In the refinement , where foliage often trumps efflorescence , it is authoritative to take into story the size , shape , colour , and texture of leaf and how they relate to each other . Silver leaf is an exciting pick to add to the mixing . In general , strive to ply enough interest in colors and grain to avoid boredom and enough restraint to ward off optical chaos . See more shade works with shiny leafage .

Let it attract attention

Do you have areas or focal points in your garden you desire to feature ? If so , consider using silver foliage to address aid to these . Take , for instance , a stepping - I. F. Stone path through a Funka and fern garden that ends with a favorite sculpture . Lining that path with the bright and dramatic foliage of ‘ Sea Heart ’ brunnera will directly make your aid to the path and sculpture in a way the subtle variations of hosta and fern foliation never can .

Mix it with chartreuse or blue

I was surprised to regain in my own garden that atomic number 47 can amalgamate nicely with Paris green . With that say , you have to proceed with caveat , as it is loose to exaggerate this commixture ; too many bright yellow - greens paired with silver medal can be chaotic . Take a leafage off of your favorite silver - foliaged plant and walk it over to something with chartreuse leave of absence . What do you think ?

you may not , however , go wrongly in mixing Ag and dark foliage . The muffled , delicate leafage of a silver - gray fern mate with a blasphemous hosta is refined elegance at its fine . A garden of green , vapours , and silvers will be very calming . I wish to add up blank flowers to this combining too .

Contrast the foliage form to highlight the colors

Silver foliage provide a piano and refined pop of brightness in the dim lighting of the spectre garden . This pop is even more marked when paired with contrast foliage . For instance , the frail muted flatware - gray of a painted fern is graceful when surrounded by the dark fleeceable foliage of a genus Funka . The contrast of leaf colours and form flirt up the strengths of each works . How do you determine if dissimilar types of foliage will look sound next to each other ? When I am render to find a place for a newly purchased plant life , silver medal or other , I often walk around the garden and maintain the works next to its potential neighbor to see how they act with one another . The same can also be done with a leaf clipped from an exist plant life you are call back of moving .

Frank Fitzgerald is a landscape painting designer and plant expert from Minneapolis .

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Photo: Steve Aitken

Let it attract attention

Photo: Steve Aitken

Mix it with chartreuse or blue

Photo: Frank Fitzgerald

Contrast the foliage form to highlight the colors

Photo: Frank Fitzgerald

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