GREY-LEAVED PLANTS
Australia because of its long, hot summers has a great many grey or silver plants and as such they are very much part of our landscape whether it is in the desert, on shorelines or on exposed limestone cliffs.
There are many reasons why growing grey or silver plants in our gardens are a great idea but what makes them grey or silver in the first place? The grey or silver colouration comes from a layer of white hairs on the leaf surface which reduces water loss by reflecting the sun’s rays, holds moisture close to the surface of the leaf thus keeping the leaf cool.
Conversely, in winter when it is cold and wet the hairs stand upright to increase water loss and the Atriplex sp. (Saltbush plants) have this characteristic. Silver-grey leaves are brighter and like a mirror help deflect the heat from the sun and reduce water evaporation. This makes silver-leafed plants an excellent choice in coastal areas where there is lots of hot sun and little shade. The same applies for inland and outback gardens where the same conditions apply
This e-book gives you not only a list of grey-leaved plants for your garden but detailed information on each of the plants.
PDF file size: 4.9 MB.
