Introduce golden-yellow foliage into the garden.

Where does the golden foliage come from?

Whether it’s described as yellow or golden, this foliage inevitably evokes light and sunshine. Plants with golden foliage brighten a garden throughout the seasons, while others take on this warm colour only in autumn. That said, these plants bearing yellow on their leaves, more or less vivid, are by no means sick or ailing as plants affected by chlorosis can be. It is a normal phenomenon simply due to natural mutations inherent to the plant world. For others, this yellow colour is the result of hybridisation, that is, cross-breeding between two species to highlight a trait of one of the two parents.

These plants with golden foliage often carry the termsaureus, aureum or aurea in their scientific names, because that simply means ‘yellow’ in Latin. The most recent varieties are labelled Gold.

As for the origin of this colour, it is linked to the pigments present in the leaf tissues. Thus, the green colour comes from the concentration of chlorophyll in the leaves. In autumn, chlorophyll decreases, causing the foliage to yellow.

In plants with golden foliage, the chlorophyll is more diffuse and another pigment takes over, namely the carotenoid (the one in carrots!). And this concentration of carotenoid gives us plants of stunning beauty that bring brightness to any border, bed or hedge.

Perennials, bushes and trees with golden foliage.

Plants with golden foliage are particularly decorative and luminous. They liven the garden with their presence! This yellow colour appears in perennials as well as climbers, grasses, shrubs and trees, deciduous or coniferous. Here is a non-exhaustive selection of the finest species and varieties with bright yellow leaves:

Perennials with golden foliage

• Heucheras ‘Lime Rickey’ (foliage from light green to yellow), ‘Happy Flames’ (golden with coppery reflections) and ‘Citronnelle’
• The golden-leaved hostas are numerous and will be ideal for brightening a shady corner
• Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) and Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’
• The Cerastostigma willmottianum Ceratostigma willmottianum ‘Sapphire Ring’ plays on the contrasts between its yellow foliage and its blue flowers
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) ‘Thumbles Variety’ and ‘Norton Gold’ make remarkable groundcovers
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) ‘Aurea’ ) lights up spring with its golden leaves and white flowers
• Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) ‘Bertram Anderson’ and ‘Aureus’
• Creeping speedwell Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’ is a ground-covering perennial with brilliant yellow foliage

All our golden-foliage perennials

Creeping speedwell Veronica repens ‘Sunshine’

Grasses

Undeniably, among grasses, the best golden foliage comes from Hakonechloa grasses and Carex sedges. Among them, the Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, ‘Aureola’ or ‘Sunflare’ or the Carex oshimensis ‘Eversheen’ with lanceolate lemon-yellow leaves edged in green.

Shrubs

• Berberis thunbergii ‘Golden Torch’ and ‘Limoncello’
• The Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata) ‘Goldfinger’ and ‘Sundance’ with evergreen, wonderfully fragrant foliage
• Japanese maple (Acer shirasawanum) ‘Aureum’ with golden summer foliage
• Spiraea japonica Spirea ‘Golden Princess’ whose golden foliage in summer shifts to chartreuse green and red
• Sambucus racemosa ‘Plumosa Aurea’ which recalls the maple with its finely cut leaves
• Golden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) ‘Aureum’ with bright gold-variegated foliage

Sambucus racemosa ‘Plumosa Aurea’, Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum, Choisya ‘Goldfinger, Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’, Berberis thunbergii ‘Limoncello’, and Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’

Discover also our full selection of golden-yellow foliage shrubs

Climbers

Those looking to dress their façade in golden foliage will opt for the golden hop (Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’) with fast growth.

Trees

Trees with golden-yellow foliage are fewer in number, but the following can be cited:

• The American honey locust golden (Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis ‘Sunburst’) with golden foliage that turns to orange-yellow in autumn
• Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) ‘Aurea’
• Lambert’s cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) ‘Goldcrest’

How to use and pair plants with golden-yellow foliage?

In a garden, golden foliage plants are a source of enchantment, their aesthetic value striking. Thus, a border showcasing golden-yellow hues, a symbol of light and sunshine, will surely brighten the garden, particularly in semi-shade or shade. These are, moreover, the best exposures for these plants that dislike the blazing sun. Indeed, they have the ability to capture and reflect light to illuminate the darkest corners, such as the understorey. Thus, the golden mock-orange (Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’) and the bush honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’) will not only brighten shaded areas but also perfume them with their enchanting fragrance.

Placed in full sun, some golden-leaved plants will, on the other hand, bring vitality, energise and make the space warmer. This is the case for golden oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’) or anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum ‘Golden Jubilee’). These foliages can also attract pollinating insects to their melliferous flowers.

Golden-leaved plants also help create strong contrasts, and will be highlighted if paired with dark foliage, in shades of purple, burgundy or bronze. Thus the golden Spiraea (Spiraea japonica ‘Candlelight’) and the creeping euonymus (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald’n Gold’) will be set off by their presence beside a purple hazel (Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’).

Golden foliage contrasts with darker foliage

Finally, by placing golden, luminous foliage at the rear of a garden, the boundaries appear closer, as the eye more readily perceives these colours, especially when they contrast with dark tones.

On the other hand, never forget that too much is too much! Too much golden foliage can be hard on the eyes. Therefore, place these plants sparingly in borders, avoiding an overabundance of this vivid colour.