26 Plants With Silver Leaves to Brighten Your Landscape

Plants with silver leaves are often attractive in their own right, but they're stunning as a backdrop to colorful flowers. Silver foliage can also brighten shady areas of the garden and offer contrast alongside classic green foliage. These silvery plants are often used in moon gardens that sparkle at night. For these reasons, silver-leaved plants are prized even when they don't produce flowers.

If you're looking for plants with silver foliage to add colorful diversity to your landscape, check out these examples.

01 of 26
'Silver King' Artemisia

David Beaulieu

'Silver King' artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver King') is a rapid spreader, with attractive silvery foliage that has become the base or accent for many fall wreaths. Color is only part of the appeal of this foliage, which has a fine texture that provides contrast in garden beds. 'Silver Queen' is a more compact cultivar of the same species.
- Name: 'Silver King' artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver King')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
02 of 26
Lavender

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Gazing on the silver foliage of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) in winter is a festive delight. In cold climates, foliage plants such as this lavender visual interest when colorful flowers, including lavender's delicate indigo blooms, have long since vanished. Note that lavender can be toxic to people and pets.
- Name: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
03 of 26
Russian Sage

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Russian sage (Salvia yangii) is a perennial flower. In the case of Russian sage, it's the stems, even more so than the foliage, that inject silver color into your landscape design. The profusion of delicate flowers, its gray-green leaves, and its silver stems all work to give Russian sage an airy look.
- Name: Russian sage (Salvia yangii)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Mature Size: 2-4 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
04 of 26
Yellow Archangel

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Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) has variegated foliage (silver flecks on a green background) and a yellow flower, though its the silver that really stands out. Lamium plants are well-suited for shade gardens. This fast-growing perennial is usually grown as ground cover.
- Name: Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
- Light: Partial shade, deep shade
- Soil: Fertile, dry
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05 of 26
Licorice Plant

Michael Davis/Getty Images

You can grow licorice plants (Helichrysum petiolare), also known as trailing dusty miller, as perennials in warmer zones, but in cooler areas, these viney, silver-leafed plants are grown as annuals. For this reason, it's common to see licorice plants in containers and pots. This herbaceous plant also has insignificant white flowers.
- Name: Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
- Mature Size: 6-9 in. tall, 6-36 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
06 of 26
Silver-Leaved Poplar

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Silver-leaved poplar trees (Populus alba) derive their name from the silvery look of the underside of their foliage, which contrasts to the dark green on the top surface of the leaves. However, these fast-growing trees are extremely aggressive and are considered invasive in multiples states. Poplar trees options with more typical foliage color include Lombardy poplar and quaking aspen.
- Name: Silver-leaved poplar (Populus alba)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Mature Size: 50-75 ft. tall, 50-75 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Tolerates most soils
07 of 26
'Silver Mound' Artemisia

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'Silver Mound' artemisia plants (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound') have dense, silver-gray foliage. They don't always keep a tightly mounded form, but they can be useful when planted in masses or in informal rock gardens. These semi-evergreen perennials are deer-resistant.
- Name: 'Silver Mound' artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
- Mature Size: 8-10 in. tall, 10-24 in. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Moist but well-draining
08 of 26
Spotted Dead-Nettle

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Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum) displays attractive silvery foliage, and there are a variety of different cultivars of this species that offer blooms of purple or white (such as 'Purple Dragon' and 'White Nancy'). This fast-growing perennial is often ground for its silver foliage and used as ground cover. These plants are very deer-resistant.
- Name: Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Mature Size: 4-8 in. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
- Light: Partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
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09 of 26
Japanese Painted Fern

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Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum) are shade plants that have silver foliage punctuated with a purplish color. They are easy-going ferns that won't take over your garden. However, these slow-growing plants can be susceptible to rabbit damage.
- Name: Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Mature Size: 18-24 in. tall, 18-24 in. wide
- Light: Partial shade, deep shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-draining
10 of 26
Snow-in-Summer

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Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) has silvery foliage that is just as impressive as its snow-white blooms, which appear in June. This flow is an eye-catching addition to any garden. It is most often used as a ground cover in sunny areas or in rock gardens.
- Name: Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7
- Mature Size: 6-12 in. tall, 9-18 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
11 of 26
'Jack Frost' Brunnera

David Beaulieu

'Jack Frost' brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost') is named in reference to the frosty appearance of its silver leaves. This perennial plant has blue flowers that bloom in spring, reminiscent of forget-me-nots, but the green and silver leaves of the plant make a statement throughout the growing season.
- Name: 'Jack Frost' brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
- Mature Size: 12-18 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide
- Light: Partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-draining
12 of 26
Wooly Thyme

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Wooly thyme's (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) name refers to the wool-like feel of its leaves. The leaves are gray-green, but the silver hairs on the foliage also give wooly thyme a silvery, fuzzy look. This is a creeping ground cover plant with pale, pink flowers appear in June and July.
- Name: Wooly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Mature Size: 2-6 in. tall, 1-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
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13 of 26
Lamb's Ear

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Lamb's ear is so named for the shape of the leaves—large, oval, and fuzzy. This plant can spread quite a bit, which is a virtue if you seek a ground cover. Lamb's ear is valued primarily for its interesting leaves, not its flowers, but for those interested, it sends up tall flower spikes with small purple blossoms from May to July.
- Name: Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Mature Size: 12-18 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
14 of 26
Mullein

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Bearing tall spikes of yellow flowers, common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) has silvery leaves. You'll often see mullein plants growing wild along roadsides. This fast-growing perennial thrives in poor soils where other landscape plants struggle. The yellow flowers, although not terribly showy, appear from June to September.
- Name: Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
- Mature Size: 3-10 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
15 of 26
Rose Campion

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Rose campion (Silene coronaria) is named for its blooms, but its silver leaves are also an asset. It's often planted in masses and may be used as a ground cover on large properties. It also makes a good specimen plant in mixed gardens, where it provides contrasting color.
- Name: Rose campion (Silene coronaria)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-10
- Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
16 of 26
Dusty Miller

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Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima), also known as silver ragwort, has striking silver-white foliage but is equally valuable for the delicate texture it lends to a garden. The fern-like leaves have deep indentations along the edges, contrasting strikingly with plants with smooth-edged leaves. This fast-growing perennial is most often used in mixed garden beds or as a border in sunny or partially shady areas. It can be toxic to pets.
- Name: Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
- Mature Size: 18-36 in. tall, 8-12 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade, deep shade
- Soil: Well-draining
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17 of 26
Parry's Agave

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Parry's agave (Agave parryi) is a slow-growing perennial succulent with whorled, toothed leaves that are silvery blue. It has a unique, geometric rosette shape that provides contrast in the garden. Though it thrives in warmer areas, it may survive temperatures as low as -20℉, so don't count it out if you think your region is too cold for most succulents.
- Name: Parry's agave (Agave parryi)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
- Mature Size: 1-3 ft. tall, 1-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
18 of 26
Blue Fescue

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Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a semi-evergreen grass with silvery blue foliage. The foliage forms mound-shaped tufts. It's perfect to plant on the border of gardens or in combination with other ornamental grasses. However, you may need to divide it every few years.
- Name: Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Mature Size: 6-12 in. tall, 6-12 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining
19 of 26
Carnations

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are flowering herbaceous perennials that are often grown as an annuals. Most gardeners think of flowers when they think of carnations, but these plants also have silvery blue foliage. If you're on the hunt for silver foliage plants, carnations offer the best of both worlds: foliage and flowers.
- Name: Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9
- Mature Size: 1-4 ft. tall, 6-12 in. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Moist but well-draining
20 of 26
Eucalyptus

The Spruce / Cielito Vivas

Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus cinerea) have silver, coin-shaped leaves, hence their other common name: silver dollar tree. They're perennial in warm zones, but growers in cooler areas often grow eucalyptus as an annual. The signature fragrance of this fast-growing plant's foliage adds a spa-like feel to bathrooms. Note that eucalyptus can be toxic to people and pets.
- Name: Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
- Mature Size: 15-55 ft. tall, 10-15 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
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21 of 26
Silver Sedum

Tatiana Terekhina / Getty Images

Silver sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Silver') is a cultivar of a succulent species that is hardy in more temperate zones. If you have a rock garden or wall in need of some silvery foliage, this could be the right choice. Silver sedum has fleshy, cylindrical leaves that are silvery blue. It's super low-maintenance and barely needs any water.
- Name: Silver sedum (Sedum rupestre 'Silver')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Mature Size: 3-6 in. tall, 1-2 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
22 of 26
Honey Bush

cultivar413 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Honey bush (Melianthus major) is an evergreen, sprawling shrub with silvery foliage. Its jagged-looking leaves are actually soft to the touch. Honey bush emits an odd fragrance when bruised that reminds many gardeners of peanut butter. In spring and summer, honey bush produces crimson flowers. This fast-growing plant can be toxic to people and pets.
- Name: Honey bush (Melianthus major)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
- Mature Size: 6-12 ft. tall, 8-10 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Moist but well-draining
23 of 26
Silver Sage

Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

Silver sage (Salvia argentea) is a biennial plant in the mint family with silver, wooly leaves. This plant has a medium growth rate, but it will self-seed in the garden and spread if left unchecked. Silver sage flowers in its second growing season. If you don't want it to propagate naturally, you can remove its spent flowers after they're done blooming in summer.
- Name: Silver sage (Salvia argentea)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Mature Size: 6-12 in. tall, 6-18 in. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
24 of 26
Silver Thyme

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

Silver thyme (Thymus vulgaris 'Argenteus') is a variegated cultivar of common thyme, sporting green and silver leaves that smell like lemons. It's somewhat woody though mostly herbaceous, and you can use its leaves in the kitchen. Silver thyme is a versatile option, functioning as both an ornamental plant and an herb.
- Name: Silver thyme (Thymus vulgaris 'Argenteus')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Mature Size: 6-12 in. tall, 6-12 in. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
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25 of 26
Curry Plant

The Spruce / Gyscha Rendy

Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) is an evergreen shrub with curry-scented, silvery leaves. In summer, this plant sends out bright yellow blooms that make excellent cut flowers. It's also a natural pest repellant, and deer will totally ignore it.
- Name: Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
- Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining
26 of 26
'Moonshine' Snake Plant

The Spruce / Cori Sears

'Moonshine' snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata 'Moonshine') is a popular snake plant cultivar that is hardy in warmer zones. It has silvery-green leaves that emerge fully silver and slowly mature to light green. If you live in a cooler region, you can grow it as a houseplant and move it outside when temperatures are consistently above 50℉ at night.
- Name: 'Moonshine' snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata 'Moonshine')
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12
- Mature Size: 12-18 in. tall, 6-8 in. wide
- Light: Partial sun
- Soil: Well-draining

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