Leaf Power

Foliage plants in their many and varied colours are your best option for long-lasting colour, contrast and texture

- ALICE SPENSER-HIGGS

Foliage plants are not restricted to shades of green. You’ll find vibrant tones of red, burgundy, purple, pink, silver and even gold. It’s difficult to go wrong with these plants, so use them as a permanent framework for your garden, providing splashes of colour from season to season.

Design tips

• Use warm colours and variegated foliage sparingly, as a way to draw attention to a particular area or as a focal point.
• Pay attention to the size of the leaves, as large foliage tends to bring things closer. Finer foliage gives the illusion of distance and space.
• Silver and green foliage plants are useful for toning down strong colours and establishing a sense of tranquillity.
• By repeating a colour or shades of a colour, a sense of rhythm is established creating unity and harmony.

1 HYPOESTES SANGUINOLENTA

A small (15–25cm high), leafy plant, it has striking, patterned foliage, which comes in soft pink, red, rose and silvery white with deep green veins that give it a speckled, polka dot appearance. It delivers plenty of colour without the hassle of having to deadhead the flowers.

GROWING TIPS Hypoestes grows in bright, indirect light to semi-shade and tolerates all types of soil. Too much sun or deep shade will affect the colour of the leaves. Water regularly and fertilise once or twice during the season with a general balanced fertiliser. Remove flower spikes to keep the plant bushy and full of leaves.

HOW TO USE IT Place plants 20cm apart to form a low, uniform groundcover or border for begonias or impatiens. It is a good filler for containers and hanging baskets in the shade.

2 HEUCHERA MICRANTHA