The flowers may take centre stage at the Chelsea Flower Show, but foliage is a garden design hero. It makes the perfect backdrop to emphasise other plants and adds texture and greenery to your garden.

Great foliage can turn a nice border into a really special one. Here’s some great leafy colour from the Chelsea Flower Show.

Podophyllum Versipelle Spotty Dotty

podophyllum-versipelle-spotty-dotty

This unusual plant has fleshy, speckled leaves in a maple tree shape. It’s great for low-growing interest in a woodland garden.

Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’

heuchera-fire-chief

I love this deep red heuchera – it has autumnal leaves and tiny pinky white flowers on tall spires.

Athyrium Niponicum var. Pictum

athyrium-niponicum-var-pictum

Also known as a Japanese painted fern. It has a metallic finish that would suit a contemporary garden. It grows best in shade.

Hosta Undulata Mediovariegata

hosta-undulata-mediovariegata

A great compact hosta to brighten any shade garden. I love the strong white streaks down the centre of the curly leaves. Who says greenery has to be green?

Pieris Flaming Silver

pieris-flaming-silver

This is a lovely evergreen shrub. The new foliage is a pinky colour that gradually turns green. The older leaves develop a silvery edge.

Lagurus ovatus

lagurus-ovata

Also known as hare’s tail, this grass has fluffy seed heads. It’s great for texture, height and movement in a border. Plant it in full sun.

Gold tipped oregano

gold-tipped-oregano

This will add interest to your herb garden! It’s a lovely yellow-green oregano with decorative leaves. It will also produce soft pinky flowers during summer, but it’s the leaves that steal the show.

Physocarpus ‘Lady in Red’

physocarpus-lady-in-red

A striking deciduous shrub with reddish purple leaves. It also produces little round flower heads filled with tiny pink blooms. Great for some darker colour in the garden.

Brachyglottis Drysdale

brachyglottis-drysdale

I love tactile plants, and this one is crying out to be touched! It has soft leaves in a silvery colour. It makes a great backdrop for brightly coloured flowers, including these on-trend orange ones!

Cornus alternifolia Argentea

cornus-alternifolia-argentea

This is also known as silver pagoda dogwood. It has stunning variegated leaves and white flowers. It also produces black berries in autumn, making it a great shrub for year-round interest.

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