Updated 30/06/2025
In the garden, there are many brightly coloured flowers and different varieties of foliage plants that I love. But add some enchanting charm to your planting schemes with these top picks of plants with silver foliage.
1. Lychnis coronaria (rose campion)
Firstly, the silvery grey felted leaves of this short lived perennial are complemented by vibrant pink flowers through summer. The silver foliage lends itself to coastal gardens, whilst the bright blooms have a cottage garden style feel to them. Furthermore, it’s a very relaxed looking plant, making it perfect for informal gardens.
- Flowers in summer
- Fully hardy
- Grows up to 1m tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun or partial shade
- Exposed or sheltered
Top Tip
Interestingly, rose campion seeds require a period of cold to be able to germinate, which is a process called ‘stratification’.
2. Eryngium giganteum (sea holly)
Next is a biennial that’s bound to bring texture to the planting scheme. The cone-like flowerheads rise above spiked, silvery-white bracts that look fascinating from any angle. The flowers are very popular with pollinators, making it a great addition to the garden if you want to attract pollinating insects.
- Flowers in summer
- Fully hardy
- Grows up to 1m tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
Fun Fact
Another common name for this plant is ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’ so named because of Miss Willmott’s propensity to drop seeds of this plant into gardens of unsuspecting home owners!
3. Senecio cineraria (silver ragwort) ‘Cirrus’
This is a lovely evergreen shrub that has silver felt-like leaves that are a great pairing for many coloured flowers. Also, in summer, you may be surprised by clusters of yellow flowers. What’s more, they are a good choice for planters on a patio and are also drought tolerant once established.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy through most areas of the UK
- Grows up to 50cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed or sheltered
Fun Fact
The reason that this plant has its silver hue, is because the leaves are covered in a dense mat of very fine, silvery-grey colour hairs that look like silvery grey fleece which give the leaves have an ethereal appearance, almost like they’ve been sprinkled with icing sugar.
4. Helichrysum italicum (curry plant)
As its name suggests, this evergreen shrub has curry scented leaves that will bring another dimension to your silver planting scheme. Not only does it have interesting foliage, but the yellow flowers brightly sit in domed clusters. Notably, this plant is suited to Mediterranean gardens, coastal gardens, gravel gardens and prairie planting. I think it is an extremely versatile plant.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy through most areas of the UK
- Grows up to 40cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered
Fun Fact
Helichrysum was historically revered as a powerful aphrodisiac; presumably aimed at people who love the smell of curry! Additionally, it is thought to have medical properties such as helping with the formation of scar tissue.
5. Caryopteris clandonensis (bluebeard) ‘Sterling Silver’
The flowers of this bluebeard are a beautiful shade of deep purple and a magnet for bees. Plus the silvery-colour leaves give off a wonderful aroma when crushed making this a great all-rounder for the garden.
- Flowers in summer and autumn
- Hardy through most areas of the UK
- Grows up to 60cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered
Top Tip
The blooms of this plant are very attractive to pollinators, especially bees who are attracted by deep blue and purple colour flowers.
6. Helichrysum petiolare (everlasting flower) ‘Goring Silver’
Another foliage plant that will put on a show with its shining stems and leaves is ‘Goring Silver’. It’s a trailing perennial, making it fantastic for adding cascading texture to containers like hanging baskets. Moreover, I believe that they look wonderful in coastal gardens and gravel gardens too.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK
- Grows up to 10cm tall
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered
Top Tip
This plant does produce flowers in the summer. However, they are insignificant, and so I suggest that you remove them once they appear.
7. Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian bugloss) ‘Jack Frost’
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this perennial recognisable by its silver, heart-shaped leaves. Although those leaves are undoubtedly the stars of the show, an added bonus are the small, pretty blue flowers that appear in spring.
- Flowers in spring
- Fully hardy
- Grows up to 40cm tall
- Moist but well-drained soil
- Full shade or partial shade
- Sheltered
Fun Fact
An alternative name for this particular plant is ‘Heartleaf Brunnera’, or ‘False Forget-Me-Not’. This is as a result of its strikingly similar blue flowers.
8. Cynara cardunculus (cardoon)
The pinnate spiny leaves of this strikingly handsome, tall perennial are silvery-grey with an almost shiny quality to them. Competing with the foliage to be star of the show are thistle-like, honey-scented, deep blue-purple spherical flowers much loved by pollinating insects. Above all, they are well-suited for wildlife gardens and architectural gardens. Furthermore, they can also be used as cut flowers to bring their beauty indoors, which I think make a wonderful display.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy
- Grows up to 2.5m tall
- Well-drained
- Full sun
- Sheltered
Top Tip
Whilst the flowers of this plant are striking, you can grow this as purely a foliage plant. And you can do this by cutting down flower stems in the summer.
9. Santolina chamaecyparissus (cotton lavender)
Next is a dwarf evergreen that will add structure to your garden all year round with the silver, woolly foliage. The fragrant foliage is topped with cheery yellow button-like flowers during summer. Keep the plant compact by trimming it soon after it finishes flowering.
- Flowers in summer
- Hardy
- Grows up to 50cm tall
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Sheltered
Fun Fact
Despite what its name suggests, this plant has no relation to neither cotton nor lavender! However, I find that it has lovely aromatic foliage when crushed.
10. Cerastium tomentosum (snow-in-summer)
Lastly is a pick that’s perfect for ground cover, especially on banks and slopes due to its mat-forming growing habit. I believe that it has a truly wonderful and brightening effect in the garden. The white hairy leaves are covered in white flowers during the spring and summer months.
- Flowers in spring and summer
- Fully hardy
- Grows up to 50cm tall
- Well-drained soil
- Full sun
- Exposed or sheltered
Top Tip
The dense matt foliage of this plant and its drought tolerance makes it a great choice for ground cover, particularly in gravel or rock gardens.
These top plants with striking silver foliage are bound to add some magic to your space.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1 – What are the best plants with silver foliage for UK gardens?
Some of my top silver-leaved favourites include Lychnis coronaria, Senecio cineraria, and Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’. They each bring a shimmering, reflective quality to borders and containers, while thriving in a range of UK conditions.
2 – Which silver-leafed plants are good for dry or coastal gardens?
For coastal or drought-tolerant planting, I recommend Helichrysum italicum, Senecio cineraria ‘Cirrus’, or Cerastium tomentosum. Their reflective leaves and tough nature make them ideal for sunny, exposed spots.
3 – What silver plants are suitable for containers and hanging baskets?
Helichrysum petiolare ‘Goring Silver’ is a lovely trailing option for containers and hanging baskets, with soft, felted foliage that spills beautifully over edges. It pairs well with flowering annuals and Mediterranean herbs.
4 – Do silver foliage plants attract pollinators?
Absolutely! Many, like Eryngium giganteum (sea holly) and Cynara cardunculus (cardoon), are magnets for bees and butterflies thanks to their rich nectar and striking flowers.
5 – Which silver plants are hardy in UK winters?
Look for fully hardy silver foliage plants such as Cerastium tomentosum, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, and Lychnis coronaria. These can tolerate typical UK frosts and still look fabulous.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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