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This plant looks like someone splattered silver paint on it. Each leaf forms a long, prickly haired lance (some showing a pale green underside). Overlapping occurs as the plant expands, creating a lazy pattern of swirls. In spring, clusters of silky pink flowers fade to a soft blue that complements the plant’s bluish undertones.
Divide plants in fall.
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There is seldom seen a more graceful shade plant than variegated Solomon’s seal. Narrow, pure white streaks are artfully painted along the margins of the leaves, which appear on arched burgundy stems. This plant has three-season appeal, with striking foliage in the spring; fragrant, bell-like white blooms in May and June; and a brilliant golden hue in fall. This plant forms large colonies of long, arching, 2- to 3-foot-tall stems of soft green leaves edged in creamy white. From late spring to early summer, this species bears white flowers that mature into spherical black fruit in autumn, when the foliage turns yellow.
From late spring to early summer, this species bears pendent, green-tipped white flowers along arching stems. These mature into spherical black fruit in autumn, when the foliage turns yellow.
With 2-inch-long, serrated leaves of white edged with dark green, these dainty trailers make great ground covers or cascaders. ‘Pink Chablis’ sports silvery gray leaves and have flowers that range from white to shades of purple and pink.
This dramatic cultivar has bright green leaves that are richly edged with cream. It bears lavender-blue blossoms in spring, and grows from 1.5 to 2 feet tall.
Creeping myrtle has a reputation for being a tough evergreen ground cover for shade that will grow in almost any soil. Though the leaves of the species are a shiny dark green, the leaves of ‘Illumination’ are vividly splashed with a bright gold color. The 1-inch-wide periwinkle blue flowers that open against the brilliant foliage are a bonus. This plant makes for a striking ground-hugging mat and is also spectacular in hanging baskets.
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