Is chartreuse the new black? Variegated foliage and yellow add accents to the garden.

Heuchera Pistache is one of the brightest if not the brightest heuchera on the market. Ours reach about a foot high and the same across. I also believe they have larger leaves than others in this family.

This is a 3 foot Golden Spirit Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria). The foliage emerges lime green in the spring, matures to brilliant gold in the summer and then red and orange in the fall. They can reach about 8 feet when mature. Although native to drier regions of Europe eastward into China, it does well in our hot and muggy zone 7 summers. In Europe, smoke trees were used to dye cloth and leather to create the yellow fustic color. Apothecaries used it as a coagulant even though it has toxic sap.

Spiraea japonica Goldmound leaves emerge in early spring with a bright yellow color and slowly fade to a greenish yellow as the season progresses.  It has a bright pink fuzzy flower cluster in late May and reaches about 2 feet in height.

Liberty Hostas are our favorite. They are quite large (over a foot and half) when happy, provide a very bold contrast against darker hues and tolerate more sun than most. These hostas get hit with a solid shot of afternoon sun which would fry others. They are not cheap due to patents but come highly recommended.

This is Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Golden Jubilee. It has minty edible leaves, is rather hardy, grows to about 3 feet and has contrasting purple spike flowers in the summer. A magnet for pollinators (as all hyssop are) it reseeds easily so you always have freebies next spring.

Hosta Guacamole was hosta of the Year in 2002. Its a medium to large hosta with fragrant flowers in summer. It can take morning and a little midday sun only. Its leaves are bright, ribbed and lined with darker green edges. Its one of the last to go dormant in the fall. 

Solomon's Seal is the 2013 perrienial of the year. Polygonatum odoratum Variegatum spreads by rhizomes underground to form colonies making a solid ground-cover. It reaches about 2 feet, has an upright, arching form with small white pendant flowers in spring. They can take some sun but must be kept moist. Do not plant in full sun.

This is Lysimachia nummularia Aurea Creeping Jenny. It has bright, golden-yellow leaves, growing low to the ground forming a dense mat. It will choke out small plants and weeds which is good and can be easily contained. It spreads pretty fast and adds a nice contrasting color. It can survive short periods of submersion so it works well around water or wet areas.

Oriental Limelight Wormwood Artemisia is used as an accent plant because the foliage is always changing. It grows to about 2 feet and starts a marbled white, yellow and green variegated dance. It seems to change all the time. Not sure it its an optical illusion or the leaves actually change. We plant it with iris and roses.

Houttuynia cordata Variegata or Variegated Chameleon Plant. The foliage is yellow, bronze, green and red. It has aromatic foliage that smells citrus-like when bruised. A very rapid grower that prefers moisture and reaches about a foot in height. Can be invasive if left alone.