Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

What if there was a way to weave a ribbon of sunshine through your garden that would glow even on a cloudy day?

It’s not garden art, a light display, or a water feature.

It’s actually a foliage color. You might describe it as yellow-green, acid green, or chartreuse, but no matter what you name it, this color tone is just plain fun to play with in the garden.

It looks stunning when combined with bright, summery annuals. It works its magic in shade too, creating pools of light that draw the eye. Chartreuse foliage contrasts well with the bottle green tones of shrubs such as holly, distylium, and gardenia, giving freshness and energy to an evergreen border.

In this post, I’ll share some photos of combinations that you can repeat in your own garden and show you just how versatile this foliage color can be.

‘Gold Lace’ coleus is a perfect foil for dramatic tropical plants in summer.

Duranta ‘Gold Edge’ energizes the rich pinks and blues in this commercial planting.

This variegated vinca looks charming in a winter pansy container.

There are many new abelias to choose from now, all with wonderful variegated foliage. Combine them with deep green evergreens or with brightly-colored perennials and annuals in summer for a gorgeous display.

Aralia ‘Sun King’ creates puddles of light in a shady woodland.

Coleus glows at the back of a bed of sunpatiens.

Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’, an evergreen perennial, is a ray of sunshine year-round.

Creeping jenny or lysimachia is wonderful for damp areas of the garden, here combined with a prostrate yew with chartreuse new growth.

Illicium ‘Pink Frost’ has yellow variegation in the foliage, just touched with pink.

There are so many beautiful plants to discover that share these attributes. I hope this has given you some ideas to use in your own garden space this summer.

Happy Gardening!