“In every wood in every spring there is a different green.”
So it says in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” and so it is in my garden.
No matter whether the iris is blooming or the roses that follow, green is the primary color in my yard, even if you were to block out that big patch of lawn that my dogs play on.
I love green. It heralds spring and new life. Green can be peaceful or vibrant. It can “pop” from the landscape or serve as a backdrop. Selecting plants for their greenery can enhance a garden even when there are no flowers in bloom.
There are so many variations of green: the bluish green of eucalyptus or many junipers, the silvery foliage of many lavenders or germander, the apple green of the new leaves on the flowering pear tree, the lemon-lime green of some hostas, the mesmerizing variegation of the Canna ‘Pretoria,’ the dark, brooding green of some pines that is almost black, especially after the rain; or the green and yellow speckled leaves of the Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata.’
Although I love all the shades of green, I especially like the lime-green foliage plants. They pack a powerful punch and to me a note of whimsy. They stand out beautifully against a backdrop of dark green foliage and really glow next to the purple foliage of the Cotinus ‘Royal Purple.’
The variety of lime-green foliage plants is growing rapidly with the hybridization of new Heuchera and Coleus varieties. The splashes of color overshadow the flowers.
Both do well in shade with moderate watering. Plant them towards the front of the border. The Heuchera is a mounding plant while the Coleus is branching and will need to be pinched back to gain a full, bushy look that is attractive. Beware of snails and slugs that are attracted to both plant species. Both do well as container plants too.
Many Hostas have lime-green foliage and enjoy the shade like the Heuchera and Coleus.
Here too the flowers are less significant then the foliage. Some Hostas will grow two feet tall and three or more feet wide, but there are also dwarf varieties. Snails and slugs love Hostas.
One of the hardiest plants in my garden is Asparagus ‘Sprengeri.’ Lime-green mounds of foliage that bear red berries in winter. The tiny white flowers are insignificant. The liquid filled roots multiply and spread so be prepared for it to spread.
I’ve used it alone in hanging baskets on my patio for years. It’s evergreen and seems to do fine if I miss watering it occasionally.
Caryopteris ‘Worcester Gold’ attracted me the minute I saw it at a nursery several years ago. It grows about two to three feet wide and almost as tall. It’s a deciduous plant that will take full sun and moderate watering.
The lime green oval leaves are almost yellow. Clusters of lavender blue followers last all summer long. I liked it so much I spent a year looking for a second one.
A taller plant with lime-green foliage is Coleonema, also known as Breath of Heaven. It’s a common plant and even if you don’t know it by name, you’ve probably seen it in many yards. The tiny pink or white flowers appear in winter and spring. Some varieties grow to 10 feet.
Ipomoea ‘Marguerite’ is a pretty vine with heart-shaped lime-green leaves. Commonly known as Morning Glory, I grow it as an annual in hanging baskets and gracefully trailing in containers.
--Dottie Deems
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