Gardening Guides
Flowers and Plants
9 New Plants With Spectacular Foliage Color to Try in 2018
Choose among top shrubs, small trees and perennials with leaves ranging from bright chartreuse to deep purple
If you’re looking to break up an expanse of green leaves, look no further than these color-rich new foliage plants. With leaves in hues from bright silver and gold to deep bronze and burgundy, these perennials, shrubs and small trees can break up foliage monotony in beds and containers with a dramatic hit of color. Read on for an introduction to the latest 2018 plants and see if one catches your eye.
2. ‘Silver Charm’ Largeleaf Brunnera
(Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Charm’)
The icy green-silver foliage of largeleaf brunnera can act as a spot of brightness in dark, shaded beds, woodland gardens and container plantings. ‘Silver Charm’ is a faster grower than cultivar ‘Jack Frost’ and has slightly narrower, more arrowhead-shaped leaves. In spring the plant sends out sprays of blue flowers similar to forget-me-nots. This plant goes dormant in winter.
Use it where you’d like a silver understory or container plant to fill in more quickly.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide
(Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Charm’)
The icy green-silver foliage of largeleaf brunnera can act as a spot of brightness in dark, shaded beds, woodland gardens and container plantings. ‘Silver Charm’ is a faster grower than cultivar ‘Jack Frost’ and has slightly narrower, more arrowhead-shaped leaves. In spring the plant sends out sprays of blue flowers similar to forget-me-nots. This plant goes dormant in winter.
Use it where you’d like a silver understory or container plant to fill in more quickly.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide
3. ‘Brilliance’ Autumn Fern
(Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’)
In fall the particularly rich bronze foliage of ‘Brilliance’ sets this variety apart. Plants thrive when grown in soil rich in organic matter that is kept consistently moist. This plant goes dormant in winter.
Use it as an understory plant beneath trees, on shaded slopes, in woodland settings or in mixed containers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Part shade to shade
Mature size: 20 to 24 inches tall and wide
(Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’)
In fall the particularly rich bronze foliage of ‘Brilliance’ sets this variety apart. Plants thrive when grown in soil rich in organic matter that is kept consistently moist. This plant goes dormant in winter.
Use it as an understory plant beneath trees, on shaded slopes, in woodland settings or in mixed containers.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Part shade to shade
Mature size: 20 to 24 inches tall and wide
4. Silver Northern Exposure Alumroot
(Heuchera Northern Exposure Silver)
With increased cold tolerance and rust resistance, Northern Exposure Silver is a great new alumroot hybrid to add to your garden list. (Heuchera also go by the common name coral bells.) The red-purple and silver leaves grow from a single crown to form gently ruffled mounds up to 13 inches tall. This plant goes dormant in winter except in mild-winter climates.
Mass plant as a ground cover under trees or tuck into window boxes or containers. Pair it with ferns, violas and deadnettles (Lamium spp.).
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; lower once established
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 13 inches tall and 16 inches wide
(Heuchera Northern Exposure Silver)
With increased cold tolerance and rust resistance, Northern Exposure Silver is a great new alumroot hybrid to add to your garden list. (Heuchera also go by the common name coral bells.) The red-purple and silver leaves grow from a single crown to form gently ruffled mounds up to 13 inches tall. This plant goes dormant in winter except in mild-winter climates.
Mass plant as a ground cover under trees or tuck into window boxes or containers. Pair it with ferns, violas and deadnettles (Lamium spp.).
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; lower once established
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 13 inches tall and 16 inches wide
5. Morning Dew Stachyurus
(Stachyurus praecox ‘MonSilrlef’)
With delicate cream-edged, pointed leaves, this variegated stachyurus looks like a light cloud of mist in garden beds. The plant is also attractive after its leaves fall in winter, as unusual pendulous flowers that almost look like delicate icicles cover bare branches.
To highlight the pale foliage, pair with dark, glossy-leafed plants like cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus, zones 6 to 10) and holly (Illex spp.).
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.6 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil evenly moist
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun
Mature size: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
(Stachyurus praecox ‘MonSilrlef’)
With delicate cream-edged, pointed leaves, this variegated stachyurus looks like a light cloud of mist in garden beds. The plant is also attractive after its leaves fall in winter, as unusual pendulous flowers that almost look like delicate icicles cover bare branches.
To highlight the pale foliage, pair with dark, glossy-leafed plants like cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus, zones 6 to 10) and holly (Illex spp.).
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 20.6 degrees Celsius (zones 6 to 10)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil evenly moist
Light requirement: Partial shade to partial sun
Mature size: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide
6. ‘Onyx’ Heucherella
(x Heucherella ‘Onyx’)
Heucherella are a cross between alumroot, or coral bells (Heuchera spp.), and foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and also go by the common name foamy bells. While the early crosses could only really thrive in full shade to partial shade, new hybrids like ‘Onyx’ can take heat and full sun. In fact, planting ‘Onyx’ in full sun brings out its exceptionally dark purple-black foliage color. Its leaves will be more maroon if planted in shade and dappled light. It goes dormant in winter.
Use ‘Onyx’ heucherella in mixed borders or to bring deep color to container plantings. It tolerates humidity.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 10 inches tall and 16 inches wide
(x Heucherella ‘Onyx’)
Heucherella are a cross between alumroot, or coral bells (Heuchera spp.), and foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) and also go by the common name foamy bells. While the early crosses could only really thrive in full shade to partial shade, new hybrids like ‘Onyx’ can take heat and full sun. In fact, planting ‘Onyx’ in full sun brings out its exceptionally dark purple-black foliage color. Its leaves will be more maroon if planted in shade and dappled light. It goes dormant in winter.
Use ‘Onyx’ heucherella in mixed borders or to bring deep color to container plantings. It tolerates humidity.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Full shade to full sun
Mature size: 10 inches tall and 16 inches wide
7. Golden Jackpot Japanese Barberry
(Berberis thunbergii ‘SMBTJ’)
This Japanese barberry, or barberry, stands out for its vivid gold foliage and compact, garden-friendly size and habit. It stays 2 feet tall and wide in a neat, rounded shape without pruning. It’s deciduous in most areas but will remain evergreen in warm-winter climates. Plants are resistant to rust and deciduous in most climates.
Plant in a row as a low, golden border, mix with deep green boxwoods or plant with flowering perennials in blues and purples to provide a bright contrast.
Caution: Japanese barberry is considered invasive in some regions; check with your local nursery before planting.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 2 feet tall and wide
(Berberis thunbergii ‘SMBTJ’)
This Japanese barberry, or barberry, stands out for its vivid gold foliage and compact, garden-friendly size and habit. It stays 2 feet tall and wide in a neat, rounded shape without pruning. It’s deciduous in most areas but will remain evergreen in warm-winter climates. Plants are resistant to rust and deciduous in most climates.
Plant in a row as a low, golden border, mix with deep green boxwoods or plant with flowering perennials in blues and purples to provide a bright contrast.
Caution: Japanese barberry is considered invasive in some regions; check with your local nursery before planting.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 2 feet tall and wide
8. Shadowland ‘Waterslide’ Hosta
(Hosta hybrid)
With rippling foliage that’s silvery blue, Shadowland ‘Waterslide’ hosta almost looks like a water element in a garden bed. The unusual leaves hold their color all season long and complement the lavender-colored flowers that bloom in late summer. It goes dormant in winter.
Use it in mixed plantings to contrast with deep green, chartreuse and purple foliage plants.
Caution: Hostas are toxic to pets and livestock.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 15 inches tall and wide
(Hosta hybrid)
With rippling foliage that’s silvery blue, Shadowland ‘Waterslide’ hosta almost looks like a water element in a garden bed. The unusual leaves hold their color all season long and complement the lavender-colored flowers that bloom in late summer. It goes dormant in winter.
Use it in mixed plantings to contrast with deep green, chartreuse and purple foliage plants.
Caution: Hostas are toxic to pets and livestock.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate to high; keep soil consistently moist
Light requirement: Partial to full shade
Mature size: 15 inches tall and wide
9. Dark Star Creeping Barberry
(Mahonia repens ‘MonRws’)
Creeping barberry, also known as creeping Oregon grape, is a problem solver, as it thrives in dry shade — always a tricky area to plant — and can be used on slopes to prevent erosion control. Dark Star stays lower than most Mahonia, topping out close to 18 inches high but spreading to up to 4 feet wide. It’s an evergreen plant.
Plant as a ground cover in a dappled-light area under a tree canopy and admire the deep plum-colored toothy leaves and yellow flowers, followed by clusters of blue-black fruit.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to filtered sun
Mature size: Up to 18 inches tall and 4 feet wide
Buying notes: Plants listed in the story are all new to garden centers in 2018 and may need to be special-ordered through a nursery.
More
How to Avoid Foliage Monotony
10 Ways to Use Deep Purple Foliage in Your Garden
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
(Mahonia repens ‘MonRws’)
Creeping barberry, also known as creeping Oregon grape, is a problem solver, as it thrives in dry shade — always a tricky area to plant — and can be used on slopes to prevent erosion control. Dark Star stays lower than most Mahonia, topping out close to 18 inches high but spreading to up to 4 feet wide. It’s an evergreen plant.
Plant as a ground cover in a dappled-light area under a tree canopy and admire the deep plum-colored toothy leaves and yellow flowers, followed by clusters of blue-black fruit.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 9)
Water requirement: Moderate; low once established
Light requirement: Partial shade to filtered sun
Mature size: Up to 18 inches tall and 4 feet wide
Buying notes: Plants listed in the story are all new to garden centers in 2018 and may need to be special-ordered through a nursery.
More
How to Avoid Foliage Monotony
10 Ways to Use Deep Purple Foliage in Your Garden
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
(Sambucus nigra ‘SNR1292’)
Laced Up stands out among black elderberry varieties, with its narrow, columnar growth habit. This deciduous shrub or small tree makes for a great space-saver in smaller gardens and narrow planting areas.
Plant in mixed borders to take advantage of the almost-black foliage as a dramatic backdrop to perennial flowers. Conversely, use a pair to frame an entryway.
Laced Up elderberry will not form fruit without a pollinator variety (Black Lace, Instant Karma or Black Beauty) planted nearby.
Caution: Elderberry leaves and stems are toxic to pets and livestock.
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 31.7 degrees Celsius (zones 4 to 7)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide