Frond Embrace Horticulturist Tammy Huynh celebrates the year-round beauty of foliage plants.
Flowers fade, but foliage is forever. If you want year-round colour and interest in your garden, Tammy Huynh has the solution.
The ideal garden is one made to be enjoyed in all seasons, where plants come together in a symphony of colours, shapes and textures in a visually impactful scene. The secret to achieving such a dynamic display? Foliage. There’s a vast array of plants with bold leaf forms and intriguing textures that, with careful planning, will provide year-round colour and drama.
IMPERIAL BROMELIAD (1)
( Alcantarea imperialis)
If you want impact, go big. The imperial bromeliad is a true statement plant, with large, wide, strappy leaves forming a dense rosette of foliage that can grow up to 2 metres wide. The leaves are silver-grey on top and can be tinged red with exposure to bright light – a beautiful contrast with the deep burgundy undersides. This impressive rosette sends up a flowering red or deep pink spike that lasts for up to 12 months. The imperial bromeliad prefers full sun to a partly shaded position, and well-draining soil. Team it with low-growing, silver-toned plants or as a feature plant within a bed of other bromeliad species.
LAMB’S EARS (2)
( Stachys byzantina)
Try walking past this fuzzy, clumping perennial without touching its wonderfully soft foliage. The silver-green leaves add a luminescent glow to the garden and look best when used as a groundcover or along borders. Light purple flower spikes appear in spring and complement the velvety foliage, but they can simply be pruned if preferred. While it can tolerate some shade, it prefers a sunny, well-drained spot. Lamb’s ears doesn’t fare well in areas with high humidity, but is quite tolerant of extended dry periods. After a few years, divide the clumps to help keep them tidy.
LOROPETALUM (3)
Experience the power of purple in the garden with easy-to-grow loropetalum cultivars. The deep plum or burgundy-red foliage adds depth to an overall scheme; vibrant pink, tassel-like flowers are an extra treat in the warmer months. Used as a highlight or contrast, it can give a feature plant even greater visual impact. Position it in full sun to part-shade and use as an informal hedge or as a feature plant in garden beds. ‘Plum Gorgeous’ is stunning with vibrant deep purple foliage, but go for ‘China Rubrum’ (pictured) if you prefer reddish-purple hues.
SAGO PALM (4)
( Cycas revoluta)
This classic choice is suitable for all garden styles, from formal to tropical, modern minimalist or xeriscapes. It is not a palm but a cycad, one of the world’s oldest plants – and its crown of stiff, large, leathery leaves grow above a stout woody trunk, giving it a majestic presence. Use it to punctuate garden beds or add impact to pots. Don’t place it too close to pathways, as the leaf tips are sharp. It’s tough, slow-growing and suited to full sun with well-draining soil.
HOSTA (5)
Hostas are ideal for adding colour to shady areas. Their heart-shaped leaves, often with streaks or splashes of cream, silver or green, look spectacular under dappled light, especially when planted en masse. The foliage is available in various shades of green including blue-green, and has a lightly rippled or corrugated texture. Plant them in a well-draining spot and keep the soil evenly moist, especially during summer. They go dormant in winter, but this allows them to prepare for their stunning display throughout the rest of the year.
There’s a vast array of plants with bold leaf forms and intriguing textures that will provide year-round colour and drama.