Colorful Foliage Plants

Description

It is a popular design practice to punctuate landscapes and gardens at any scale with plants that have attractive foliage color. Such plants can provide colorful contrast and variety to the various shades of greens that all too easily dominate the color scheme of many designs. Plants with distinctive foliage color can also provide year round value and outlast the short term impact of flowers.

Plants included on this list have foliage colors that range from olive and gray to red and purple, and two groups of variegated foliage based upon yellow and white. All of these plants are used to provide relief and interest that can last year round. Larger plants can provide important color contrast when placed in background areas; smaller ones can help define borders. All can be useful for accent and focal plantings.

Plant List

Trees and Palms

Arizona cypress + cvs

Botanical Name: Cupressus arizonica
Plant Type: Tree, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 35 ft. - 50 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 15 ft.

Blue hesper palm

Botanical Name: Brahea armata
Plant Type: Palm
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 30 ft. - 40 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Bronze loquat

Botanical Name: Eriobotrya deflexa
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 25 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 25 ft. - 30 ft.

Chinese pistache

Botanical Name: Pistacia chinensis
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 25 ft. - 35 ft. Width: 25 ft. - 35 ft.

Crape myrtle

Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 30 ft.

Mediterranean olive + cvs

Botanical Name: Olea europaea
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 25 ft. - 35 ft. Width: 20 ft. - 30 ft.

Mulga

Botanical Name: Acacia aneura
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 ft. - 20 ft. Width: 15 ft. - 20 ft.

Purple-leaved eastern redbud

Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 25 ft. - 35 ft. Width: 25 ft. - 35 ft.

Sunburst thornless honey locust

Botanical Name: Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Sunburst'
Plant Type: Tree
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 25 ft. - 30 ft. Width: 25 ft. - 30 ft.

Shrubs and Vines

Bladderpod

Botanical Name: Isomeris arborea
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

California grape + cv

Botanical Name: Vitis californica
Plant Type: Vine, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 30 ft. - 40 ft. Width: 30 ft. - 40 ft.

California sagebrush

Botanical Name: Artemisia californica
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 5 ft. - 7 ft.

Canyon Gray sagebrush

Botanical Name: Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray'
Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 15 in. - 18 in. Width: 8 ft. - 10 ft.

Desert lavender

Botanical Name: Hyptis emoryi
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: Width:

Feathery cassia

Botanical Name: Senna artemisioides
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 6 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 6 ft.

Incienso, Brittlebush

Botanical Name: Encelia farinosa
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Indian mallow

Botanical Name: Abutilon palmeri
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.

Island bush poppy

Botanical Name: Dendromecon harfordii
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 10 ft.

Lavender cotton

Botanical Name: Santolina chamaecyparissus
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Montara sagebrush

Botanical Name: Artemisia californica 'Montara'
Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 24 in. Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.

Pomegranate + cvs

Botanical Name: Punica granatum
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 10 ft. - 20 ft. Width: 10 ft. - 20 ft.

Powis Castle artemisia

Botanical Name: Artemisia 'Powis Castle'
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

Purple hopseed bush

Botanical Name: Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 ft. - 18 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 12 ft.

Silver spurge

Botanical Name: Euphorbia rigida
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Silvery cassia

Botanical Name: Senna phyllodinea
Plant Type: Shrub
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 6 ft.

White sage

Botanical Name: Salvia apiana
Plant Type: Shrub, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Perennials and Grasses

Blue fescue

Botanical Name: Festuca glauca & cvs
Plant Type: Grass
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 15 in. Width: 12 in. - 15 in.

California fescue

Botanical Name: Festuca californica
Plant Type: Grass, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Partial sun
Height: 1 ft. - 2 ft. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

California gray rush

Botanical Name: Juncus patens
Plant Type: Grass, Rush, Native
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Creeping spurge

Botanical Name: Euphorbia myrsinites
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. Width: 18 in.

Desert Marigold

Botanical Name: Baileya multiradiata
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 24 in. - 30 in.

Dwarf flax lily

Botanical Name: Dianella revoluta 'Little Rev'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Garden sage + cvs

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure:
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Jack Sprat dwarf flax

Botanical Name: Phormium 'Jack Sprat'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 18 in. Width: 18 in.

Lamb’s ear

Botanical Name: Stachys byzantina
Plant Type: Ground cover, Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 6 in. - 12 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Leather leaf sedge

Botanical Name: Carex buchananii
Plant Type: Grass, Sedge
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 2 ft. - 3 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Matilija poppy + cv

Botanical Name: Romneya coulteri
Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 6 ft. - 10 ft. Width: 6 ft. - 10 ft.

Mediterranean spurge

Botanical Name: Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Moonshine yarrow

Botanical Name: Achillea 'Moonshine'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

New Zealand flax

Botanical Name: Phormium 'Guardsman'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 5 ft. - 7 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Orange sedge

Botanical Name: Carex testacea
Plant Type: Grass, Sedge
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: Morning sun, All day sun
Height: 18 in. Width: 18 in.

Purple garden sage

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis 'Purpurescens'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 18 in. - 24 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Russian sage

Botanical Name: Perovskia atriplicifolia
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 3
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 3 ft. - 4 ft. Width: 3 ft. - 4 ft.

Saffron buckwheat

Botanical Name: Eriogonum crocatum
Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 12 in. - 18 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Sandhill sage

Botanical Name: Artemisia pycnocephala
Plant Type: Perennial, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 8 in. - 12 in. Width: 18 in. - 24 in.

Silver carpet

Botanical Name: Dymondia margaretae
Plant Type: Ground cover, Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 1 in. - 3 in. Width: 1 ft. - 2 ft.

Silver carpet aster

Botanical Name: Lessingia filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet'
Plant Type: Ground cover, Perennial
Water Needs: Low 2
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 in. Width: 2 ft. - 3 ft.

Variegated flax lily

Botanical Name: Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata'
Plant Type: Perennial
Water Needs: Moderate 4
Exposure: Morning sun, Moderate shade, All day sun, Partial sun
Height: 2 ft. Width: 2 ft.

Wild rye

Botanical Name: Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince'
Plant Type: Grass, Native
Water Needs: Low 1
Exposure: All day sun
Height: 4 ft. - 5 ft. Width: 4 ft. - 5 ft.

Trees and Palms

Shrubs and Vines

Perennials and Grasses

Succulents

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