Frondescence Please! — A Gallery of Foliage Plants

On the left is the new leaf growth on a bishop's cap (Epimedium x rubrum) and on the right is the gorgeous leaves of the May apple (Podophyllum 'Kaleidoscope') nestled in with fine textured, shade tolerant plants.

In the photo on the left a terra cotta container holds an autumn moon maple (Acer 'Autumn Moon'), a golden piggyback plant (Tolmiea menziesii 'Cool Gold'), coral bells (Heuchera 'Rave On'), a Japanese painted fern (Athyrium 'Burgundy Lace') (not visible in this image) and lungwort (Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash') In the right photo, a Golden Full Moon Maple (Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum') rubs shoulders with a Rhododendron and another Japanese maple.

Both of these gardens on Bainbridge Island, Washington rely heavily on foliage for their garden designs. Left image was photographed in the Terhune/Michel garden and the right image is from the Skyler garden.

Left image is of Viburnum tinus 'Variegatum'. The right image shows nice contrast of textures with Sedum 'Autumn Fire' on the left, a dwarf sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis 'Papoose') and Sedum 'Cape Blanco' in the crumbling pot below. Even though the Sedums are about to bloom this is a good example of how foliage can keep the garden interesting.

The variegated foliage on the Fatsia japonica 'Variegata' in the left photo is stunning. Fatshedera lizei 'Aurea Maculata' (right photo) is a rare cross between plants of different genera—Fatsia and Ivy (Hedera). The stems do not climb or cling and makes a fine shrubby accent in the garden.

Heuchera 'Mahogany' keeps its autumn-like color all year, even in partial shade. In the photo on the right is a wonderful combination of Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub' and Persicaria 'Comptons'.

You wouldn't miss this foliage architectural statement with the Yucca 'Garland Gold' on the left. Gunneras (photo right) definitely steal the show with their huge foliar effect.

Any princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) needs serious pruning every year to keep it from becoming a gigantic tree in a few years, plus the pruning makes it produce huge leaves!