17 Foliage Plants With Leaves Even Prettier Than Flowers

Caladium — Credit:
Orietta Gaspari / Getty Images

Foliage plants are the unsung heroes of the garden. Grown for their striking leaves rather than their blooms, foliage plants add texture and movement to landscapes. They can be used as filler between flowers or as a focal point. While the flowers of foliage plants are often underwhelming, these species boast beautiful leaves in an array of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes. To help you realize the full potential of foliage plants, we spoke to gardening experts who shared a few of their favorite varieties.

Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University, where she specializes in various gardening topics, including herbaceous plants, vegetables and vegetable insects, landscape design, and rock gardening.
Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's agricultural center, which provides the local community with valuable information about gardening, food safety, and more.

01 of 17

Lamb’s Ear

Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is a low-growing evergreen perennial with silver-gray velvety foliage that will add texture to your garden. "The thick fuzzy foliage is attractive to the eye and soft to the touch," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. It is drought- and deer-resistant, making it a great option for a variety of landscapes.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

02 of 17

Giant Rhubarb

As the name implies, giant rhubarb (Gunnera manicata) can grow to be quite tall and has attractive foliage with huge leaves. "The stalks are prickly with reddish hairs and the leaves resemble that of rhubarb," says Langelo. Do not grow giant rhubarb in a location with full sun, as it will stress the leaves.

Zones: 7 to 10
Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 8 to 14 feet wide
Care requirements: Partial shade; moist, organically rich soil

03 of 17

Blue Lily Turf

Blue lily turf (Liriope muscari) is a perennial with grass-like foliage that forms clumps of arching, glossy dark green leaves. As an additional treat, this plant produces lavender spikes that bloom from August to September, says Langelo. Cut the foliage to the ground in late winter to early spring.

Zones: 5 to 10
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

04 of 17

Hakone Grass

Bamboo-like ornamental plant with cascading mounds of lush green foliage — photohampster / Getty Images

Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra) will add texture and movement to your garden thanks to its gracefully arching and bright green leaves. "This plant forms dense, spreading, cascading mounds," says Langelo. "Leaves of this grass have a papery texture resembling the leaves of some types of bamboo." It will burn and lose its color in full sun, so be sure to grow it in an area with partial or full shade.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

05 of 17

Siberian Bugloss

Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) is a perennial with beautiful heart-shaped foliage in shades of silver and white. It produces dainty blue flowers that bloom from April throughout May. "The foliage will scorch in the hot summer sun. It is best to place it where it gets afternoon shade," says Langelo.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

06 of 17

Ninebark

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is a flowering plant that's beloved for its foliage and bark. The deep purple leaves provide interest during the growing season, then die back to reveal the bark, which peels and exposes layers of reddish to light brown inner bark. "The foliage contrasted with the white flowers makes this plant a stunning addition," says Langelo.

Zones: 3 to 7
Size: 4 to 8 feet tall x 4 to 8 feet wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; average, slightly acidic, well-draining soil

07 of 17

Croton

Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) is an annual in most of the United States, but a perennial in zones 11 to 12. "The leaves have bright colors of pink, orange, yellow, red, bronze, purple, and green combinations," says Langelo. "The striking and bold colors make it an attractive plant." Keep it in bright light to achieve the best foliage color.

Zones: 11 to 12
Size: 2 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 6 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, humus-rich soil

08 of 17

Joseph’s Coat

Joseph’s coat (Amaranthus tricolor) is an upright bushy annual that's grown for its colorful foliage. "The flowers are insignificant compared to the attractiveness of cultivars with blotched leaves in shades of red, pink, yellow, or copper," says Langelo. While this is a low-maintenance plant, if it's grown in poorly drained soil the roots will rot.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 48 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

09 of 17

Coleus

With its large, serrated leaves, coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) is sure to be a standout in your garden. "There are many multi-colored variegated varieties, with dark red to bright yellow and lime green leaves and every color and combination in between," says Damon Abdi of the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University's agricultural center. "Pinch off the flower stalk that emerges from the top of the plant. This keeps the foliage in peak condition and can encourage more bushy growth."

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

10 of 17

Hosta

There are so many varieties of hostas to choose from, and each one fills gardens with beautiful foliage, from types with large, pastel foliage to dwarf varieties with bright green leaves. "Divide hostas every several years to maintain a healthy size and to get more plants," says Abdi.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: Depends on variety
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; well draining, organic-rich soil

11 of 17

Persian Shield

Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyeriana) is an evergreen shrub with purple and green leaves that have a somewhat silvery, metallic shine, says Abdi. This plant prefers full sun, as too little light can reduce the vibrant colors of the foliage.

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

12 of 17

Japanese Painted Fern

Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) is a great plant for shade gardens. It has arching, variegated fronds that are a soft-grayish green color with an overlay of silver hues contrasted with a dark maroon midrib, says Langelo. This fern has the best frond color in a lightly shaded location.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full to partial shade; organically rich, well-draining soil

13 of 17

Caladium

Caladium is a bulb tuber that is grown as an annual in most of the U.S. "Caladium's foliage is colorful and bold," says Langelo. "The leaves have an arrowhead shape with mottling and blotching of green, pink, red, and white combinations." It is generally pest-resistant, but slugs and snails can eat the foliage.

Zones: 8 to 10
Size: 12 to 30 inches tall x 12 to 30 inches wide
Care requirements: Full to partial shade; well-draining soil

14 of 17

Elephant Ear 'Black Coral'

green leaf Xanthosoma(elephant ear) plant at garden — CCeliaPhoto / Getty Images

Elephant ear 'Black Coral' (Colocasia Colocasia esculenta 'Black Coral') is a tender perennial that is grown as a foliage plant. "It has heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped, conspicuously veined leaves that point to the ground," says Langelo. "'Black Coral’ has glossy, dark purple to deep green colorful striking leaves." Its flowers are not showy and can hide behind the foliage.

Zones: 8 to 11
Size: 2 to 10 feet tall x 2 to 10 feet wide
Care requirements: Full to partial shade; well-draining soil

15 of 17

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) is often found growing in patios, border gardens, and garden beds. It's recognized by its fuzzy, silvery blue-green foliage that adds a cool look to the garden, says Abdi.

Zones: 7 to 10
Size: 18 to 36 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full to partial shade; well-draining soil

16 of 17

Leopard Plant

Leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum) has shiny, green, round leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom from late summer throughout fall. It's typically grown for its showy foliage, though, which is dotted with flecks of gold. The leaves will die back after a freeze and should be cut to the base to encourage future growth, says Abdi.

Zones: 7 to 9
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

17 of 17

Heuchera

Heuchera fills gardens with multiple seasons of interest. "The palmately lobed leaves on this ground cover come in a whole host of colors, including purple, pink, green, and copper," says Abdi. Deadhead fading leaves to support new growth.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; acidic, moist, well-draining soil