A Foliage Garden

Chinese mayapple: (Podophyllum pleianthum). The Chinese mayapple is a perennial with large glossy green leaves that unfurl in mid-spring and stay beautiful throughout the season (unlike the native U.S. mayapple which becomes unsightly, then disappears in summer). Bizarre purple flowers appear in May and produce a strange, fetid odor. The leaves measure seven to nine inches across. Hardy to USDA Zone 7.
How to use it: Plant where the dramatic leaves can be appreciated. Good companion plants are ferns, variegated hostas and golden creeping jenny as a groundcover.
Cultivation: You need adequate drainage and compost-enriched soil. Plant in shade, and feed with fish emulsion or compost tea.
Source: Asiatica (international rare plant resource)

Variegated Japanese reed grass: (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'). This shade-tolerant ornamental grass has graceful leaf blades striped with yellow which cascade in a fountainlike form (all the leaves face the same way). Native to the Hakone region of Japan, this deciduous grass has a bamboolike appearance. It grows to one foot high by three feet across. Hardy from USDA Zone 6 (with protection) to Zone 9.
How to use it: Plant this grass where it can drape gracefully over a short rock ledge or small slope. Combine with hostas, ferns or tricyrtis or use it as an accent by itself.
Cultivation: The leaves of 'Aureola' will be brighter yellow with more sun; chartreuse in shade. The plant requires abundant moisture during its initial spring growth cycle, but make sure the soil is well-drained; stagnant water in the ground will cause root rot.
Source: Heronswood