Filling Your Garden with Fabulous Foliage

As a lifelong gardener and flower enthusiast, I’ve come to appreciate the unsung heroes of the plant world – the leaves. Sure, we all love a vibrant bloom, but the real stars of the show are often the foliage that provides the perfect backdrop, texture, and structure to make those flowers shine.

Over the years, I’ve trialed hundreds of different plants in my cutting garden, and I’ve discovered that having a diverse array of foliage is key to creating truly stunning bouquets. From the delicate, lacy fronds of Queen Anne’s lace to the bold, burgundy leaves of red-leaf hibiscus, each type of foliage brings something unique and invaluable to the mix.

Floret Flowers has been an incredible resource for learning about the best foliage plants to grow, and I’m excited to share some of my favorites with you. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting to dip your toes into the world of flower farming, these fantastic foliage plants will take your bouquets to the next level.

Springtime Stunners

As the days grow longer and the earth starts to thaw, there’s nothing quite like the vibrant green spires of Bells of Ireland to signify the arrival of spring. These heavily branched plants produce a bumper crop of lime-green blooms that add a fresh, springlike touch to any arrangement. Just be sure to remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem to keep them looking their best.

Another early-season favorite of mine is bupleurum, with its bright chartreuse-green blooms that add a jolt of energy to bouquets. I love pairing these airy stems with bold jewel tones or clean, crisp whites and greens. For an extended harvest, I like to sow bupleurum seeds every 2-3 weeks.

Unexpected Treasures

One of the most uniquely colored flowers I’ve ever grown is honeywort. A single stem can showcase a mesmerizing blend of silver, blue, purple, and green all at once. These gracefully arching stems with nodding blooms are easy to grow and produce an abundance of material for weeks on end. To keep them looking their best, I harvest during the coolest hours of the day and treat the stems with a quick dip in boiling water before placing them in a preservative-infused vase.

Another unexpected treasure is the love-in-a-puff vine. These vigorous growers will scramble up and over a trellis in no time, adorning themselves with tiny white blossoms and the most intriguing green balloon-like pods that resemble miniature paper lanterns. What’s even more magical is that inside each balloon are tiny black seeds imprinted with perfect white hearts. When woven into an arrangement, this beauty takes any creation to a whole new level.

Fragrant Fillers

No foliage roundup would be complete without highlighting the incredible scented offerings that can elevate any bouquet. One of my personal favorites is basil, with its spicy, licorice-like aroma. Whether it’s the dark purple ‘Aromatto’ variety or the bright green ‘Mrs. Burns Lemon,’ the fragrant foliage and delicate flowers of basil are a must-have in my cutting garden.

Another fragrant standout is the scented geranium. The variety ‘Chocolate Mint’ is hands down my favorite, with its large leaves splashed with burgundy veins. The scent is just as the name indicates – a rich, chocolatey-minty aroma that is simply divine. I also adore the ‘Attar of Roses’ variety for its sweet, floral fragrance.

Dramatic Darlings

While delicate, airy foliage has its place, I also love incorporating bold, dramatic leaves into my bouquets. One of my go-to choices is the red-leaf hibiscus, with its deeply serrated, burgundy foliage that resembles Japanese maple leaves. This heat- and drought-tolerant plant provides great height and drama to garden borders and large container plantings.

Another stunner is the Shiso (Perilla frutescens), particularly the ‘Purple Frills’ variety with its striking deep chocolaty-maroon foliage. The crimped, curled leaves with serrated edges add exceptional textural interest to any arrangement.

Productive Powerhouses

When it comes to pure productivity, a few foliage plants stand out as true workhorses in the garden. Take the Dusty Miller ‘New Look’ variety, for example. This special dusty miller features tall, thick stems with large, smooth-edged silver leaves. The more you pick it, the more it produces, rewarding you with buckets of fuzzy, silvery foliage all season long.

Another incredibly productive foliage plant is the raspberry greens. The everbearing varieties like ‘Summit’ and ‘Golden’ provide foliage all season long, and they can be cut to the ground in the winter for easy cleanup. I love the way the red and yellow fruiting stems add pops of color to my bouquets.

Autumn Accents

As summer fades into fall, the foliage options shift, but the beauty doesn’t diminish. One of my favorite autumn accents is the ninebark shrub. Beginning in late spring, ninebark produces flower-loaded stems that are ideal for arrangements. And once the blooms fade, the plant leaves behind small clusters of gorgeous seedpods that provide a delightful textural element.

Another fall favorite is the apple of Peru, with its glowing green lanterns that appear after the plant’s periwinkle blossoms drop. Each plant produces buckets of bouquet material from midsummer to autumn, making it a true workhorse in the garden.

The Versatility of Eucalyptus

No discussion of incredible foliage would be complete without touching on the wonders of eucalyptus. Whether it’s the blue-green and silvery hues of the ‘Round-leaved Mallee’ variety or the distinctive willow-like leaves of ‘Nichols Willow,’ eucalyptus is a staple much in demand by florists and for weddings. And the best part? It can be dried and used indefinitely, making it a favorite for autumn wreaths and other dried arrangements.

Herbs to the Rescue

While we often think of herbs as simple culinary companions, many of them also make fantastic foliage plants for bouquets. Oregano, for example, is one of the most hardworking and useful perennial filler plants I grow. Its fragrant, fluffy flower heads and edible foliage are a must-have in my cutting garden.

Another herb that shines in arrangements is dill. The early-maturing ‘Bouquet’ variety produces tall stems loaded with large, chartreuse umbels that add a wonderful vintage touch to summer bouquets.

Bringing It All Together

As you can see, the world of foliage plants is vast and endlessly fascinating. Whether you’re drawn to the delicate, lacy fronds of Queen Anne’s lace or the bold, dramatic leaves of red-leaf hibiscus, there’s something to delight every gardener and flower lover.

The key is to experiment and try new things. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and incorporate unexpected textures and colors into your bouquets. After all, that’s where the real magic happens.

So, what are you waiting for? Start filling your garden with fantastic foliage, and watch as your bouquets transform into true works of art. Happy gardening!