Silver, Purple & Blue: A Modern Foundation Planting Recipe

Front-yard landscaping often defaults to predictable "builder basics"—junipers, rhododendrons, azaleas, or privet hedges. But your home's foundation planting is a chance to make a unique statement, framing the house like a picture while reflecting your personal style.

In the Pacific Northwest, one artistic couple transformed their ordinary front garden into an exceptional composition. Drawing color cues from their home's stonework—muted purples, soft pinks, and blue-grays—they crafted a soothing monochromatic palette punctuated by silver for contemporary sparkle.

The result is a refreshing, modern twist that sets the home apart and invites curiosity about the garden beyond.

Design Strategy: Let the Architecture Lead

The home's stonework dictated the palette. To prevent a somber feel, silver was introduced as an accent—a brilliant choice for adding a contemporary edge.

1. Incorporate Non-Plant Elements in the Same Palette

A glossy purple-blue glazed container nestled in silver licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) with purple fountain grass creates an artistic vignette anchoring one end of the border.

2. Create a Year-Round Focal Point

The purple-leaved 'Red Majestic' corkscrew hazelnut (Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic') was chosen for its twisted branches (stunning in winter) and foliage color.

3. Add Vertical Punctuation

Avoid the common error of using only low plants. A narrow, blue-needled Lawson's false cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Blue Surprise') provides vertical drama without blocking paths or views.

4. Focus on Foliage for a Modern Look

Flowers are fleeting; foliage provides year-round structure and a contemporary vibe that distinguishes the garden from typical neighborhood plantings.

Plant Palette: The Silvers

Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare)

Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant ground cover with felted silvery foliage. Zones 9a–10b (or annual). 1 ft tall × 2 ft wide.

Silver Mound Wormwood (Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound')

Soft, feathery texture begs to be touched. Zones 4–9. 2 ft tall and wide.

Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)

Fern-like, fuzzy, silvery-white foliage. Zones 8–10 (annual in colder zones). 2 ft tall × 1 ft wide. Yellow spring flowers.

Plant Palette: The Purples

'Red Majestic' Corkscrew Hazelnut (Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic')

Burgundy leaves, purple catkins, twisted branches—sculptural all year. Zones 4–8. 7 ft tall and wide.

'Rose Glow' Barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Rose Glow')

Arching thorned stems with marbled purple, pink, and white foliage. Zones 4–8. 4 ft tall and wide. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant.

'Orange Xenox' Stonecrop (Sedum 'Orange Xenox')

Upright deep burgundy foliage with orange-red flowers. Zones 4–10. 1.5 ft tall and wide. Drought-tolerant.

'Plum Royale' Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Plum Royale')

Glossy purple evergreen leaves. Zones 4–9. 1 ft tall and wide. Partial shade.

Plant Palette: The Blues

'Blue Surprise' Lawson's False Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Blue Surprise')

Dense, columnar, blue-toned conifer with burgundy winter cast. Needs excellent drainage. Zones 6–9. 8 ft tall × 2–3 ft wide.