Silver or Gray Foliage/Stems or Marked with Gray or Silver

The exceptionally dark purple to near black tubular flowers peek out of the mealy white 1" long tubular calyxes that are borne in whorls around equally white stems in summer and into fall. Andean Silver-Leaf Sage, Salvia discolor, is a shrubby naturally scandent or sprawling herbaceous perennial from the Peruvian Andes Mountains that grows to about 2-3 feet high and 2-3 feet wide. The ovate dark green glossy opposite foliage has a brightly contrasting white reverse and is borne along mealy white stems. The foliage, stems, and buds are fragrant when brushed or bruised. Also known as Peruvian or Concolor Sage it is widely grown as 3'x3' shrub in the warmer parts of Europe. It is listed as being tolerant of part shade but we find it to be most vigorous in full to mostly sunny conditions in average moist well-drained soils. Item# 12239

Boasting bigger blue and more beautiful whorled clusters of nectar rich tubular flowers in tall wands that extend well above the gray-green foliage and last for weeks in summer. Blue Empire™ Bluebeard or Caryopteris was selected for its noticeably larger and longer lasting clusters of flowers as well as for its nicely compact habit further highlighting the tall candles of flower clusters. In zones 5-6 Bluebeard tends to act more like a clump forming die-back perennial and becomes more shrub-like where winters are milder, although, it benefits from hard late winter or early spring pruning since it flowers on new growth. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established and prefers a sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of North Creek Nurseries, all rights reserved. Item# 12248

The icy blue-gray foliage of this evergreen provides a pleasing contrast to the typical greens of gardens and landscapes and is a standout when planted near maroon or burgundy foliaged neighbors. The Blue Ice Arizona Cypress, a selection of Cupressus arizonica var. glabra, is a southwestern US native that develops into a medium to large, evergreen tree with a conic upright habit when young and a moderate rate of growth and then broadens with age, when the gorwth rate slows, ultimately reaching about 40-50' high and 20-30' wide. It is best suited to soils with excellent drainage in full sun sites and has good drought resistance once fully established. The Arizona Cypress is not always long-lived in the southeastern US where it is commonly grown as Christmas trees. Use this colorful evergreen as a specimen or accent or as a large informal hedge or screen. Plants can be maintained at a smaller size with judicious pruning. Item# 9814

Huge rosettes of extremely soft fuzzy evergreen gray-green foliage subtends the tall spikes of yellow flowers in summer. Considered to be one of the very first plants introduced into the US and was used herbally by Native American Indians and settlers as well as in its homeland of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Item# 9950.

Dense whorls of nectar rich, purple to dark blue-purple, tubular flowers seemingly cover up the upper most portions of the plant for weeks beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. Dark Knight Bluebeard, a.k.a. Black Knight, is a vigorous and easy sunloving free-flowering clump forming shrub-like perennial that quickly develops into a dense mound of fragrant and deer resistant gray-green foliage. In zones 5-6 it tends to act more like a clump forming die-back perennial and becomes more shrub-like where winters are milder although it benefits from hard late winter or early spring pruning since it flowers on new growth. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established and prefers a sunny site in a well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12117

An RHS Award of Garden Merit selection. Grown mainly as a tough and disease resistant evergreen hedge adorned with a cloak of deep bluish-green to gray-green foliage with a contrasting silvery reverse but this is also an excellent shrub for fruit production for home use or leave it for the songbirds. Ebbinge's Silverberry is a hybrid Elaeagnus that is prized for its toughness and fast rate of growth as a hedge or screen. It can be maintained as small as 3'H x 3'W but is more commonly maintained at 5-6'H x 5-6'W or allow it to grow to its 10-15'H x 10-15'W naturally rounded mature size. In fall it produces fragrant but not very showy greenish to cream colored, 1" long tubular flowers that ripen in spring into 1" long cylindrical red fruit flecked with silver and with a large seed that is also edible excluding its woody exterior. The fruit is astringent and tart if eaten before being fully soft, deep red, and ripe at which point it makes a wonderful jelly similar to mayhaw or crabapple. Songbirds and small mammals are happy to assist with collection of the ripe fruit. Deer, salt, and drought resistant once well-established requiring mainly good drainage in a full sun to partially shade site for optimum vigor and growth. Considered to be nitrogen fixing. Item# 10695

The huge, to 6", golden, daisy-like blooms with tall dark brown cones or eyes are held on tall sturdy stems which can grow to 7' or more! A tough and hardy, native perennial. Great for pollinators. The large attractive soft, blue-green foliage makes a nice garden accent and is at its prime in winter and spring. Selected as 2019 Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit selection. Item# 1152

Steely blue-gray spring and summer foliage is topped by nicely contrasting tan colored airy panicles in late summer and fall. In fall the foliage changes to yellow and finally beige creating winter interest and providing food, habitat, and nesting material for a variety of birds and other fauna. Heavy Metal Switchgrass, a selection of the native Panicum virgatum, with an with a strongly upright, columnar, dense habit that remains upright even through heavy rains. This is a naturally clump-forming herbaceous perennial that is found throughout much of the US and into Canada, except for the westernmost states, and is a major component of the Tall Grass Prairies. Switchgrass was also used by native Americans to build long-lasting, rain resistant shelters. The foliage is a larval host to the Delaware Skipper, Arogos Skipper, Tawny Edged Skipper, Northern Pearly Eye, and Dotted Skippers. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and moisture regimes. Item# 12854

Considered by many to be one of the most fragrant Passionvines with a strong gardenia-like perfume emanating from the 2" white flowers that have a purple stripe centered on the frilly corona. May produce delicious passionfruit under good conditions and with cross-pollination. The beautiful silvery-green delicate trilobed foliage makes it a great contrast for darker colored trellises and backdrops. A vigorous growing vine that is adaptive to containers as well. Can be successfully grown indoors.Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item # 9229.

Clusters of 2" deep reddish orange upward facing tubular blooms are born from summer to fall, making this a choice plant for fall migrating Hummingbirds. The bright nectar rich flowers are held on sturdy stems above the beautiful bluish gray velvety foliage on this tough little heat and sun loving perennial. Typically freezes to the ground in winter but readily returns in spring. Drought tolerant once well established and does best in well drained soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9563.

Spikes of orange tubular flowers tower over the fragrant gray-green foliage of this compact free flowering Agastache from late spring to fall attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees with its nectar rich rewards. Kudos™ Mandarin Dwarf Hummingbird Mint is a compact growing and exceptionally free flowering Agastache well suited to any sunny well-drained garden or container combo. Excellent drainage is key for winter survivability. New for 2017! Item# 11280

Dense clusters of fragrant dark azure to blue-violet flowers nearly cover up the nicely contrasting blue-gray foliage of this shrubby perennial beginning in mid to late summer and continuing into fall. The flowers attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Longwood Blue Bluebeard is a vigorous freely flowering selection of Caryopteris growing to 4' high and 3-4' wide and selected by Longwood Gardens of Pennsylvania. Caryopteris prefers a well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny position. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established. A Missouri Botanic Gardens Plant of Merit award winner. Item# 11671

Tall dense spikes of golden-orange nectar rich flowers are produced throughout the year in mild winter climates atop an upright growing shrub with dense velvety gray foliage. Orange Sceptre Butterfly Bush is a hybrid Buddleja that remains evergreen in mild winter climates like zone 9 and warmer. The flowers attract larger bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in an average moist well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Developed by Jon Lindstrom at the University of Arkansas by crossing Buddleja stachyoides x B. tubiflora. Item# 11664

The dense spikes of light periwinkle blue to light lavender pea-like flowers are held above a compact rounded mound of gray green foliage and are produced in spring. Pixie Periwinkle Dwarf Blue False Indigo or Baptisia was selected for its small compact rounded form, early flowering, and unusual light blue to light lavender flower spikes. A selection of Baptisia australis discovered and introduced by David Leiderman of Hoffie Nursery and GET Group Inc. in 2009. The Baptisias or False Indigos are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. The flowers attract bees, the occassional butterfly, and hummingbirds. Item# 12463

Clusters of white to lilac, up to 1" wide, star-shaped, lightly fragrant flowers are produced nearly continuously throughout the warmer months of the year. The large velvety, white to gray green, large rounded tropical foliage of the Giant Milkweed make excellent fodder for Monarch caterpillars and one leaf can provide a substantial amount of food. A large growing shrub in tropical climates where it can be trained into a tree form, grown as a shrub, or hedge. The Giant Milkweed can easily be maintained as a large container plant. Item# 11436

The dense 18" high flowers spikes are composed deep violet-purple pea-shaped flowers are held well above an among the blue-green foliage on this vigorous Baptisia hybrid. Royal Purple Prairieblues™ Baptisia or False Indigo, is a complex hybrid developed by Dr. Jim Ault of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Chicagoland Grows that exhibits a strong resemblence to the Wild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis, including sharing this parent's vigor on this clump-forming herbaceous perennial. The Prairieblues™ Baptisias were selected not only for their unique colors but also for their extra large flower spikes, durability, and vigor. These are easy and low-maintenance, deer resistant, long-lived, taprooted perennials that produce more and more flowering spikes with each passing year with some plants producing over a 100 spikes on mature plants. Considered a must for the cutflower garden as the spikes have an excellent vase life. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a soil with average or better drainage and moderate fertility. Images courtesy of Chicagoland Grows®, all rights reserved.  Item# 12463

Thick round silver-green to blue-green foliage adorns this unusual and easily grown drought tolerant succulent-like woody vine. This unusual member of the Cucumber family or Cucurbitaceae lends itself to pyramidal and narrow upright wire forms like the obelisk and is perfect for container culture. Small clusters of tiny yellowish-green flowers are sometimes produced in spring and may be followed by small fruits on female plants. A very unusual and interesting specimen plant. Item # 10002.