10 award-winning (AGM) plants with bold foliage

From richly coloured leaves to striking

Variegated means having leaves or other plant parts with streaks, blotches or patches of different colours. Typically, these would be a combination of two colours, such as green and gold or green and white.

Dark elegance

With striking rosettes of near-black foliage, Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ foilage shines in full sun

Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ is a striking succulent perennial, perfect as a specimen for a sunny patio. Its open habit features flattish

Rosettes are the circular arrangement of flower petals; or a cluster of leaves radiating from approximately the same point usually around a stem. Examples include aeonium and most succulent plants, African violets, primula, sempervivums.

Golden climber

× Fatshedera lizei ‘Annemieke’ is a striking evergreen ideal for brightening shade

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A plant produced by crossing two distinct parents, often different species, to produce offspring that combine the characteristics of both. Hybrids can occur naturally, but crosses are often made deliberately by plant breeders to produce plants with better yield, improved flowering or vigour, or improved disease resistance.

Tropical showstopper

The bold, striped foliage of Canna Tropicanna adds a touch of the tropics to any garden

With large and impressively-coloured foliage, each leaf of Canna Tropicanna is striped in a psychedelic mixture of green, purple and yellow, with orange streaks, topped with orange flowers. Plant three together 30cm (12in) apart to provide a large, multi-stemmed clump with real impact. Clouds of yellow and orange Cosmos sulphureus look splendid around the base. At the end of the season the

Rhizomes are creeping swollen root-like structures that are actually adapted stems. Roots, stems with leaves and flowers are produced along its length. See plants such as Anemone nemorosa, bamboo, canna, border iris.

Architectural grandeur

Cynara cardunculus provides plenty of dramatic, silvery foliage with a statuesque presence

Although the leaf stems are still sometimes blanched for use in the kitchen, Cynara cardunculus is more often seen as an ornamental plant for sunny borders. Its huge, jaggedly divided, silver foliage carried on thick stems makes an impressive specimen from early in the season. In summer the plants grow tall stems topped with large purple thistle-like flowers. Height 1.5m (5ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Winter colour

Bergenia purpurascens var. delavayi is a dependable groundcover with rich winter foliage

All bergenias have large, rounded, leathery leaves with a shiny gloss finish on the topside. However, Bergenia purpurascens var. delavayi is bronzed green on the upper surface and beetroot red underneath. The colour is especially vivid in winter – in spring the new leaves are bright green and the plant bears carmine pink flowers. Plant

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.

Bold and variegated

A vigorous climber, Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’ can bring instant impact

Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’ is an easy, strong-growing, self-clinging, evergreen climber for shade or partial shade. It features large, folded two-tone green leaves with a broad irregular creamy white margin. Some leaves may be almost all yellow, some almost all green. Needs a little help to get started climbing but then its short stem roots take hold. Also makes impressive, weed smothering ground cover but needs plenty of space. Height 2.4m (8ft). Hardiness rating H5.

Ace of hearts

Make a statement with Rheum ‘Ace of Hearts’, a true garden standout

A compact ornamental rhubarb, Rheum ‘Ace of Hearts’ is bred from the giant Rheum palmatum and the smaller Rheum kialense, making it especially suitable for modest-sized gardens. Its bold, heart-shaped leaves are veined red on the underside, bringing striking texture and colour to the border. In early summer, pale pink flower spikes rise gracefully above the foliage, adding an airy contrast without overwhelming its shapely leaves. Height 1.5m (4.9ft). Hardiness rating H6.

Elegance in shade

Majestic with variegated foliage Hosta ‘Sagae’ thrives in dappled shade

One of the most popular of the large hostas, the leaves of Hosta ‘Sagae’ are almost triangular, about 25cm (9.8in) long, and deep green but edged in gold, which matures to a creamier shade. Like most hostas, ‘Sagae’ is best left undivided to mature into a specimen plant where its presence is an invaluable focus in summer after other, mainly spring-flowering, shade lovers are past their peak. Height 1.25m (4ft). Hardiness rating H7.

Winter brightness

Winter colour and fragrance sets Mahonia × media ‘Lionel Fortescue’ apart

Mahonia × media ‘Lionel Fortescue’ is an easy-to-grow evergreen shrub with leaves that make a significant impact all year round. Showcases impressively colourful late-season flowers and then berries as well – it’s a plant worth growing. The fragrant yellow blooms come after most other flowers are over, and are followed by strings of blue-black berries – all set against the most attractive foliage, like ladders of holly leaves. Height 5m (16.5ft) if unpruned. Hardiness rating H5.

Striking contrast

Bold golden stripes of Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ provides year-round drama

Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ develops into a colourful clump of around 75cm (29.5in). Each leaf is vividly striped along the middle in bright yellow. In late summer, mature plants develop a stiff, upright flowering stem carrying scented, bell-shaped, creamy white flowers. Best in sun and well-drained soil, a dark gravel

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.