![Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Viburnum, I believe this is the Chicago Lustre variety Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Viburnum, I believe this is the Chicago Lustre variety](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nunz7gjBboY7a7FXs_O4PuE4L3Mew0mjBNHGQJerkGNBPKIbybzK_nNs3xT_ZnE3gLvPdXUNR-Xu2WpZJAMcmN7NIlZ6FmeMcbmjDymJpEvQdJNYsXzILAUuqadJhBynhN9JtoncFQ/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+viburnum+dentatum+closeup.jpg) |
Viburnum dentatum, Arrowwood Viburnum, I believe this is the Chicago Lustre variety |
Everyone loves flowers, but I'll go out on a limb (pun intended!) and state that only gardeners go gaga over foliage.
Think about it - no one buys their love a bouquet of leaves on Valentine's Day. (Well, except maybe a valentine from one gardener to another.)
Why does foliage matter so much to me? Perhaps because flowers are transient - first a dream, then a brief vision, finally a cherished memory. On the other hand, you can enjoy foliage for months and months -- all-year round in some cases.
In addition to the Viburnum dentatum shown above, here are 14 more of my favorite foliage plants as of mid-May in the Garden of Aaron:
![Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree) leaves Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree) leaves](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wZQ4pfh1kalhZwqmw-gueGg1eGf0tX8sVbOjTLB57EcpFoBSVcZ9lR3OUO8bHC1SUQqWdy7A2RSTGf4Rn7ktwmRQVWOlYATc_pPHMiJE_XOEWoy6WmrrLEKo9nEck4zmM6xUChByPQ/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+vitex+agnus-castus.jpg) |
Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste Tree) leaves |
![Sedum Vera Jameson, I believe Sedum Vera Jameson, I believe](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo3atr6fRcNKVm1xNHWeiR-GdvYKBIJLeE0enynKwkKqwcnfoemJ32NDO6wqw0P0y3llQBLW7NYLXuIUv_3oeFRY73RrHwJLI6KJjr0KqGBpixpkv2TwFl-5VFhIQkp3r21P8QEYIEg/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+sedum+autumn+fire.jpg) |
Sedum Vera Jameson, I believe |
![Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon foliage Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Yt_POjl2jw7_oTmjzU2iGCqRNfKHE8ZdKaKmP_FywVAWRsoS5NgzIRW9zdvcRT_PNDKWqJEpIpcI3h57HAaC8LAhDToyORh2vXL1O94KTqQLarLQD1L8vRTXiLFD2YVpeVU_IaVtUQ/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+rose+of+sharon.jpg) |
Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon foliage |
![Redbud leaves Redbud leaves](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8Ly0Z8wP2Nx2qSzzaZ8Zaj4FWckEq7NWOb6NKwaU9PpLvVZeDBJxLrU8Eo52WSzGytrWejqOhbDbLov2-aKmWjGzmq1hvOrWAIpQc0f3kdReH97w3PPtuZ-IgktRCCtatWaevWxVow/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+redbud.jpg) |
Redbud leaves |
![Platycodon grandiflorus, Balloon Flower foliage Platycodon grandiflorus, Balloon Flower foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfC92RquOw6v55BYuNwerzJigWy6vzbm-s0NNgBiDkyZCineDSpf6O_FB5JrAGQ9mMcssq9gC3Kg-zaxlniDITMoCww2bQ0mKklBhkNVJPVXuXSLISbopkvQ4BH6YFZgytX7Kh1z3MA/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+platycodon.jpg) |
Platycodon grandiflorus, Balloon Flower foliage |
![Oakleaf hydrangea foliage Oakleaf hydrangea foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6mM6KiMQ3NTvINCQBF-RwrJ0WP_z09U_iUm2NmnAHc_m5_jZexirIJcq2l1N9A2URilCoNECqIxZiuyxQ_zy7h5vRF1EAX797DxGnIhiejOYco-FHd0Wuc_RSpynuVSJ2Ac7xupr-Q/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+oakleaf+hydrangea.jpg) |
Oakleaf hydrangea foliage |
![Brassica juncea, Mustard Green foliage Brassica juncea, Mustard Green foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwyy8W33WBp8OB0vPb-wG72KFkV_M-RJ1gBuKqYFZswkyTDS5pon7YuRM8fXmHG-qMgw5qsDgLvF3xFLgEN1vwYTJe0WI4Q-vNAGX1gpFN6xsUWr-sp7lOjgHCO6J5e5M8p49FH3gxg/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+mustard+green.jpg) |
Brassica juncea, Mustard Green foliage |
![Lemon Queen hybrid perennial sunflower foliage Lemon Queen hybrid perennial sunflower foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_qz3UIJTkQAPLb7JDs9d7L_VyMBL0gDkAaMvOPKjSA74nzqqcx2X6VfYOAkpluIxeU3cJKBfc1qDvuCokjpSeNxDbjaJZo72L-9IsHx3lRyETZk5snKtjNRdeVZwAzX3bT1k7pigmw/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+lemon+queen+perennial+sunflower.jpg) |
Lemon Queen hybrid perennial sunflower foliage |
![Lavandula officinalis "Hidcote" foliage Lavandula officinalis "Hidcote" foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbiM0IqgikWzAAc9evRZYQAJweKKt30c88Ey4JB4AQ2T4BFNOWwLRUxc3AhqVlyENdAB4tEnxJ9iD0EeKJE3DukIUkkim0rw4JZjwTONCHIBT-ung9O_3f2VjKTdwy7NYR18iWAW6Ig/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+lavandula.jpg) |
Lavandula officinalis "Hidcote" foliage |
![Eupatorium dubium "Baby Joe" foliage Eupatorium dubium "Baby Joe" foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYZ7gXpkzSXmpwbN-yTckLEt4R9VbifKg3ZjHdAebpjm-ITnyZcdDSyjezJhC3jVhqoyYugFIa30hWZ15jdrXo0hyrQfNB1wz39OnOl-nKv3MV8WTa2J4rzeVRPO30OWJ1zAcCrr1TA/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+joe+pye+maybe.jpg) |
Eupatorium dubium "Baby Joe" foliage |
![Athyrium nipponicum, Japanese Painted Fern "Pictum" Athyrium nipponicum, Japanese Painted Fern "Pictum"](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFX5_pXmjZGnEXyIDB6i2NbbL7vs-cacHJZYLVJVNwOTxgVWovbIyzyOjG5CrLJ3YItWexMdAHVUtNK9Vaxev-AEB8PHxhSodQUP2qO3T_eySjKJNH6EYtvquj0ml0hWg7Tx5u0rjtQ/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+japanese+painted+fern.jpg) |
Athyrium nipponicum, Japanese Painted Fern "Pictum" |
![Hibiscus moscheutos, Hardy Hibiscus foliage Hibiscus moscheutos, Hardy Hibiscus foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiuI9k6F4365Yk87dP8WJDvkZKXLuEfBe8-qbHjHQOXahlf0ZENH78wIckBbChLVGKp6n8GO8QyElT5yM68lcWdyETc4UEZ4MpESGLxsC4-VL5hADwoIec54R6w4oUupOqHvl_Syoiw/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+hibiscus+moscheutos.jpg) |
Hibiscus moscheutos, Hardy Hibiscus foliage |
![Rhus aromatica, Fragrant Sumac "Gro-Low" foliage Rhus aromatica, Fragrant Sumac "Gro-Low" foliage](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq4E1Zy6d-rNFlsXoYJ-mrL6jeyAGM1H1YLEkFE2KqWu-QEyybLBmj6weBk1mCfz-_Et5RoPywS9wBVAvxoNLLfKjtLpDWPFzKvg2QbOnuoTtQuODn80FQC3ra-RyLHaV9RpfGL3DCg/s1600/GOA+201405+foliage+gro-low+sumac.jpg) |
Rhus aromatica, Fragrant Sumac "Gro-Low" foliage |
Stay tuned for more great foliage plants later this week!!