The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 12 Autumn 2015 High res | Page 10

Water wise plants

Grey foliage plants for a water wise garden
By Andrew Mangwarara

As gardeners enjoy their past time, there is nothing more evident to many than that water is
becoming a scarce commodity in our beloved country. Until definitive solutions are found,
we have to do all we can to conserve the water we have, which is why we need to adopt
water wise garden plants, such as grey foliage species, in our landscapes.
Why is grey foliage water wise?

Plants with grey or silvery foliage cope well with the heat and
drought. The silver foliage reflects the sun’s heat, keeping the
leaves cooler, and therefore requiring and losing less water.
However, make sure you don’t overwater them, as some of
them might start looking leggy. Here are a few that you can
incorporate into your garden for their hardiness and ability to
survive with minimal care:

Globe artichoke

Cynara scolymus
Handsome is a befitting description of this upright, majestic
plant. The foliage is heavily serrated, demanding it be given
enough room to show its manliness. It can reach a height of
about a metre. Though hard to find, it can easily be grown
from seed; make sure it is planted in a sunny position. It is
drought resistant, though without enough water it will not
flower. It is often attacked by aphids, so spray it regularly with
dimethoate, malathion or the organic Levo. Artichokes look
great in a low wide round pot, or line them in row, spaced out
with a ground cover.

DUSTY MILLER

Dusty miller

Centaurea cineraria
This is an all-year-round plant, reaching a height of 60cm,
with purple flowers which are rarely seen. It is easy to root
from cuttings and is drought tolerant. This plant will grow in
full sun and in any well-aerated soil. Use it for a border along
driveways or roundabouts, or in a bed with paler colours to
add harmony. They look good in a container with geraniums.

Using grey foliage in design

Grey foliage plants are a great filler to use in any garden,
as they look good with most plants. Their flowers are often
insignificant, as the grey of the foliage is the primary focus.
They act as a neutral colour in the garden, bringing together
paler colours, or acting as a buffer to soften the brighter and
more intense plants. When used on their own, they soften the
landscape, but they can also be planted on their own as a
hedge or a border.
GLOBE ARTICHOKE
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