Guide to Planting Gray Gardens

Silver and gray-leaved plants complement many gardening styles and homes, especially those made of stone. They can also tone down bright colors. Most of these plants perform well in dry locations as well, making them ideal choices for low-maintenance gardening.

One of the most interesting characteristics of silver and gray plants is their hairy leaves. They may also have a waxy texture. Both of these features allow the plants to reflect sunlight, which in essence results in the ability to conserve water and tolerate drier conditions. In fact, many plants with silver and gray foliage actually originate in dry climates.

Gray gardens can play different roles in the landscape. They may work in a complementary fashion or as focal points, especially with their many forms of interesting foliage textures and shapes. These gardens work well on their own or integrated with other plants. A silver-gray garden can be a great contrast to green plants and can also help break up the monotony of single-color gardens. They're especially effective when used in nighttime or moon gardens. These plants can also be used to tone down busy garden colors.

Silver and gray-leaved plants blend well with blues, lilacs, and pinks. They contrast well with deep shades of purple, red, and orange too. Regardless of how they're used, gray gardens will add dimension and interest to nearly any landscape setting. Some of the most commonly used plants for a silver and gray garden include the following:

Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)-This plant has soft, fuzzy gray leaves and produces light purple flower spikes. It thrives in sun or partial shade in well-draining soil. Makes an excellent ground cover. Blooms late spring/early summer.

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)-A woody perennial plant with gray-green leaves and light blue flowers. This is a good choice for areas receiving lots of sun and will also thrive in dry soils. The plant can get somewhat tall, however, and may be prone to falling over. Summer blooming.

Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria)-Low-maintenance plant with silver-gray leaves and rosy-pink blooms atop fuzzy gray stalks. Easily grows in poor soil and full sun but will tolerate some shade. Spring blooming.

Faassen's catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)-Dwarf catmint with spikes of lavender-blue flowers and gray-colored leaves. Makes a great edging plant in full sun or partial shade and well-draining soil. Blooms in summer.

Silvermound mugwort (Artemisia schmidtiana)-An attractive plant that entices bees and butterflies. This one has bright yellow blooms amid a mound of silvery-gray foliage. Place it in full sun. Blooms in midsummer.

Wooly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)-Another nice ground cover with pleasant aroma and pretty pink blossoms in midsummer. Tolerates dry, poor soil but prefers moist, well-draining soil. It does well in heavy traffic areas and is excellent for walkways. Plant in full sun or light shade.

Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria 'Silverdust')-This annual is popular in the garden for its compact size and fuzzy, lacy-looking, silvery-white foliage. Put this drought-tolerant plant in a sunny, well-draining location. Pleasing yellow-gold blooms appear in midsummer.

Amethyst sea holly (Eryngium amethystinum)-This unusual plant has spiny gray-green foliage and beautiful thistle-like blue flowers that appear in late summer/early fall. Likes full sun and well-draining soil.

Mediterranean lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)-Although it's sometimes called English lavender, this plant actually comes from the Mediterranean. Enjoys light, nutrient-rich soil in sunny locations. It has a wonderful aroma and the lilac flower spikes are commonly dried for potpourri.

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)-This plant has white blooms that appear in spring and attractive silver-gray foliage. Grows in full sun and tolerates poor soil.

Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)-Small succulent plants that spread easily. Commonly grown for the unusual rosette foliage, which can vary in color from light green to grayish-green with purple tips. Also develops small mauve-colored flowers. Grow in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil.

Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)-This perennial thrives in sunny areas and is well suited in rock gardens or as a ground cover. Tolerates a wide range of soils. In addition to the tufts of silver-gray foliage, this plant produces lovely white flowers in late spring.

Lungwort (Pulmonaria saccharata)-An interesting plant with unusual spotted, gray-green foliage. Flowers bloom in spring and may start out pink, eventually changing to blue. Prefers partial to full shade in moist soil.