A Wealth of Silver

Artemisia stelleriana ‘ Boughton Star’ (‘Mori’s Form’). This ground hugging artemisia spreads to about 60cm wide; giving an attractive ground-hugging carpet of silver-white felted leaves. The flowers are small on felty stems that blend in perfectly with the foliage. Cut back whenever you feel it needs a tidy, but at least each year in Spring. Dry spot.

Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ (S.lanata S.olympica), or Lamb’s Ears. Excellent ground-cover is formed by the dense mats of soft woolly silver-grey leaves. This is the none flowering cultivar which is preferred by some people. In all other ways very similar to the species. Easy cultivation. 30cm

Stachys byzantina (S.lanata S.olympica), or Lamb’s Ears. Excellent ground-cover is formed by the dense mats of soft woolly silver-grey leaves. Flower spikes also are thickly woolly and cut and dry well. Easy cultivation. 30cm

Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’. A fine cultivar. Creeping rootstock with upright stems of broad silver foliage and matching silver flowers. Beautiful compliment to pastel planting schemes. 2ft. Will tend to look untidy once in flower – simply trim to the ground for  fresh crop of foliage within no time.  Compare with ‘Silver Queen’ which is similar, but with finer foliage

Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver Queen’. Creeping rootstock with upright stems of finely divided silver foliage and matching silver flowers. Beautiful compliment to pastel planting schemes. 2ft.Will tend to look untidy once in flower – simply trim to the ground for  fresh crop of foliage within no time. Compare with ‘Valerie Finnis’ which is similar, but with broader foliage

Cynara cardunculus (Cardoon) is a magnificent architectural plant for a large space. The leaves appear early in the season, building to form an 8ft fountain of deeply divided silver grey foliage topped off with massive blue thistles. Enjoys a sunny site, not too wet at the roots.