The Spice of Life
Lovely as they are to look at, flowers are fleeting. Foliage, however, can last for months on end, and multihued foliage—leaves and grasses with stripes, edges, or splashes of contrasting colors adorning them—can liven up your border just as well as beautiful blooms. Although white and green is the most common color combination, you can find far more elaborate variations. The canna, aloe, and yucca shown here are just a few to play with.
Clockwise from top left: 1. Red-hot poker or torch lily (aka Kniphofia) have blooms that appear ombréd. 2. Canna ‘Pink Sunburst’ impresses in pink, green, and yellow. 3. The pink buds of Canna ‘Panache’ open to pale apricot and deep pink blooms. 4. The strappy leaves of Cordyline ‘Festival Grass’ match variegated foliage well. 5. Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ sports bold foliage in yellow and green.
