5 trees with grey or silvery foliage

Eucalyptus gunnii 'Silverana', a touch of the exotic

The appeal of Eucalyptus gunnii Silverana – Cider Gum lies in its moderate growth and narrow habit, which allow it to fit into a medium-sized garden. If pruned short and regularly, it takes on the appearance of a large blue-grey silvery bush that remains decorative all year round. Its aromatic leaves add an exotic and distinctive touch to the garden. They are nicely round when young, longer and more tapered as they age. Its branches can be used in cut flower arrangements. In August and September, flowers resembling small white pom-poms appear on the shoots between the leaves. They are then replaced by green cone-shaped fruits. Maintenance is easy, as it adapts to all soils that are not too calcareous. It is hardy down to -10°C and water-efficient. Plant it in full sun in well-drained soil so that it thrives.

In a garden, you can plant Eucalyptus gunnii ‘Silverana’ as a specimen on a lawn, or pair it with other purple-leaved shrubs, such as Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ or Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’. This will create striking light contrasts.

The olive tree, a staple of Mediterranean gardens

The olive tree, Olea europaea or Provence olive tree, is a classic of Mediterranean gardens. With its gnarled trunk as it ages, its evergreen foliage, green on top with a silvery underside, it charms sun lovers and fans of southern scenery. In spring, its tough, elongated leaves are adorned with small pale yellow flowers that attract pollinating insects. It then bears green and later black fruits—the olives—that are not edible in their raw state. Its grey bark is smooth when young and cracks with time. It enjoys a sunny exposure, well-drained soil, even rocky, and shows strong drought resistance. It is susceptible to frost below -12°C. If you live in a region with cold winters, it’s best to plant it in a tub so you can cover it or bring it indoors in case of severe frost.

If you enjoy Mediterranean garden vibes, you can pair the Provence olive tree with Santolina and lavender for a soft harmony.

Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula', an elegant weeping ornamental pear tree.

If you’re after a tree with silvery-grey foliage, why not try the Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ or Weeping ornamental pear? This small tree bears grey willow-leaved leaves and is clothed with white flowers from May to June. Clusters of 6 to 8 small white flowers are lovely in spring. It also bears small pears, from August to October, which are purely decorative. The branches are thorny and bear narrow, lanceolate, silvery and deciduous leaves. Charming with its weeping habit, this ornamental pear reaches a mature height of 5 metres with a 4-metre spread. Hardier than the olive tree, it offers a good alternative for gardeners living in northern regions that experience severe frosts. The pendulous ornamental pear can withstand temperatures down to -23°C. Plant it in a sunny position in well-drained soil.

In a garden, you can pair the Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’ with blue-flowered Clematis, such as the Clematis – Clematis ‘Crystal Fountain’, which will highlight the grey of its foliage and create a refined ensemble.

Blue Spruce – Picea pungens 'Edith', a bright silvery blue.

Blue Spruce – Picea pungens ‘Edith’ displays a bright, unusual colour: light silver-blue. This blue spruce with evergreen foliage forms a regular cone and is covered with small, sharp needles, densely arranged on branches of a brown-orange colour. Its needles are arranged in a brush, and the young shoots are particularly bright when they appear in spring. Slow-growing, its growth remains modest. At maturity, it reaches a height of 5 metres with a 2.5 metre spread. Very decorative with its beautiful blue-silver colour, it retains it even better when not subjected to frequent rainfall. Hardy to -23°C, it thrives in full sun in a well-drained, possibly dry soil, ideally neutral to slightly acidic.

Very handsome, the Blue Spruce fits equally well in a French-style garden as in a contemporary-style garden. To enhance its splendid blue, pair it with other blue or purple plants, such as periwinkles or heathers.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Alumii’, an elegant blue-grey tree

Appreciated for its pyramidal habit and bluish-grey foliage, the Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Alumii’ or Lawson’s Cypress stands as a reliable garden staple. Decoratively all year round thanks to its evergreen foliage, it bears flexible branches with a slightly trailing tip. Its leaves are scale-like and initially take on a bluish tint, which becomes grey, then glaucous with time. Its habit is initially columnar, then widens at the base to form a cone. At maturity, it reaches a height of 10 metres and a width of 3 metres. Slow-growing, it responds well to repeated pruning, provided it remains light. Easy to grow, it prefers full sun and a moist, fertile, deep, well-drained soil.

The Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Alumii’ can be planted as a stand-alone specimen in a garden or to form a backdrop for a border or an evergreen screening hedge to shield you from view.

Further reading

Other trees offer very elegant grey or silvery foliage in a garden, such as the silver poplar (silver poplar (Populus alba ‘Nivea’)), to be planted with care, as it reaches a mature height of 25 metres. Its grey bark and cottony foliage on the underside give it a lovely brightness, heightened when the wind threads between its leaves. Another tree with grey-silvery foliage, Whitebeam (Whitebeam (Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’)) reaches a mature height of 12 metres. It bears bright deciduous foliage, grey-silvery or cream-white in spring, turning to grey-silvery-green thereafter.

And if you are fond of this colour, to complete your garden in silver-grey tones, also discover our selection of:

• 7 bushes with silver-grey foliage
• and 7 perennials with grey or silver foliage.