Give your garden a new sparkle with gold-foliage plants.

By Susan Davis Price

Gardeners love the brightness gold flowers bring to the landscape. Think of marigolds (Mary's gold), goldenrod, 'Stella d'Oro’ (Star of Gold) daylilies, and Cloth of Gold yarrow. Why not use gold-tinted foliage plants for the same effect? They brighten a shady corner and remain cheerful in dull weather. They relieve the monotony of a mass of green and add sparkle to the winter scene. In a container, they provide a jolt of excitement. Remarkably versatile, soft golds enhance delicate blues and mauves; bright ones mediate between hot and cool colors. Whether clothed with solid yellow-toned leaves or splashed with gold flecks and streaks, golden foliage plants bring highlights to the garden.

Sun-kissed hues can be found in numerous categories of plants. There are herbs such as lemon balm (Melissa officinalis 'Variegata') and golden oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'), with its mass of small, rounded yellow leaves spilling over the edge of the bed. Among the perennials, more than 100 gold-glowing hostas charm gardeners, often with names like 'Gold Standard', 'Golden Scepter', and 'Gold Drop1. Gilded versions of other perennials, such as 'Sweet Kate' spiderwort (Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate') and 'Gold Heart' bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart') add drama to beds and borders. Shrubs include golden-hued plants of all kinds. Among the spireas alone there are several: 'Goldmound' (Spiraea 'Goldmound'), 'Dakota Goldchann' (Spiraea japonica 'Mertyann'), and 'Goldflame' (Spiraea x. bumalda 'Goldflame'). Gold-foliage plants often carry the designation 'Aurea' in their. Latin name; it comes from the Latin atireus, meaning golden.

Yellow leaves reflect light and so capture our attention in a way that darker hues do not. This quality serves gardeners well in creating a feeling of warmth or in drawing the eye to segments of the garden. Still, this brightness requires some consideration in placement. Too many golds placed, in hodge-podge fashion create a disjointed look. A whole bed of brilliant plants can be overwhelming. It's best to use these bright plants as accents where they add sparkle or depth to surrounding combinations. Repeated at regular intervals through the garden, gold will tie the space together with lively focal points.

Consider gold options when you're planning your garden additions.