Last Updated on June 29, 2022 by Real Men Sow
Silver, gray, or gray-blue leaves can be used to transform a border or bed. Plants with silvery leaves add interest and contrast to any planting combination. These plants look great when paired with pink, blue, and even burgundy flowering plants.
What Plants To Grow Next To Grey Flowers
Many grey flowers are drought-tolerant and can be used in areas with low rainfall or bordered with well-drained soil. Many plants thrive in full sunlight. Some leaves are entirely silvery or gray, while others are more mottled.
9 Plant To Grow For Grey Flowers
Curry Plant
Helichrysum italicum, also known as the curry plant, is a sub-shrub of Helichrysum that produces clusters of bright yellow flowers in summer. The aromatic leaves smell like curry. Plant in a sunny spot in well-drained soil. To keep it compact, prune regularly.
Bluebeard
Caryopteris clandonensis “Sterling Silver” is an attractive shrub that has silvery-blue-green leaves. In late summer it bears deep blue flowers. Plant it in a container or in front of a sunny border in well-drained, neutral to acid soil. To ensure the best display possible the next year, prune plants vigorously after they have finished flowering.
Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus is a striking, silvery-blue thistle-like plant. The tall stems of the flower have fat thistle blossoms that look like tiny globe artichokes. These flowers open to large purple thistle blooms that attract a lot of bees. In full sun, grow in fertile and well-drained soil.
Silverbush
Convolvulus ceorum has evergreen leaves with in silky-gray flowers. Pink buds turn into pink trumpets in summer with pink stripes. It can be grown in a container, in a pot or in a rockery in full sun in well-drained soil.
Cotton Lavender
Santolina Chamaecyparissus or cotton lavender is a neat, round evergreen shrub with fragrant, finely divided leaves and small yellow pompon flower. You can plant it as ground cover, in the front of your border, or in pots.
Rose Campion
Lychnis coronaria or rose campion is a perennial with short life spans. It has clumps of silver felty leaves, long-lasting magenta blooms, and is popular with pollinators in the late summer. It is tolerant of most soil types, but it produces its best color in dry soil.
Honeywort
The honeywort, Cerinthe major “Purpurascens”, is a hardy annual that you can use to fill in gaps in a border. It is a great bee magnet with its beautiful silvery-blue-green leaves and purple bell-shaped flowers. They’re also a great cut flower, and self-seeds easily. It will thrive in full sun in moist, well-drained soil.
Sea Holly
Eryngiums (or sea hollies) bear tiny, spiky flowers that grow on strong, upright stems from July through September. They have gray/blue leaves; Eryngium giganteum, ‘Silver Ghost,’ is particularly silvery. In full sun, grow in a gravel garden.
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’
Pittosporum tenuifolium “Silver Queen” has white markings along its edges, which makes it appear silvery. In clusters, small, bell-shaped, and purple flowers appear in late spring and early Summer. You can use this shrub as a specimen or trimmed to form a hedge but make sure to plant it in a sunny spot.
