Plants with a silvery sheen stand out beautifully against the sea of green that fills most garden beds. In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and their guest will highlight some shimmering shrubs, drought-tolerant perennials, a tiny dwarf conifer, and even an unusual silvery vine with a bit of a back story. Perhaps one of these lovely, luminous plants could be the silver bullet solution to one of your own garden design dilemmas.

Chloë Bowers, a garden designer based in southwestern Connecticut, is the moderator for Fine Gardening’s Northeast Gardening Answers forum. Join the conversation here:

Northeast Gardening Forum 

Danielle’s Plants

‘Quicksilver’ hebe (Hebe pimelioides ‘Quicksilver’, Zones 7b-9)

Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, Zones 5-9)

Silver sage (Salvia argentea, Zones 5-8)

‘Angel Wings’ sea cabbage (Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’, Zones 8–10)

Carol’s Plants

‘Pimoko’ Serbian spruce (Picea omorika ‘Pimoko’, Zones 4-9)

Sea kale (Crambe maritima, Zones, Zones 5-9)

‘Elijah Blue’ fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’, Zones 4-8)

‘Kintzley’s Ghost’ honeysuckle vine (Lonicera ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’, Zones 4-8)

Expert’s Plants

Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia, Zones 3-8)

Blunt mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum, Zones 4-8)

Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea, Zones 3-8)

Prairie sage (Artemisia ludoviciana, Zones 3-7)