Cotinus – Back-lit fiery leaves
We love flowers, but often overlook the stunning beauty of foliage. We rush out to buy lovely bedding plants and fill our borders with striking perennials, but we shouldn’t forget the incredible beauty of leaves. With a massive array of shapes, sizes, forms and colours, the leaves of plants can provide just as much beauty as flowers.
Alchemilla – Jewel-like water beads
Alchemilla Mollis (Lady’s Mantle) may not have the most interesting flowers, but the foliage is beautiful with its fan-like ridges. These look particularly beautiful after a summer shower – the leaves catch water which beads and glistens in the sun.
Cotinus (Smoke Bush) is a shrub or small tree and has incredible foliage. This really comes to life when back-lit by warm sunlight – the colours are fiery and range from deep burgundy through to yellow and orange. The soft, thin leaves filter the sunlight, creating a beautiful, atmospheric glow.
That’s just two great examples, but there are thousands of lovely foliage plants out there – go and explore plants in a new light… I always find the Sheffield Botanical Gardens a great place to stroll, relax and explore. They have thousands of established plants, and their plants give a good indication of what will grow in Sheffield’s soil and climate.
Cotinus – Light and shade