Part Shade Help

There is an area I have been struggling to find a perennial that will work. The area gets max. 3 hours of sun and this is in the early part of the day.

I did plant some Kale that was successful last year, but I do not wish to have to plant every year. I did also try a something that I cannot remember the name of, but they never came back up. It had smallish pale green leaves and pinkish flowers. It's max size is 18 inches in diameter. I've tried toad lilies, and they didn't come back. Currently, there is a shade flower mix (both annual and perennial) I sprinkled there after the last frost, but it doesn't seem to be doing well either.

There was nothing in that spot when we moved here in 2007. I don't like ferns or hosta. We are too cold for any moss ground cover that I've looked into. We have dropped as low as -25 degrees here.

Does anyone have any ideas? Maybe something needs to be added to the soil?? There are a lot of pebbles that I try to get out of the dirt when I think about it, or I send bored children to take care of. :)
Thank you very much.

Hi Chillybean -
There are tons of perennials that should do really well in your Zone with the amount of shade you describe. Possibly you should consider a soil test because if the soil is the problem, you'll just continue to waste your money. That way you can ammend with whatever nutrients are needed or buy plants that will do well in your soil.

Aside from that... some perennials that I really like (I have a large yard that is mostly shady from mature trees all around)...

Aquilegia (Columbine)
Astilbe
Brunnera
Campanula
Ajuga (ground cover)
Lamium (ground cover)
Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbill & others)
Helleborus (Lenten Rose)
Heuchera & Heucherella
Iris Siberica
and many more. . . .

Also, this link will take you to Bluestone Perennials Plant finder where you can put in your growing conditions, Sun/Shade requirements, soil conditions, preferences & more. Bluestone is one of DG Garden Watchdog's top nurseries:

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/adv_search_mod.html

Good luck!!

Thank you for all the info. We probably should get the soil tested in a couple different spots. I will look into getting that done.

I saw it on your list, the thing I couldn't remember the name of, Lamium. I kept Googling different versions of lamb.

You're welcome, Chillybean!

The two types of Lamiums I have are... 'Silver Beacon' & 'Purple Dragon'...very pretty leaves & flowers.

I just wanted to comment on the pebbles you think may be a problem. It may depend on what kind of stones they are whether they really are a problem. I have heavy clay soil that is somewhat alkaline, and have 'driveway gravel' buried in various places around the house from the construction. That stuff could be a problem because it is limestone, adding to my already alkaline soil, not to mention it's angular and gets hardpacked in the clay, and nearly impossible to dig. On the other hand if you have pebbly, round stones you may be able to leave them there. I have a whole 'gravel garden' which I created with pea gravel, after accidentally discovering how much certain plants love to grow in it.

Hi bugginme,

In this one spot it is mostly pebbles, but we do have a gravel driveway and as old as this house is that gravel has sure been a bane for as long as we've lived here. After a rain, I try to go into the gardens and get some of the newly uncovered gravel out of there and throw it on the driveway. We always think we got most of it out, but then we always find more.

So for now, I'll leave those pebbles and see what I can do. I need to yet get a soil tester and see what may work there. I hope the local nursery sells this.