Traditionally, garden plant selection focuses on the color and majesty of the flower. However, in a country with Spain’s diverse climate, where drought resistance and low maintenance are crucial, striking foliage is, for wholesale nurseries, the true champion of landscape design.
Plants with impactful leaves—whether evergreen shrubs, hardy perennials, or sculptural palms—offer a distinctive touch, providing color, texture, and form that lasts long after the fleeting bloom. Foliage can serve as a subtle backdrop that enhances other features, or it can become the focal point thanks to its variegated patterns, intense colors (from silver to burgundy), or unique textures.
For Spanish gardeners, where summers are intense and water efficiency is a priority, choosing foliage is synonymous with opting for sustainability and year-round beauty. The solution? Look for species that add volume and character.
Next, we’ll see what specialists like Viveros Canós S.L. recommend as the top exceptional foliage plants adapted to gardening in Spain for the summer season.
Our TOP summer plants recommended by wholesale nurseries
BOXWOOD (Buxus sempervirens)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
It’s a classic in European formal gardening, widely used for hedges, borders, and plant sculptures. Its small, dense, evergreen foliage provides structure and a vibrant green year-round, making it an essential element in the design of garden rooms or in containers. It’s hardy, although you should watch out for the box tree caterpillar.
FERNS (Dryopteris, Polystichum, Adiantum spp.)
Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous plant
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Ideal for shade gardens, patios, and north-facing terraces, especially in northern Spain and along the Cantabrian coast. Its fine, leafy texture adds a lushness that contrasts with the drier Mediterranean landscape.
LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia / stoechas)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub or subshrub.
Exposure: Full sun.
Although famous for its purple flower, its compact, aromatic, silvery-gray foliage is essential for Mediterranean design. According to wholesale nurseries, the silvery color helps the plant reflect sunlight and tolerate drought. Ideal for borders, rock gardens, and low-maintenance gardens.
HOST (Hosta spp.)
Plant Type: Perennial.
Exposure: Partial or dappled shade (essential in warm climates).
One of the most popular perennials for shade gardens. Its leaves are the focal point, displaying an immense range of colors, from bright lime green to deep blue, with variegated patterns or contrasting edges. In the south, wholesale nurseries recommend deep shade for it to thrive.
LIRIOPE or MOSSY GRASS (Liriope muscari / Ophiopogon japonicus)
Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial, similar to grass.
Exposure: Full sun to full shade.
Its dense, mounding foliage provides texture and structure. It is an excellent, fast-growing ground cover, drought-tolerant once established, and requires little maintenance. Perfect for edging pathways or as a lawn substitute in low-traffic areas.
CALADIUM (Caladium bicolor)
Plant Type: Summer bulb, grown as an annual.
Exposure: Partial to full shade.
Wholesale nurseries consider it essential for brightening the darker areas of the garden or cool interiors. Its arrowhead-shaped leaves are spectacular, with intricate patterns of white, pink, and red. It behaves as an outdoor annual in the Iberian Peninsula, as it does not tolerate cold.
CANNA or PLANE PLANT (Canna spp.)
Plant Type: Summer bulb (rhizome).
Exposure: Full sun.
It adds a tropical and exotic touch thanks to its large leaves, which often display striking color patterns or burgundy/bronze tones. Its large size creates an architectural focal point. It grows well in mass plantings or in containers, tolerating intense heat.
PLECTRANTHUS (Syn. Coleus, Plectranthus scutellarioides)
Plant Type: Tropical annual (perennial in warm climates).
Exposure: Partial sun to shade (depending on the variety).
It is a very versatile annual plant, easy to propagate and cultivated for its incredibly varied foliage, with shades ranging from bright yellow to almost black purple, ideal for mixed pots and flowerbeds, providing color until the first frost.
Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Plant Type: Perennial herbaceous plant.
Exposure: Full sun.
Its silvery, softly velvety foliage (resembling lamb’s ears) makes it unique. Native to the Mediterranean, it boasts excellent tolerance to drought and poor soils. According to wholesale nurseries, it is perfect for low-water borders or rock gardens, where its soft texture contrasts beautifully with the stone.
Coral Bellflower (Heuchera spp.)
Plant Type: Perennial.
Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade.
Highly prized for its evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, which displays an astonishing palette of colors: lime, amber, dark burgundy, silver, and more. It is a hardy, low-maintenance plant, ideal for shady borders or containers in cool areas, adding color even in winter.
Wholesale nurseries say: Ready to transform your garden into a paradise of beautiful foliage, even in summer?
Now that you have this key list of ideal foliage for your gardens and green spaces, here’s one more tip. The key to success, according to wholesale nurseries, is to combine these foliages to maximize visual impact. Use silver or white varieties to create contrast and reflect light, while dark or glossy shades add depth and volume.
And if you need expert help, Viveros Canós S.L. is the strategic partner to bring these designs to life on a large scale. With over 60 years of experience and 80 hectares of specialized cultivation, their focus on technological innovation and a robust logistics and production strategy allows them to supply the entire Iberian Peninsula and export globally.
Viveros Canós S.L. guarantees personalized service, commitment, and superior quality in every foliage plant your spaces need.