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

Intense raspberry pink, nectar rich, fragrant flowers are produced in dense spikes held at the ends of the arching branches and contrast nicely with the gray-green foliage on compact plants. Buzz™ Hot Raspberry Butterfly Bush or Buddleia was selected for its slightly smaller densely branching compact stature as well as its exceptional flower power. The Buzz series of Butterfly Bushes are small enough to be enjoyed as fragrant patio container plants where they can draw pollinators in close as well as in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in a well-drained average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12113

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. Item# 10695

An award winning Butterfly Bush, Flutterby Petite® Tutti Frutti produces wave after wave of fragrant fuchsia colored flowers with a contrasting orange eye in dense spikes from spring to fall. This Buddleia is a densely branching compact deciduous shrub with gray-green foliage that makes colorful addition to the garden and landscape but is small enough to use in medium-sized containers. The fragrant flowers of Buddleias are excellent for attracting butterflies, bees, and a host of other garden beneficials. Flutterby Petite® Tutti Frutti Butterfly Bush was selected as an LSU Super Plant in 2014.  Item# 11438

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

Steel blue 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. Gunsmoke is a selection of our native Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, with an initially upright to vase shaped habit becoming rounded once flowering begins. 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 and Dotted Skippers. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and moisture regimes. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12305

This native perennial Hibiscus produces 5-6" wide white flowers with a deep burgundy eye over a long period in summer held in clusters atop the white to silvery green foliage. The Hairy Swamp Rosemallow, Hibiscus lasiocarpus, is a perennial Hibiscus that is native to moist acidic soils but will perform nicely in average garden soils in full sun. The perennial native Hibiscus are hosts to a wide variety of butterfly species. Item# 9744

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 and Dotted Skippers. Adaptable to a wide variety of soil types and moisture regimes. Item# 12854

The tall dense flower spikes are composed of deep coral orange tubular buds that change through coral and finally mature to white creating a wonderful contrast. The spikes are held on sturdy 3-4' high stems well above the mound of gray green arching to upright foliage over an exceptionally long period in summer and potentially into fall attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. High Roller Kniphofia or Red Hot Poker is a repeat flowering exceptionally cold hardy, clump forming, naturally evergreen selection of this heat and drought tolerant perennial. Enjoy it as part of the border, as part of a low maintenance garden and landscape or as a container specimen. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Walter's Garden, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13098

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. A host plant for the Gulf Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and other Heliconian butterflies. 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. 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

Loose hyacinth-like spikes of dainty green flowers with recurving petals and contrasting dark purple filaments and yellow stamens are held above the spotted succulent lax green foliage in spring after a dry winter dormancy. This is an easy to grow dwarf scilla or squill, tentatively Ledebouria socialis 'Laxifolia' as there are many similar horticultural forms within this species, is a dwarf growing, evergreen herbaceous tropical succulent that grows from a thickened above ground bulb and readily multiplies happily filling its container. This should make an easy windowsill, porch, or patio plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight or a small amount of cool early morning or filtered sunlight. Provide this easy to grow plant with a well-drained, cactus-like soil and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. If it gets too dry it will wilt to let you know but it readily recovers once moisture is applied. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 1-3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 2.25" pot. Item# 12451

Loose hyacinth-like spikes of dainty green flowers with recurving petals and contrasting dark purple filaments and yellow stamens are held above the spotted succulent lax green foliage in spring after a dry winter dormancy. This is an easy to grow dwarf scilla or squill, tentatively Ledebouria socialis 'Laxifolia' as there are many similar horticultural forms within this species, is a dwarf growing, evergreen herbaceous tropical succulent that grows from a thickened above ground bulb and readily multiplies happily filling its container. This should make an easy windowsill, porch, or patio plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight or a small amount of cool early morning or filtered sunlight. Provide this easy to grow plant with a well-drained, cactus-like soil and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. If it gets too dry it will wilt to let you know but it readily recovers once moisture is applied. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 4.5" pot. Item# 12452

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

Dark green elongated foliage with wavy edges is heavily variegated with contrasting lighter patches along the midvein reaching nearly to the edge of the leaf. Louisa's Hardy Calathea or Prayer Plant, Goeppertia louisae previously Calathea louisae, is a suprisingly hardy and tough low growing tropical groundcover that thrives in moist shaded conditions in the garden as well as in containers. This Brazilian beauty readily multiplies under good conditions making an easy and forgiving indoor or shaded porch or patio specimen and can also be grown beneath larger plants that like similar conditions. Provide a moist to average moist well-drained fertile soil and high humidity for optimum growth and vigor. Item# 12289