For shady gardens, include plants with chartreuse foliage as focal points to add the illusion of light to the area. Or add drama to your design by using eye-catching foliage to make a statement. Mass groupings of Japanese forest grass and ‘Angelina’ sedum pair beautifully with the burgundy foliage of mondo grass to create a flowing effect in the garden. There are lots of plants with chartreuse foliage or flowers that would work in your landscape. Here are a few of our favorites.
Echinacea purpurea ‘Coconut Lime’
Your cottage garden wouldn’t be complete without the addition of lime-green coneflowers. The compact size and soft shade of the flower head complement any garden theme and attracts butterflies at the same time. Zone 5-9. See more coneflowers in our encyclopedia.
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
Finally, an ornamental grass that thrives in the shade! The lime-and-white variegated foliage of the Japanese forest grass cascades beautifully at the edge of a flower bed in the darkest corners of your garden. An added bonus – the foliage turns shades of pink in the fall. Zones 5-9. Learn more about Japanese forest grass.
Heuchera ‘Electra’
There are many varieties of coralbells, but ‘Electra’ shines the brightest with its red-veined, lime-green foliage. Its compact growth habit makes “Electra” ideal for the edge of your planting bed, grouped in mass or standing alone in a full to partially shaded garden. Zones 4-9. See more coralbells in our encyclopedia.
Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’
Probably the sharpest hue of chartreuse, ‘Sweet Kate’ spiderwort is sure to catch your eye with its almost iridescent, spiky foliage that thrives in a wet garden. Plant in a mass grouping to highlight its deep-purple, almost blue flowers. Zones 4-8. See more spiderworts in our encyclopedia.
Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’
The perfect “spiller” for your container garden or groundcover for your landscape, creeping Jenny adds a sprawling texture complementing any plant combination. Zones 4-8. Learn more about creeping Jenny in our encyclopedia.
Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’
A newer, more compact variety of sumac, the graceful, chartreuse foliage of ‘Tiger Eyes’ plays well as the main focal point of your garden or as a mass grouping. Plant in full sun for the brightest lime-green leaves and get an added bonus with a fall show of orange and red. Zones 4-8. Learn more about sumac in our encyclopedia.
Ipomoea batatas ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’
Sweet potato vine is another great chartreuse “spiller” for your container annual gardens. ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’ can grow up to 10 inches tall and spread 4 feet, creating a mound effect. Combine with other annuals like lobelia, salvia, and zonal geraniums for a sun-loving display. See more sweet potato vines in our encyclopedia.
Hosta ‘Daybreak’
Hostas come in nearly every shade of green, but here’s one that’s as chartreuse as any we’ve found. Grow ‘Daybreak’ in shade or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. Zones 3-9. See more hostas in our encyclopedia.
Sedum makinoi ‘Ogon’
‘Ogon’ is a textural eye-catcher with its shiny, round, cream-yellow leaves. Grace the edges of pots or let this sedum wander through your rock garden. Grow in full sun. Zones 6-9.
Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’
Several Japanese maples display chartreuse color, either on new growth or all season long. As with all maples, you’ll get a colorful leaf change in the fall. Zones 5-9. See more maples in our encyclopedia.
Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Chartreuse’
With the hundreds of coleus available, it’s hard to believe that a new one can offer anything different. But ‘Chartreuse’ caught our eye with its stunning, contrasting leaf color and tidy, upright habit. See more edged-leaf coleus in our encyclopedia.
Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘The Line’
For instant chartreuse gratification, look no further than ‘The Line’ coleus. This quick-growing annual is happy in containers or set out in your garden after spring’s last frost.
Focus on Chartreuse
For a casual bouquet in upscale colors, chartreuse blooms and berries hit the spot. For this posy, we picked hydrangea blooms from our garden and added sprigs of Hypericum with berries, pincushion mums, and bells of Ireland from our local wholesale florist.
