Green leaves can range from a deep shade to almost yellow. But there are other colors as well: purple, bright red and yellow, for instance. When choosing plants for a garden, this wide range of shades allows for many combinations, depending on personal taste and the look one want�s achieve. Gray leaves are especially attractive for creating delicate, elegant blends. And they make for a wide variety of combinations, depending on the shade of gray that is used.

There are different shades of gray: silvery, greenish and almost white. Many species have this gray tone because of the presence of a layer of fine white hairs on the surface of the leaves. This is the case with Stachys lanata (Lamb�s ear) � an evergreen plant which in summer produces pink flowers that stand out against the leaves.

The most common species
Most of these plants are adapted to warm, sunny wather, so they are just right for spots in the garden that receive direct sunlight. The Convolvulus cneorum, or bush morning glory, covers the soil and when planted over gravel it stands out in a beautiful way, especially when its trademark tube-like white flowers bloom in spring and summer.

Many plants with gray-colored leaves are highly aromatic, such as wormwood, with flowers that look like daisies, or santolina, with a strong and unmistakable smell, and some kinds of sage. All of them are futhermore very resistant to drought.

Shades of gray combine well with white, pink and blue. Among medium-sized shrubs, the Teucrium fruticans, or bush germander, with its small, light blue flowers in summer, are highly resistant to poor soil and lack of water.

You can also plant species that brighten up shady areas of the garden.

Among small conifers we can point out the picea pungens, or Colorado spruce, with a bluish gray tone. It varies depending on how the light hits it. To fully appreciate the beauty of these plants, it is best to plant just one in a prominent spot.

As for trees, there is the Eleagnus angustifolia or Russian olive. A decidous tree, it has highly fragrant flowers in summer and gray leaves. It is a highly elegant decorative
element. The Atlantic cedar grows slowly but as an adult it stands out for the grayish
color of its leaves.