Quick Silver

Not only are silver-leafed plants eye-catching in their own right, they make the perfect foil for brightly coloured blooms

- Connal Oosterbroek

More often than not, plants with silver leaves evolved in hot, arid regions. The colouring is generally not pigmentation, but comes either from tiny hairs that reflect light, lowering the leaf’s surface temperature or a white, waxy outer layer that helps to slow down evaporation.

This makes them ideal in a lowmaintenance garden, as apart from welldrained soil, they don’t ask for much. If they get too much water, they can become dull and leggy and even develop root rot.

Adding cool elegance, silver plants work well on their own as focal points or when interplanted with other species. They break up the monotony of green gardens, tone down bright reds and blend well with shades of blue, lilac, and pink. Place taller silver plants towards the back of beds as a backdrop for shorter flowering plants. Plant groundcovers under taller flowering plants like standard roses and shrubs with green or blue foliage. Use them to define the edges of paths, borders, verges and along a driveway to reflect car headlights.

Silver foliage also brightens up shady areas where greens tend to get lost. It’s especially useful for ‘moonlight gardens’ that are designed to be enjoyed at night.

DUSTY MILLER (SENECIO CINERARIA)

Dusty Miller has been a firm favourite for many years. Mature plants grow up to about 60cm tall with a similar width, and although they’re perennials, many people treat them as an annual. They are particularly useful in container gardens where you can rely on them to withstand heat and periods of dry weather. Give the plants a midsummer trim if they become leggy. S. ‘New Look’ from Ball Straathof is a new dwarf variety that features tall, thick stems with large, smooth-edged silver leaves.