• The chlorophyll in plants makes them greenJupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  For plants, being green is a part of how they survive. The green comes from the presence of chlorophyll, a substance that is necessary for plants to be able to produce their own food. When light is present along with chlorophyll, plants are able to use photosynthesis to create the carbohydrates they need to survive.
  
  

Green Gem

• The Green Gem (Buxus 'Green Gem') is an evergreen boxwood shrub that grows about 2 feet high and spreads to cover an area about 2 feet in diameter. The Green Gem thrives in hardiness zones 4 to 9 and will grow in either full sun or partial shade. It does best in well-drained soil that is slightly acidic and, while winter-hardy, this bush may not fare well if it doesn't have some protection from harsh winter cold and winds. Green Gem is most often grown as a hedge, created by planting several plants in a line and allowing them to grow to fill in any spaces.
  
  

Japanese Pachysandra

• Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) grows in zones 5 to 9, reaching as much as a foot in height. This herbaceous ground cover will grow to about 1.5 feet across. It spreads quickly via underground rhizomes and makes and excellent ground cover under trees and in shady spots near houses and outbuildings. The medium-green leaves of the Japanese pachysandra are about 2 to 4 inches long and grow in whorls at the ends of the stems.
  
  

Tussock Sedge

• The tussock sedge (Carex stricta) is a water-loving plant that is native to the central United States. It grows in tussocks (dense clumps) of long leaves that look like narrow blades of grass. This sedge will grow almost anywhere that is wet and is hardy in zones 3 to 8. Each tussock is a single plant that reproduces by sending out rhizomes -- underground shoots -- that grow into new tussocks. The tussock sedge can rapidly spread to fill large areas along the edge of ponds, in boggy lowlands or in areas that sometimes flood. Individual plants are 1 to 3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide. The leaves remain green year 'round, but as the older leaves die they will turn brown and collect at the bottom of the plant. Newer leaves are yellow-green, turning to a deeper green as they mature.
  
  

Thyme

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is an herb that is often used as a seasoning as well as an attractive garden plant. It requires full sun and dry to slightly wet growing conditions in order to thrive. Thyme may be planted indoors or out and needs to be kept cut back in order to encourage leaf development. The deep green leaves have a unique appearance, as the edges of each leaf are rolled under along the margins. These leaves can be harvested as desired for use in the kitchen. Thyme has a distinctive odor and flavor and may be used as an enhancement in meat or vegetable dishes. This plant does best in zones 5 to 9.