Chartreuse in the Garden: The Ultimate Neutral Hue

Chartreuse is the new black — it pairs with almost every color, functioning as a versatile neutral. Use mass plantings as a backdrop or dot the landscape with splashes of this haute hue.

Design Strategies

• Shady gardens: Chartreuse foliage adds illusion of light. Pair Japanese forest grass and 'Angelina' sedum with burgundy mondo grass for a flowing effect.
• Dramatic statements: Eye-catching foliage creates focal points.

Top Chartreuse Plants

Echinacea purpurea 'Coconut Lime'

Compact lime-green coneflowers complement any theme, attract butterflies. Zones 5-9.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

Shade-loving ornamental grass with lime-and-white variegated cascading foliage. Turns pink in fall. Zones 5-9.

Heuchera 'Electra'

Red-veined, lime-green foliage shines brightest. Compact habit ideal for bed edges, massed or solo in part/full shade. Zones 4-9.

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate'

Sharpest chartreuse hue with iridescent spiky foliage for wet gardens. Mass to highlight deep purple-blue flowers. Zones 4-8.

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' (Creeping Jenny)

Perfect "spiller" for containers or groundcover. Sprawling texture complements any combination. Zones 4-8.

Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger' (Tiger Eyes Sumac)

Compact, graceful chartreuse foliage as focal point or mass. Full sun for brightest lime-green; orange-red fall show. Zones 4-8.

Ipomoea batatas 'Illusion Emerald Lace' (Sweet Potato Vine)

Container "spiller" growing 10 inches tall, spreading 4 feet. Combine with lobelia, salvia, zonal geraniums for sun displays.

Hosta 'Daybreak'

As chartreuse as hostas get. Shade/part shade, moist well-drained soil. Zones 3-9.

Sedum makinoi 'Ogon'

Shiny, round, cream-yellow leaves. Edge pots or let wander rock gardens. Full sun. Zones 6-9.

Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon' (Japanese Maple)

Chartreuse on new growth or all season, plus colorful fall change. Zones 5-9.

Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Chartreuse' (Coleus)

Stunning contrasting leaf color, tidy upright habit. Zones as annual.

Solenostemon scutellarioides 'The Line' (Coleus)

Quick-growing annual for instant chartreuse in containers or garden after last frost.

Chartreuse Bouquet Inspiration

For a casual upscale posy: hydrangea blooms, Hypericum berries, pincushion mums, bells of Ireland.