10 award-winning (AGM) silver leaved perennials

Silvers and greys make other colours shine, and they bring all manner of colour combinations to life. These

Perennials are any plant living for at least three years. The term is also commonly used for herbaceous perennials which grow for many years (To compare: annual = one year, biennial = two years).

Silver and sun-loving

Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’ thrives in full sun and free-draining soil

Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’ is one of the brightest in silver of all

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs.

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.

buds

Japanese painted fern

Plant Athyrium ‘Silver Falls’ to brighten up a shady spot

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Silver Falls’ is a relatively new variety of the Japanese painted fern. Lovely for lighting up shade, the red-veined fronds have a rare, bright silver colour which intensifies as the fronds mature. Its arching, cascading habit led it to be named in homage to a famous Oregon waterfall. 30cm (1ft). Hardiness rating H5.

A touch of frost

Hardy and shade-loving Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ excels in its foliage and blue flowers 

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ is a real breakthrough in the development of hardy perennials. The bold, heart -shaped leaves, instead of being the usual green with a few silver spots, are brilliantly silvered with the network of green veins only highlighting the effect. Making a bright, clump-forming specimen or ground cover for shady beds or containers, there are also clouds of small blue forget-me-not flowers in spring. 38cm (15in). Hardiness rating H6.

Silver dusting

The leaves of this cornflower relative provide a pretty backdrop to summer annuals

Centaurea cineraria subsp. cineraria (dusty miller) is a classy alternative to Senecio ‘Silver Dust’ with foliage that is brighter silver, more finely dissected and makes a more attractive mound of overlapping arching leaves. It also has purple summer flowers, but these are best removed. It's hardy in mild winters and enjoys well-drained soil, but is best treated as an annual and planted afresh each year. 45cm (18in). Hardiness rating H3.

Tall and dramatic

Also grown as a vegetable, Cynara cardunculus is a dramatic, architectural perennial

Cynara cardunculus (cardoon) is one of the most dramatic of all silver-leafed perennials. First, its foliage erupts in a mass of arching, jaggedly divided, spiny leaves up to 50cm long which are woolly with white hairs. These make an eye-catching early presence, combining well with spring

These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

Steely antipodean

Astelias are some of the few spiky, silvery plants that will grow in shade

Astelia chathamica is an unusual, steely-grey plant from New Zealand. Makes an attractive clump of arching, sword-shaped leaves – growing well in shade and enjoying life in pots too. Not completely hardy so will need protection in cold winters but well worth the effort. Up to 120cm (4ft) in time. Hardiness rating H3.

Ghostly appeal

The dramatic bracts of Eryngium ‘Silver Ghost’ make it a long-lasting cut flower

Eryngium giganteum ‘Silver Ghost’ is the rather special form of an old favourite. It is shorter than the species E. giganteum (known as 'Miss Willmott's Ghost'); it flowers a little later, and it has broader bracts in a brighter silver colour, which last for longer. It usually performs as a biennial. 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating H6.

For handsome hanging baskets

The dainty round leaves of Helichrysum ‘Goring Silver’ will enhance nearby flowers

Helichrysum petiolare ‘Goring Silver’ is less vigorous and smaller than familiar helichrysum in all its parts so 'Goring Silver' is actually far more useful in far more situations. The white trailing stems are lined with neat, rounded silver leaves which meld well with so many other container plants. 35cm (14in). Hardiness rating H3.

Steel and daisies

The cheery blooms of marguerite ‘Chelsea Girl’ contrast with its intricate grey-blue leaves

Argyranthemum gracile ‘Chelsea Girl’ is larger and more upright plant than most marguerites, with a mass of grey blue leaves and yellow-eyed flowers through the summer. The distinctive, finely-textured foliage combines brilliantly with many bedding plants. Ideal in a large summer container. 60cm (2ft). Hardiness rating H2.

A heuchera to dance in the shade

Enjoying dappled shade, Heuchera ‘Can-can’ is a useful and attractive perennial for darker spots

Heuchera ‘Can-can’ is a more clump-forming traditional selection of heuchera compared to its more showy relatives from recent breeding. It has slightly waved, green-veined silver foliage along with reddish undersides. 'Can-can' thrives in sunny or partially shaded beds and containers. 30cm (1ft). Hardiness rating H6.