Blooms are beautiful, but foliage frolics for much longer. Pam of Digging hosts Foliage Follow-up after Bloom Day to showcase the hard working leaves in our gardens. We have some of those.
Above: Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’, fern, and Heuchera sanguinea ‘Sioux Falls’ growing in a hypertufa trough, with variegated ivy growing on the wall behind.
Trifolium purpureum aka Oxalis regnellii var. triangularis, thanks Anne!
Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’, E. ‘Blackbird’ and E. dulcis ‘Chameleon’ were thought to be the great foliage hope to give four seasons of interest to the long wall behind the main house. Deaths this summer of the oldest grouping has put a halt to the plan of filling in the forty foot bed with these. Ascot Rainbow and Blackbird died after blooming. Perhaps the pretty bloom stalks should be nipped off?
To replace the above mentioned Euphorbia grouping, gold and purple tall sedums were added to the empty earth. Sedum alboroseum ‘Mediovariegatum’ and S. ‘Purple Emperor’ disappear in winter, but might prove longer lasting in the long haul than the fancy Euphorbias. Chameleon is unkillable.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’ has grown larger and is making a statement now since first planted as a tiny mail order stick. Insect damage on the leaves seems to have abated, finally.
Calluna vulgaris ‘Firefly’ is beginning the turning from yellow to pink as the temperatures cool.
Winterbor kale should last through the winter, especially with a name like that.
Bright Lights swiss chard adds color in front of the raised wooden box all year.
The river of Carex ssp. with the addition of blue fescue, whose story of creation can be read by clicking here, has been deemed a success.
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ splashing over the edge of the wheelbarrow planter has met expectations as it joins in the water metaphor above.
Ipomoea batatas ‘Tricolor’ is planted in the metal window box on the shed. It is elegant and tough.
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Do you have any foliage in your garden? I bet you do!
Frances
Fairegarden 
Some beautiful and rich coloured foliage there! Love the Euphorbia!
Great photos and great foliage. That has inspired me.
The foliage will carry the day.
I love the idea of Foliage Follow-up and you have some very worthy eye catchers. Your Japanese Blood grass never fails to delight especially with the morning light giving it that luminous quality. It was some consolation to read that not all euphorbias have thrived for you. I bought a bunch of different varieties in the late spring and had them packed together in a raised bed in a metal cart. I thought that would ensure the good drainage I thought the euphorbias needed. Hmm, fast forward to now and my kaleidoscope of interesting colored foliage has more brown than anything…in other words, chalk up one disappointing failure for this gardener!
I lost my Euphorbia this year after I let it bloom. But my MIL did not loose hers. Mine was 5 yrs old, hers 2. I wish I knew the answer. It was one of my favorites.
I just planted that dichondra this year…I am liking it too! And your chard looks great! Mine succumbed to the heat this summer although I have in the past had it make it through.
Hi Frances, Love your fall foilage and your blog. I planted Oxalis regnellii var. triangularis this year and it’s done really well. I also plant the sweet potato vine and enjoy it too.
Your chard is so colorful! Is it planted just for its color, or do you eat it? I’m trying a couple of Euphorbias this year in my dry sunny bed, I hope they do well. I planted a mail-order Little Honey oakleaf hydrangea a couple of years ago, but it didn’t like the spot. It declined and died before I could figure out where it would have liked better. I’m giving myself two more chances to kill it. But meanwhile, there are lots of other plants to try!
You have some very bright colors here Frances. I have never had any luck with Euphorbias. I have a friend that lives just one mile from me and she has great luck with them. I like their foliage, especially the dark leaves.
Happy Foliage follow up.
I really like that ‘Little Honey’ hydrangea.
I am going to a big plant sale tomorrow. From their website it looks like they might have Calluna vulgaris ‘Firefly’ and Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’…..might have to buy both. I do have a number of the hydrangeas..5 Pee Wee, one straight species and one ‘Snow Queen’….Little Honey would be such a great addition.
great foliage!!!!!
They didn’t have any Calluna. Didn’t have any Hydrangea quercifolia They did have lots of Echinacea, Penstemon and Delosperma. Got those and four azaleas.
Absolutely fantastic photos! 🙂
I have had no success with the euphorbias ‘Blackbird’ or ‘Ascot Rainbow’. Both just croak in my garden, alas. I chalked it up to our intense heat and humidity, even at night, but your conditions are different, so who knows. I sometimes think that ‘Bright Lights’ chard is one of the showiest ornamental plants, which makes it a bit ironic that most people grow it as an edible. It’s simply stunning.
I have always planted with the thought of the foliage contrasts etc…interest longevity rather then a quick burn of blooms! Your photography skills are wonderful. I absolutely love that there is a day set aside for a hurrah for the leaves….not just the blooms! Your blog as always is a wonderful treat at the end of a long day that I very much look forward too. Thank you for all the beauty that you feed our hungry souls.