-green as the rest of the plant.  (I apologize that some of today's pictures are so dark; I had to give up my early photo session and finish off late this afternoon...  I hope you can tell the distinctive colours!)
It's the perfect foil for the simple blue flowers, just now opening.
In a very deliberate attempt to ensure a strong silver component, I recently added Artemisia "Powis Castle".
Also, simple Salvia officinalis is a good choice for the silver-to-grey range.  It is planted at the bottom of the garden, and I hope it does not end up entirely fried to a crisp come summer!
I still have every intention of adding Stachys byzantina to the garden but haven't sourced it locally yet, and it does seem silly to have to purchase that one by mail order.  So I am waiting in hopes it will turn up at one of the garden centres.

In the meantime, there have been some plants whose silver or grey tones have surprised me by their intensity.  One is Eremophila "Valentine", which I expected to show flowerless this month, but no... there are still a few blooms on this incredible little shrub.  Perhaps its foliage is better described as smoky green.
While the Eremophila is distinctly grey-green, Penstemon parryi is far more silver than I expected.  Its bloom period really is over, and I cut back the bloom stems the other day.  As a foliage plant it is remarkable - almost as remarkable as it is in flower!  This picture doesn't do it justice (nor does it show the new growth coming in many of the leaf axils), but it does show just how silvery the plant is at present, accented by a rich plum hue on leaf edges.
From Penstemon parryi we move to a group of plants with a great deal of variation in foliage colours.  These are the assorted succulents that have entered the garden, generally as impulse purchases, over the past five months or so.  Silver from Cistanthe grandiflora...
...and Echeveria lila, shown here with a few neighboring chamomile flowers...
...and predominantly silver-green, but with a distinctive red edge and furry texture, is little Echeveria harmsii.
The mahogany tones are even stronger in Sedeveria "Sorrento", which has not lost its colour since it turned from primarily green to mostly red upon being planted out last winter.
Even brighter?  Euphorbia tirucalli(?) "Firesticks"...
Turning to the cooler side of the spectrum, we find Senecio "Blue Fingers".
Senecio "Blue Fingers"
Lastly, a succulent just planted: Crassula capitella thyrsiflora "Campfire".  It came home with leaves almost entirely green; however, judging by descriptions, this will soon change with exposure to full sun.  I hope to keep a photographic record of the transformation.  It already has darker edges than when I bought it last weekend.
Crassula "Campfire"
The green-foliaged plants are quite valuable in this anything-but-green region, but I thought it would be fun to look at the silver side of the spectrum this month.  As usual, I'm linking this post with Christina's at My Hesperides Garden, where many other April foliage updates can be enjoyed!
eremophila "valentine" foliage


12 comments:

  1. What a massive variety of greys and silvers ! Lovely textures too ! Funnily enough I had Stachys Byzantine in my hand yesterday, wavered and put it back, as a variety (Stachys Lanata) grows very leggy and straggly in my garden. In your conditions I bet it would prosper.Horses for courses and all that ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can imagine it's not very attractive in a tall, leggy form! It surely would be a good choice here, and I expect to find it sooner or later. Hopefully I will still have room for it... ;-)

      Delete
  2. Oh I love al of the silvery tones! I always have a soft spot for artemesia & stachys, but my wet climate make it prone to rot. The acacia will make a stunning small tree, they are commonly grown in the desert areas here: does your area suffer from borers? If so, just keep an eye on the acacia as they are very prone to attack from these pesky insects

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the silver foliage adds so much colour range to the garden. Oddly, in my earlier (Midwest) garden, lavender and artemisia were short-lived from rot, but Stachys byzantina was healthy and vigourous for years. Which just goes to show... I'll have to check on borers; I have a lot to learn about the local pests :P (though the Acacia seems to be assumed quite healthy here.)

      Delete
  3. Great photos, as usual, Amy. I think you'll be surprised by Crassula "Campfire' - mine are almost all a vivid orange-red after a diet of sun and limited water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to a big color change then, Kris :) Thanks!

      Delete
  4. I tend to walk straight past most plants that have silvery foliage - the conditions here are generally a little to 'moist' for them!
    I love the effect the light has given to your pics Amy. The foliage of the Penstemon is fascinating, I've always thought they came in various shades of green! As for the Euphorbia - wow!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe there are a few exceptions to the "dry conditions for silver foliage" rule, but not many... This particular Penstemon certainly is fascinating; it is unequivocally a desert plant, and its foliage is stiff and leathery as well as grey and purple. I think I need to try some of the other types too :)

      Delete
  5. I am a huge fan of silvery foliage and in your sunny spot I can imagine that it actually sparkles. By the way, I am enjoying your weather reports!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always loved silver foliage myself, so I am indulging in it in this garden ;-) I'm glad to know you like the weather reports - I think they will be excellent references as the garden continues, but I've been afraid they were only of interest to me... btw, I have posted some more pictures of my horse over at ofathousandthings.blogspot.com - thought you might enjoy them!

      Delete
  6. Lovely variety of silver tones, my favorites are Lavander and Salvia, I also have in my garden, but they really are all very beautiful ...
    I love the image of a Perovskia growth, ...is almost blue !!
    Hugs !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I adore the lavenders and salvia; they are wonderful plants and very classic! The Perovskia... well, my camera has made it a little bluer than it really appears to the eye... This was taken in evening light. But in daylight it is more of a silver like lavender - with lovely fine-textured foliage. Have a wonderful week, my friend! Hugs :)

      Delete