50 (or so) Shades of Grey

Before you start thinking this is some badly written story about things best left behind bedroom doors, think again!

In reality it is a not too badly written piece about my fondness for grey leaf plants and some of my favorites you should try growing in your garden.

I have always had an attraction to silver leafed plants, it's that striking grey that stands out among all other green life in the landscape. It's that year round colour that gives them the edge. They really have a knack for drawing the attention of passers by.

One of the main strengths of the grey or silver leafed plants is their toughness. Having evolved in some of the toughest environments around the world, most examples are low maintenance, water wise and in some cases, salt tolerant.

Widely used by both the home gardener and landscape designer not only for their durability but as an amazing colour contrast in the landscape, complementing other forms, textures and flowers. Like a good piece of jewellery bringing an outfit together, grey leafed plants can tie a garden together very nicely.

Many grey leafed plants get the colour from fine hairs on their leaves. These hairs aren't just an awkward fashion accessory, being hirsute (or tomentose as us Horticulturalists would say) allows the plant to capture moisture from the air, reflects the sun's heat and reduces wind speed over the leaf surface which alleviates moisture loss from the leaf.

So without further ado, here is a list of some of my favorite silver coloured plants:

Eremophila nivea - a real beauty and an Australian to boot! It's hairy stems and leaves give it a soft silvery appearance. It has very showy mauve flowers from late Winter to early Summer. In the wild (native to Western Australia) it is at a very high risk of extinction (an even better reason to give it a try). It is suitable to more drier, less humid inland areas. If you are wanting to try this amazing plant in your garden, do yourself a favour and find a grafted form which is a much better performer.

Helichrysum petiolare - hard to top the Eremophila but the Licorice Plant comes pretty close. Not baring a striking floral display, this plant relies on it's mass grey appeal to catch the eye. The mounding habit makes it an ideal choice as sprawling ground cover, for under planting or allowed to spill over retaining walls. Responds well to pruning and does best in open areas where it can spread.

Convolvulous cneorum - the aptly names Silver Bush really lives up to it's name. A sprawling/mounding shrub that produces abundant white flowers through Spring & Summer. Prune moderately after flowering to maintain bushiness. Works well in under planting or as a border in a variety of soil types.

Rhagodia spinescens - The Creeping Salt Bush is a hardy and quick growing Australian Native. As the name suggests it is salt tolerant and has a wide natural distribution across mainland Australia. Rhagodia responds well to pruning and can be maintained in more formal hedging but also works well as a sprawling filler in garden beds.

Kalanchoe tomentosa - The Panda Plant or Pussy's Ears (cute names for a cute plant) gets it's common names from the soft, flurry leaves it produces. This succulent is very easy to care for. A great addition to any succulent or water wise garden, giving great colour and texture. It can get a bit leggy with age so don't be afraid to prune back before this happens but keep the cuttings, as it is very easy to propagate and free plants are always good.

Leucophyta brownii - Yet another native (ok I am a little biased), the Cushion Bush has a tangled branching arrangement, forming a rounded shrub to 1 metre. Their form is one of the most interesting features. The modified stems and leaves allow it to survive in it's natural coastal habitat along exposed areas on cliffs and dunes. It prefers a similar position in the garden where drainage is good and humidity low. There is a dwarf form also available called 'Silver Nugget' which gets to 50cm tall.

Actinotus helianthi - The Flannel Flower gets it's name from the soft, woolly feel of the leaves. This is one grey leafed plant that does produce a striking floral display. A mass of star shaped white/cream flowers appear in Spring. This iconic Sydney species is best seen in it's natural habitat on sandstone and is especially prevalent after bush fires. To see some good examples of Actinotus in the landscape, it's well worth visiting Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens and Mount Annan Botanic Gardens. If you are considering growing this beauty, good drainage is the key. For a native the Actinotus can be a heavy feeder, so don't be afraid to sprinkle some native plant food around. Tip prune after flowering to encourage bushiness.

Stachys byzantina - Commonly know as Lamb's Ear's and once you see and feel the leaves of this plant you'll know how it got it's common name. On mass, Stachys looks amazing and is used well as a border or under planting in cottage and perennial gardens. This easy to grow plant is great for children's gardens due to it's sensory appeal. Flowers are borne on spikes rising from the main plant and can be purple or white. Trim flowers as they finish. Plants can die down somewhat in winter depending on temperatures but will respond well when favorable weather returns.

Senecio serpens - Blue Chalk Sticks (another self explanatory common name) are another tough succulent, ok they aren't totally silver/grey but blue/grey still counts. Looks great on mass and when allowed time to fill in spaces in any water wise garden. This Asteracea family member (The Daisy Family) produces white flowers in Summer but are generally insignificant and can be removed when finished. Light, regular pruning will keep the plant looking full and reduced plants from getting leggy, bare stems. Sometimes confused with Senecio mandralasicae, S. serpens tends to be a more upright and compact form, compared to the trailing and more vigorous S. mandralasicae - either plant is worth having in your garden and can be propagated easy from cuttings.


So there you go, some food (or plants) for thought - of course there are many more grey plant options, but as I said at the start, these are my favorites. What silver leafed plants turn your head?

I urge you adventure into the "grey", it will add pizzazz and draw attention to your garden.