Consider Silver Plants for Adding Elegance and Contrast to the Garden
When you are looking for garden drama, look no further than silver plants. Whether succulents, shrubs or ornamental grasses, silver-hued plants provide rich contrast to bright or muted colors. The little black dress of the garden, a plant with silver leaves goes with anything. Plus, the Garden Media Group predicts a "horti-futurist" movement marked by sci-fi influences will make star-flecked or silver-hued plants more desirable garden additions in 2024.
Sageleaf Willow 'Iceberg Alley' (shown here) is a cold-hardy shrub and low-maintenance landscaping plant suitable for Zones 2 to 6. Silver catkins with red stamens appear in spring, followed by silvery, disease-resistant foliage. It’s a favorite deciduous shrub because silver works with almost any other plant color and its slender leaves add texture to the garden. Full sun is ideal for sageleaf willows, but they’ll tolerate partial sun. While the plants don’t mind moist soil or rain gardens, they will die if allowed to stand in water. At maturity, 'Iceberg Alley' reaches 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring and snip the catkins for cut flowers. Prune as needed and grow these shrubs in borders, masses or wildlife gardens, or use one as a specimen plant.
