When it comes to creating a visually stunning garden, many gardeners focus primarily on flowering plants. While these plants undoubtedly bring vibrant colors and delightful scents to our outdoor spaces, other types of plants can captivate us even when they are not in bloom. These plants possess unique qualities that make them stand out throughout the year, adding interest and beauty to any garden landscape. Some of these plants possess unique foliage, interesting textures, or striking forms.
Here are some plants that will look beautiful even when they are not in bloom:
Coleus – Coleus are popular ornamental plants prized for their vibrant, colorful foliage. Their leaves can display an impressive range of hues, including shades of green, red, purple, pink, yellow, and even black. The intricate patterns on their leaves often feature contrasting colors along the veins or edges, making them visually striking additions to gardens and indoor spaces. Coleus flowers appear as small, delicate spikes that grow vertically from the plant's stems. These flower spikes are usually blue or lavender and can reach several inches in length.
Coral Bells - Coral bells, scientifically known as Heuchera, are versatile perennial plants prized for their colorful foliage and delicate flowers. Coral bells offer an array of leaf colors ranging from deep purples and burgundies to vibrant chartreuses and silvers. The plants typically form low-growing mounds of leaves, reaching heights of 8 to 18 inches, with flower stalks extending up to 36 inches tall. Their leaves are often heart-shaped or rounded, with scalloped or lobed edges, and can be smooth or ruffled in texture. In late spring to early summer, coral bells produce small, bell-shaped flowers on tall, slender stems, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators to the garden.
Geranium - Geraniums come in a wide variety of species and hybrids, offering an array of colors, shapes, and growth habits. Geranium leaves are distinctive and easily recognizable, adding to the plant's ornamental appeal. Typically, they are circular or rounded in shape, with a lobed or deeply cut appearance that can resemble a fan. While most commonly green, they can also display shades of yellow, red, or purple, especially along the leaf margins or in a circular pattern on the leaf surface. These popular flowers come in a wide range of hues, adding a splash of color to gardens, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Common colors include red, pink, purple, white, purple, and some are bicolor.
Hostas - Hostas are beloved perennial plants known for their lush foliage and adaptability to various growing conditions. These versatile plants typically form clumps of broad, heart-shaped leaves that can vary in color from deep green to blue-green, chartreuse, or variegated patterns. While primarily grown for their attractive foliage, Hostas also produce delicate flower spikes in summer, ranging from white to lavender. Hostas are particularly prized for their ability to thrive in shady areas where other plants struggle.
Lamb’s Ear - Lamb's Ear is a perennial plant known for its soft, velvety leaves that resemble the ears of a lamb. This hardy plant has become a popular choice for gardens worldwide due to its unique texture and silvery-green color. The plant's fuzzy leaves are not only aesthetically pleasing but also serve practical purposes in nature. The fine hairs on the leaves help to conserve water by reflecting sunlight and reducing evaporation, making the plant drought-tolerant and well-suited for various climates. In addition to its foliage, Lamb's Ear produces small, purple flowers on tall spikes during the summer months, attracting bees and other pollinators to the garden.
Oregano Kirigami - Oregano Kirigami plant, scientifically known as Origanum vulgare 'Kirigami', is a unique and visually striking variety of the common oregano herb. It is prized for its distinctive appearance, featuring deeply cut, lacy foliage that resembles intricate paper cutouts, hence the name "Kirigami" which refers to the Japanese art of paper cutting. Unlike traditional oregano plants, the Kirigami variety boasts a more compact and mounded growth habit, typically reaching heights of 8 to 10 inches with a spread of 12 to 14 inches. Its foliage is a vibrant green, often tinged with purple hues. During the summer months, the plant produces small, delicate pink or purple flowers that attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies to the garden.
Persian Shield - Persian Shield is a striking ornamental plant, known for its vibrant, iridescent purple leaves with deep green veining. The plant's most distinctive feature is its foliage, which exhibits a metallic sheen that seems to change color depending on the angle of light and viewing perspective. This unique characteristic makes it a popular choice for adding visual interest to gardens and indoor spaces alike. While primarily grown for its foliage, the Persian Shield does produce small, tubular blue flowers in late fall or early winter.
By incorporating these plants into your garden, you can enjoy their beauty, even when they are not in bloom. Their foliage will provide a stunning backdrop for other flowering plants and add visual interest to your outdoor space.
