The Joy of Chartreuse

It's just an observation, but men and women react to colors quite differently. (Why should that surprise us when it's well documented that we come from separate planets?)

There are exceptions, of course, but men seem drawn to bold colors--reds, yellows, oranges--while women favor shades on the opposite side of the color wheel--blues, violets, pinks.

Claimed by both sexes, however, and compatible with almost everything it's paired with, is chartreuse, that gaudy, sophisticated, brilliant, intriguing (pick one, or assign your own adjective) mediator of the color world.

Chartreuse is a blend of yellow and green. Some describe it as "lime green."

The hue manifests itself when the natural green pigment present in most plant leaves is infused with yellow pigment. A lot of yellow and leaves turn a brilliant, almost golden, color, as the chlorophyll is partially masked. A little bit of yellow and medium-green leaves glow gently lighter green.

It's easy to see why most gardeners love it. At its brightest, chartreuse holds its own among bold colors like red and orange. Yet it goes so harmoniously with blues and purples that a touch of chartreuse can subtly brighten a summer border.

The standard-bearer of plants with chartreuse foliage has been the golden sweet potato vine. There's nothing subtle about its large, strikingly-colored heart-shaped leaves, or its climb to fame. This ornamental vine has also revolutionized container plantings, prying red geraniums from their "take charge" position and encouraging innovative combinations. Hallelujah!

Everywhere, hanging baskets, urns and window boxes drip with the trailing tresses of chartreuse sweet potato vine. Dark purple petunias, graceful spikes of angelonia in white and blue, mixed snapdragons, verbena, hibiscus and Victoria blue salvia are common companions, but the bushy vines are also gorgeous with herbs--lavender, catmint, sage and scented geraniums--and absolutely charming with ornamental peppers, a combination that sizzles.

Golden sweet potato vine can also be coaxed up a trellis. Occasional ties will help support the heavy stems and keep them attached during rainstorms.

Almost wickedly chartreuse is Coleus 'The Lime', with electric lime-green leaves, each accented with a thin purple-black midvein. Obvious companions are "black" violas, 'Purple Ruffles' basil, purple perilla and 'Chocolate Ruffles' coralbells.

Dare I suggest that a variegated Solanum vine, with its chartreuse-on-green foliage, be planted in the same pot and trained to a wall trellis or deck railing? Get the sunglasses!

Canna 'Bengal Tiger' has chartreuse by the tail. Plants are huge--up to 7 feet tall--with boldly striped leaves of chartreuse and green. Be brave, for the flowers are screaming orange.

Chartreuse serves as a good shade-brightener, without being abrasive. The lacy lime-green flowers of ladies' mantle (Alchemilla mollis) are stunning when paired with the glowing chartreuse leaves of Hosta 'Sum and Substance.' Need a smaller hosta? Try 'August Moon'.

Cover the shaded ground plane with Lamium maculatum 'Beedham's White', a chartreuse-leaved creeper with white flowers and a bright white stripe down the center of each leaf. Golden creeping Jennie (Lysimachia nummularia Aurea), another groundcover, fades from yellow to chartreuse when grown in shade.

Stark contrast is not easy in shade, but Cimicifuga 'Hillside Black Beauty' provides a venue, if that sort of thing appeals. Mix it with any or all of the chartreuse-leaved plants mentioned above, then sprinkle liberally with Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' for a shade recipe that's sure to be copied by other gardeners.

One of the few colors that's difficult to combine with chartreuse is pale pink, though bright pink and magenta can work, Geranium 'Ann Folkard' is a case in point. Light lime-green foliage is equaled in intensity by its own magenta blooms, each with a dark purple eye. Though relatively new to the trade here, 'Ann Folkard' is already a favorite of British gardeners.

Other sun-loving perennials with chartreuse highlights include Euphorbia polychroma , with its colorful early season bracts, and Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold'--call it gold if you want, it's chartreuse--with blue flowers in late summer. If an ornamental grass would enhance the scheme, by all means consider a chartreuse-variegated sedge by the name of Carex dolichostachya 'Kaga-nishiki'. Ten-inch-tall mounds won't compete for much space, but they'll certainly enliven the front of a sunny border.

(Lindsay Bond Totten, a horticulturist, writes about gardening for Scripps Howard News Service.)