The silver coloured leaves of some plants will add a romantic and shimmering effect to your English Garden.
They look especially good set against the dark leaves of yew, box hedging, topiary or dark wooden fencing.
The glowing silveryness brings out the colours of the plants around them and several are suitable for use as low hedges or edging along your garden paths.
They all grow quite quickly in contrast to box which is a slow grower and you can clip them into shape easily.
Try that old English favourite – lavender. The silvery leaves set off the very fragrant blue, purple, pink or white flowers.
Lambs ears have soft downy silver leaves and tiny pink flowers in the summer – they prefer a dry sunny spot.
If you are fond of curry then use Helichrysum italicum serotinum or curry plant in your English Garden. This also can be used for edging as it is low growing and evergreen. It has small yellow flowers in the summer
Dianthus or garden pinks( not carnations) have a marvelous perfume and are ideal for edging a path or in clumps at the front of a border - be sure to choose with your nose and pot for the older varieties which have the strongest perfume.
Cotton lavender has lovely silvery grey ferny leaves that are set off in the early summer by small yellow button-like flowers. It prefers a dry and sunny place in your garden and can be used as a low hedge or neat edging as it can easily be clipped into shape in the spring.
Wormwood has delicate light grey leaves and looks good all summer however it has rather a strong and some would say unpleasant fragrance! It also loves a dry sunny spot.
For a taller plant try a Perovskia atriplicifolia Blue Spire which has silver leaves and stems with delightful purple flowers in the late summer. It enjoys a sunny spot and tolerates drought well.
Enjoy your garden!
