Foliage Resources
Foliage Gallery

Plants With Unusual or Decorative Foliage

Foliage plants are special whether they are in bloom or not. Many are just as colorful and just as beautiful as flowers.

Scientific Name Common Name(s)
Trees
 
Abies concolor White fir, Colorado fir
Acer palmatum Japanese maple
Aesculus hippocastanum common horsechestnut
Araucaria araucana monkey-puzzle tree, Chilean pine
Araucaria bidwillii bunya-bunya tree, false monkey puzzle tree
Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island pine
Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone, madrona, Oregon laurel
Calocedrus decurrens incense cedar, incensecedar
Carica papaya papaya, papaw, fruta bomba
Carya ovata shagbark hickory, shellbark hickory, scalybark hickory
Cecropia peltata trumpet tree, snakewood, congo pump
Chamaecyparis obtusa Hinoki cypress, Hinoki false cypress
Chamaecyparis pisifera Sawara false cypress, Sawara cypress, retinispora
Coccoloba uvifera sea grape
Cotinus coggygria smoketree, smoke bush, Venetian sumac
Cryptomeria japonica Japanese cedar, sugi
Cunninghamia lanceolata China fir
Cupressocyparis Leylandii Leyland cypress
Cupressus glabra smooth cypress, smooth Arizona cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress
Eriobotrya japonica Japanese plum, loquat
Ficus benghalensis banyan, Bengal fig, Indian fig
Fraxinus americana white ash
Fraxinus angustifolia narrowleaf ash, narrow-leaved ash
Ginkgo biloba ginkgo, maidenhair tree
Gleditsia triacanthos honeylocust, thornless honeylocust
Gordonia lasianthus loblolly bay, bay
Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffee tree
Ilex opaca American holly
Juniperus chinensis Chinese juniper
Juniperus scopulorum Rocky Mountain juniper, western redcedar, Rocky Mountain redcedar
Juniperus virginiana eastern redcedar, redcedar, southern redcedar
Laurus nobilis bay laurel, bay, bay leaf
Magnolia grandiflora southern magnolia, bull bay
Magnolia tripetala umbrella magnolia
Magnolia virginiana sweet bay, silver bay, swamp bay
Parkinsonia aculeata Jerusalem thorn, Mexican palo verde
Parrotia persica Persian ironwood, Persian parrotia
Picea orientalis Oriental spruce, Caucasian spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca' Colorado blue spruce, blue spruce
Pinus thunbergii black pine, Japanese black pine
Populus alba white poplar, silver-leaved poplar, silver poplar
Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir, Douglasfir
Quercus michauxii swamp chestnut oak, basket oak, cow oak
Quercus robur English oak, pedunculate oak, truffle oak
Rhamnus caroliniana Carolina buckthorn, Indian cherry
Strelitzia nicolai bird-of-paradise tree, giant bird-of-paradise
Swietenia mahogani mahogany, West Indies mahogany, Spanish mahogany
Tamarindus indica tamarind
Taxodium distichum bald-cypress, baldcypress
Tsuga canadensis eastern hemlock, Canada hemlock
Viburnum rufidulum rusty black-haw, southern black-haw
Vitex agnus-castus hemp tree, chaste tree, monk's pepper
Shrubs
 
Acalypha wilkesiana copperleaf, Joseph's coat, fire-dragon
Aesculus parviflora bottlebrush buckeye
Agave americana agave, century plant, maguey
Aralia spinosa devil's walking stick, prickly ash, prickly elder
Aucuba japonica Japanese aucuba, Japanese laurel, gold-dust tree
Buxus microphylla littleleaf boxwood, small-leaved boxwood, boxwood
Caesalpinia pulcherrima peacock flower, Barbados pride, dwarf poinciana
Camellia japonica camellia, japonicas
Cephalotaxus harringtonia Japanese plum yew, Harrington plum yew, cow-tail pine
Clerodendrum paniculatum pagoda flower
Codiaeum variegatum var. pictum croton, garden croton, variegated laurel
Elaeagnus pungens thorny elaeagnus, spotted elaeagnus, silverthorn
Euonymus fortunei wintercreeper, wintercreeper euonymus
Euphorbia characias Mediterranean spurge
Fatshedera (X) lizei fatshedera, aralia ivy, tree ivy
Fatsia japonica fatsia, Japanese aralia
Gardenia augusta gardenia, cape jasmine
Hydrangea macrophylla French hydrangea, bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia oakleaf hydrangea
Hypericum frondosum golden St. John's wort, blueleaf St. John's wort, cedarglade
Ilex 'Mary Nell' Mary Nell holly, Mary Nelle holly
Ilex latifolia luster-leaf holly, tarajo
Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens' Nellie Stevens holly
Illicium floridanum Florida anise, purple anise, stink-bush
Illicium parviflorum yellow anise, yellow anisetree, star anise
Jatropha multifida coral plant, physic nut, Guatemala rhubarb
Juniperus conferta shore juniper, Japanese shore juniper, Blue Pacifica juniper
Juniperus davurica 'Parsonii' Parson's juniper, Dahurian juniper
Juniperus horizontalis creeping juniper, trailing juniper, creeping savin juniper
Juniperus squamata singleseed juniper, flaky juniper
Leucophyllum frutescens purple sage, texas ranger, silverleaf
Leucothoe fontanesiana drooping leucothoe, doghobble
Ligustrum x vicaryi golden vicary privet, golden ligustrum
Loropetalum chinense loropetalum
Mahonia bealei leatherleaf mahonia
Mahonia fortunei Chinese mahonia, Fortune's mahonia, holly grape
Michelia figo banana shrub
Microbiota decussata Russian arborvitae, Siberian cypress
Nerium oleander oleander
Osmanthus heterophyllus false holly, holly tea olive
Pandanus utilius screw pine
Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage
Photinea x fraseri red top, red tip, photina
Pieris japonica lily-of-the-valley bush, Japanese andromeda, Japanese pieris
Pinus mugo mugo pine, mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pittosporum tobira Japanese mockorange, Japanese pittosporum, tobira
Podocarpus macrophylla podocarpus, yew podocarpus, Japanese yew
Prunus laurocerasus English laurel, cherry laurel
Ricinus communis castor bean, castor oil plant, palma Christi
Rosemarinus officinalis rosemary
Salvia madrensis forsythia sage
Salvia mexicana Mexican sage
Salvia officinalis garden sage, common sage
Sanchezia speciosa sanchezia
Scaevola sericea beach naupaka, sea lettuce, half-flower
Schefflera actinophylla brassaia, octopus tree, umbrella tree
Serissa foetida serissa, yellow-rim
Spiraea japonica Japanese spirea, Japanese meadowsweet, maybush
Spiraea thunbergii baby's breath spirea, Thunberg spirea
Strobilanthes dyerianus Persian shield
Tamarix parviflora small-flowered tamarisk, early tamarisk
Ternstroemia gymnanthera Cleyera
Tetrapanax papyiferus Rice-paper plant, Aralia papyifera (syn.), Fatsia papyifera (syn.)
Viburnum davidii David viburnum
Viburnum rhytidophyllum leatherleaf viburnum
Viburnum x pragense Prague viburnum, Pragense viburnum
Yucca aloifolia Spanish bayonet, dagger plant
Yucca elephantipes spineless yucca, giant yucca
Yucca gloriosa Spanish dagger, palm lily, mound-lily yucca
Palms
 
Acoelorrhaphe wrightii paurotis palm, Everglades palm, silver saw palm
Acrocomia aculeata macaw palm, gru-gru
Allagoptera arenaria seashore palm, coco da praia
Arenga engleri Formosa palm, Taiwan sugar palm, dwarf sugar palm
Beaucarnea recurvata ponytail palm, bottle palm, nolina
Bismarckia nobilis Bismarck palm
Brahea armata blue hesper palm, Mexican blue palm, blue palm
Butia capitata jelly palm, pindo palm
Carpentaria acuminata Carpentaria palm
Caryota mitis fishtail palm
Caryota urens jaggery palm, toddy palm, wine palm
Chamaedorea metallica metallic palm, miniature fishtail palm
Chamaedorea microspadix hardy bamboo palm
Chamaedorea radicalis radicalis palm
Chamaedorea seifrizii bamboo palm, reed palm
Chamaerops humilis European fan palm
Chrysalidocarpus cabadae cabada palm
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens areca palm, golden cane palm, Madagascar palm
Coccothrinax barbadensis Barbados silver palm, silver palm, thatch palm
Cocos nucifera coconut palm
Copernicia baileyana Bailey palm, yarey palm
Copernicia hospita Cuban Wax Palm, Guano Palm, Cano Palm
Copernicia macroglossa Cuban petticoat palm, petticoat palm
Copernicia prunifera carnauba wax palm
Cycas circinalis queen sago, false sago, fern palm
Dictyosperma album hurricane palm, princess palm
Dioon edule virgin palm, Mexican cycad, Palma de la Virgen
Dioon spinulosum giant dioon, gum palm
Howea forsteriana kentia palm, sentry palm, thatch palm
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis bottle palm
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii spindle palm
Jubaea chilensis Chilean wine palm, coquito palm, honey palm
Livistona chinensis Chinese fan palm, Chinese fountain palm
Livistona decipiens ribbon fan palm
Nannorrhops ritchieana Mazari Palm
Neodypsis decaryi Dypsis decaryi (syn.), triangle palm, three sided palm
Phoenix canariensis Canary Island date palm
Phoenix dactylifera date palm
Phoenix reclinata Senegal date palm
Phoenix roebelenii miniature date palm, pygmy date palm
Phoenix rupicola cliff date, wild date palm, Indian date palm
Phoenix sylvestris wild date palm, India date palm
Ravenala madagascariensis traveler's palm, traveler's tree
Ravenea rivularis & glauca Majesty (TM) Palm
Rhapidophyllum hystrix needle palm, porcupine palm
Rhapis excelsa lady palm, R. flabelliformis (syn.)
Roystonea regia royal palm
Sabal causiarum Puerto Rican hat palm, hat palm
Sabal domingensis Dominican palm, Hispaniola palm
Sabal etonia scrub palm, scrub palmetto
Sabal mexicana Texas palm, Texas sabal palm, Mexican palmetto
Sabal minor blue palm, blue palmetto, dwarf palm
Sabal palmetto sabal palm, cabbage palm, cabbage palmetto
Serenoa repens saw palmetto
Trachycarpus fortunei windmill palm, Chusan palm, Chinese windmill palm
Veitchia merrillii Christmas palm, Manila palm, adonidia
Washingtonia filifera California fan palm, desert fan palm, American cotton palm
Washingtonia robusta Washington palm, Mexican fan palm
Wodyetia bifurcata foxtail palm, Wodyetia palm
Grasses
 
Acorus gramineus Japanese sweet flag, Japanese rush, grassy-leaved sweet flag
Arundo donax giant reed, carrizo
Carex appalachica Appalachian sedge
Carex oshimensis Oshima sedge, Oshima kan suge
Carex pendula drooping sedge, weeping sedge, pendulous sedge
Carex phyllocephala palm sedge
Chasmanthium latifolium Indian wood-oats, northern sea oats, broadleaf uniola
Cortaderia selloana pampas grass
Cymbopogon citratus lemongrass, oil grass
Cymbopogon nardus citronella grass, nardus, nard grass, mana grass
Cyperus involucratus umbrella sedge, umbrella plant, galingale
Festuca glauca blue fescue, gray fescue, garden fescue
Imperata cylindrica Japanese blood grass, cogongrass, satintail
Miscanthus floridulus giant miscanthus, giant eulalia grass, Japanese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis Japanese silver grass, miscanthus, eulalia
Muhlenbergia capillaris Gulf muhlygrass, mist grass, hairawn muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Lindheimer's muhlygrass, blue muhlygrass
Nassella tenuissima Mexican feather grass, Mexican needle grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides Chinese fountain grass, fountain grass, Chinese pennisetum
Pennisetum macrostachyum fountain grass , giant burgundy fountain grass, burgundy giant fountain grass
Pennisetum orientale oriental fountain grass, fountain grass
Pennisetum setaceum African fountain grass, tender fountain grass, fountain grass
Setaria palmifolia palm grass, bristle grass
Sorghastrum nutans indiangrass, yellow indiangrass
Spartina bakeri sand cordgrass, switchgrass
Tripsacum dactyloides gamma grass, fakahatchee grass
Uniola paniculata sea oats, Chasmanthium paniculatum (synonym)
Perennials
 
Acanthus mollis bear's breech, Grecian pattern plant, artist's acanthus
Achillea millefolium common yarrow, milfoil, sneezewort
Aechmea distichantha Brazilian vaseplant, vase plant
Ajuga reptans carpet bugleweed, common bugleweed
Alocasia macrorrhiza giant taro, giant elephant ear, upright elephant ear
Alpinia zerumbet variegated shell ginger, pink porcelain lily
Artemisia absinthium absinthe, absinth, common wormwood
Artemisia X 'Powis Castle' Powis Castle artemisia
Aspidistra elatior iron plant, barroom plant, cast-iron plant
Brassica oleracea var. acephala kale, collards, flowering cabbage
Caladium bicolor caladium, fancy-leaved caladium, angel wings
Canna X generalis canna, canna lily, Indian shot
Chlorophytum comosum spider plant, spider ivy, ribbon plant
Coleus x hybridus Flame Nettle, Painted Leaf
Colocasia esculenta taro, dasheen, elephant ear
Cordyline fruticosa ti plant, Hawaiian ti, cordyline
Coronilla varia crown vetch
Costus speciosus crepe ginger, Malay ginger
Cycas revoluta sago palm, Japanese sago palm, funeral palm
Cyrtomium falcatum holly fern
Dietes iridioides African iris, fortnight lily, morea iris
Dionaea muscipula Venus flytrap
Equisetum hyemale horsetail, scouring rush, E. prealtum (syn.)
Farfugium japonicum leopard plant, green leopard plant, ligularia
Globba winitii dancing ladies ginger, dancing girls ginger
Helleborus orientalis lenten rose
Hemerocallis hybrids daylily
Hosta spp. hosta, plantain lily, funkia
Kaempferia laotica peacock ginger
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana kalanchoe
Liriope muscari liriope, border grass, lily-turf
Lychnis coronaria rose campion, mullein pink, Dusty Miller
Manihot esculenta cassava, manihot, manicot
Melissa officinalis lemon balm, balm
Monstera deliciosa windowleaf, ceriman, split-leaf philodendron
Musa x paradisiaca banana, plantain, platano
Neoregelia cruenta bloody bromeliad
Nephrolepis exaltata sword fern, Boston fern, wild Boston fern
Ophiopogon japonicus mondo grass, lily turf, snakebeard
Osmunda cinnamomea cinnamon fern
Osmunda regalis royal fern, flowering fern
Oxalis latifolia broadleaf woodsorrel, Mexican oxalis
Peperomia obtusifolia blunt-leaved peperomia, marble peperomia, baby rubber plant
Philodendron bipinnatifidum cut-leaf philodendron, tree philodendron, selloum
Phoradendron leucarpum American mistletoe, mistletoe
Phormium tenax New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp
Platycerium spp. staghorn fern, elkhorn fern
Polymnia sonchifolia yacón
Polypodium polypodioides Resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides (syn.)
Polystichum polyblepharum Japanese tassel fern, tassel fern, holly fern
Protasparagus densiflorus asparagus fern, emerald fern, foxtail fern
Russelia equisetiformis firecracker plant, coral plant, coralblow
Ruta graveolens rue, common rue, herb of Grace
Salvia leucantha Mexican bush sage, Mexican sage, velvet sage
Sanguisorba minor salad burnet, garden burnet, burnet
Sarracenia spp. eastern North American pitcherplants, pitcherplants
Sedum spectabile showy sedum, showy stonecrop, balloon plant
Stachys byzantina lamb's ear, wooly betony
Strelitzia reginae bird-of-paradise, crane flower
Tillandsia usneoides Spanish moss, Dendropogon usneoides (syn.)
Tradescantia fluminensis green wandering Jew, small leaf spiderwort, white-flowered wandering Jew
Tradescantia spathacea oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle, boatlily
Tradescantia zebrina wandering Jew, purple wandering Jew, inch plant
Vinca major large periwinkle, big periwinkle
Yucca filamentosa Adam's needle, bear grass, weak-leaf yucca
Zamia furfuracea Cardboard palm
Zamia pumila coontie, arrowroot, compties
Zantedeschia aethiopica calla lily
Zingiber zerumbet pinecone ginger, shampoo ginger, Awapuhi kuahiwi (Hawaii)
Annuals
 
Anethum graveolens dill, dill weed
Atriplex hortensis orach, orache, mountain spinach
Beta vulgaris beet, beetroot, chard
Foeniculum vulgare Florence fennel, finocchio, anise
Hibiscus sabdariffa roselle, Florida cranberry, Indian sorrel
Lactuca sativa lettuce, cos, romaine
Ocimum basilicum basil, common basil, sweet basil
Petroselinum crispum parsley, Italian parsley, Hamburg parsley
Senecio cineraria dusty miller
Cactus and Succulents
 
Euphorbia tirucalli pencil tree, milkbush, finger tree
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi South American air plant, lavender-scallops, gray sedum
Sempervivum tectorum hens and chicks, roof houseleek
Tradescantia pallida purple heart, purple queen, purple-heart tradescantia
Water Plants
 
Juncus effusus soft rush, common rush
Nymphaea odorata alligator bonnet, fragrant water lily
Pistia stratiotes water-lettuce, shell-flower
Vines
 
Aristolochia elegans Calico flower, Dutchman's pipe, pipe vine
Canavalia rosea beach bean, seaside bean, coastal jackbean
Clematis armandii Armand's clematis, evergreen clematis
Ficus pumila creeping fig, climbing fig
Gloriosa superba glory lily, gloriosa lily, tiger claw
Hedera canariensis Algerian ivy
Hedera helix English ivy
Ipomoea alba moonflower vine, moon vine
Ipomoea quamoclit cypress vine, cardinal climber, star glory
Ipomoea spp. Ornamental sweet potato vine, Blackie sweet potato , Margarita sweet potato
Lygodium spp. climbing fern, old world climbing fern, Japanese climbing fern
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper, woodbine, five-finger poison ivy
Protasparagus setaceus common asparagus fern, lace fern, asparagus fern
Thunbergia grandiflora Bengal clock vine, clock vine, sky flower
Trachelospermum asiaticum yellow star jasmine