Help me plan my plantings for this corner shade garden

Wow, what a great planting opportunity, Lily!
You see a wide open space like that and your imagination goes wild!
I'd start by stealing rouge's Aureum - it would look great in that understory space.
Then of course a bottlebrush buckeye. And some hostas. And how about an ostrich fern.
And maybe a drift of polygonatum odoratum variegatum. Or the giant purple Night Heron polygonatum.
And if there's enough light, a viburnum dentatum for a nice berry display.
And I love adina rubella, a shrub with glossy green foliage and curious 'sputnik' flowers.
And how about a few clumps of beautiful hak grass. A couple woodland peonies, like p. japonica.
Man, I could go on and on...
But as I said at the beginning, I'd definitely start by stealing rouge's Aureum.

Whatever you do with it, you've got to post the results.

Hey hey 'weerobin', if one compares my shady corner to Lily's you can see I need the help of this "Aureum" way more than she!

(Btw, I did plant *my* "Aureum" but not in my virgin corner! But rather I planted it just outside of the perimeter.)

- CindyM wrote;

Ah but your perspective is somewhat inline with the lay out. Though I took the picture from an upper deck looking down to the shady lot, though flood plane is roughly the level of the fence. Yike! I did lose some beautiful ornamental trees in these area being near the water. Thank you, as far as watering needs, DH already installed an irrigation system along the fence perimeter, to aid watering needs in case of drought. Though, the area looks large, we must provide a path to bring our mower and the buggy cart from the front yard to the back yard so or our planting is rather limited.

Weerobin has given a splendid list of plants such as; Aureum, bottlebrush buckeye, hostas, ostrict fern, a drift of polygonatum odoratum variegatum, or giant purple Night Heron polygontum, viburnum dentatum, adina rubella a shrub with glossy green foliage and curious 'sputnik' flowers. Yummm! and hak grass? woodland peonies such as japonica... Whoa! I'm very interested with the list. But will have to do more reading for I'm only familiar with a couple of the mentioned plants. Thank you so much for taking the time to give the suggestion Weerobin. I'll most definately share the "after" results once I've installed the new shade bed.

Hahaha, rouge21. Let's share. Though my need for the Aureum maybe just as bad as yours. Have you picture to share of the newly planted Aureum?

This message was edited Nov 28, 2012 10:41 AM

Lily, right now it doesn't look good as I surrounded it with burlap for added protection in its first winter.

Assuming it makes it through to next spring I post a picture of it in leaf.

OK, some pix for you, Lily...
#1 is 'hak' grass (hakonechloa) in a shady setting with some other shade-tolerant plants.
#2 is one of my woodland peonies (p. wittmanniana). Open shade suits it fine. Early spring bloomer. Many other types, hard to say which is my favorite since they're all beautiful & easy.
#3 is adina rubella. Glossy clean pinnate foliage with 'sputnik' flowers. Woodland setting.
#4 is polygonatum odoratum. This is my favorite, a cultivar called Chollipo. The variegated one is also beautiful and more common. I like Chollipo's rich broad quilted leaves. Grows in expanding drifts which are really pretty.

There are so many more choices ... it's fun to just experiment!

And one more picture - I didn't have an Aureum to post, since mine is on life-support after acourtesy of some of my deer friends. I think he'll survive (happened a couple years ago), but still awfully mangled.
Here's a related maple, shirasawarum Autumn Moon. It's not nearly as golden as Aureum, but it's a more robust grower. I like the colorful seeds in the spring. It's even prettier with Aureum, since the red seeds contrast vividly against the golden leaves. Such a pretty tree!

Weerobin, many thanks for those helpful and beautiful photos. All of which I am not at all familiar with except the polygonatum odoratum. I have that very plant in the other side of the garden and have been delighted by it in every spring the last several years. The maple and its catkins are delightful indeed! How about the viburnum? I've several viburnums in the garden--in which I love, but one that takes shade is a bonus.

UPDATE:

The first year of a new garden has a gawky look but I still wanted you guys and gals to see this corner now (8 months after my original picture and post; be sure to scroll up and see the "before"). Thanks for all your help and advice.



This message was edited Jul 10, 2013 12:22 PM

Try the larger boxwoods in a circle with the dwarf ones( Boxwoods) inside It makes a subdued but interesting scene.
Much the same with Hostas. Try the large varigated ones outside with the reverse variation inside

Wow Rouge, it's lush and beautiful! I don't think I'd use the term "gawky"... maybe more like "Potential-filled"! =)

OK, now for all of us who are in need of the up-coming eye Dr. appointment (ahem), please name all the babies you've got in there... and maybe a couple closer-up shots, please? Is there even a boxwood in there?? (addressing Arfitz's suggestion). Arfitz, not sure how much you back-read, but Rouge did tell us that she's not really a Hosta-lover... not to mention, as we can see, the plantings have already been done, so... perhaps these are ideas for another season, should she want to change things..??

Rouge, I want aaallll the details of every little baby you put in there, it looks MAGNIFICENT!! BRAVO!!!!!! =D

You are so enthusiastic 'speedie'! (Much more than my partner.)

These are the ones I remember!

- Eleutherococcus [Acanthopanax] sieboldianus 'Variegatus'

- Japanese Maple dissectum 'Filigree' (green)

- "Silver Heart" Brunnera

- Japanese Ferns "Burgundy Lace"

- polygonatum "Double Stuff"

- "Havana" Heuchera

- dicentra "Red Fountains"

- Rodgersia 'Bronze Peacock'

- corydalis "Lutea" and "Wildside"

- Hosta "Liberty"

- Aruncus "Horatio"

- Chrysogonum virginianum

- several epimediums


This message was edited Jul 11, 2013 4:41 PM

Very lovely, nicely done Rouge21. Thank you for sharing the result. It will be 'mature' and the beauty will repay 10 folds.

Amen to that! Really wonderful choices Rouge, it's sure gonna fill out beautifully. And I must say, I do love that Hosta choice. =)

Thanks for your encouragement. There is no doubt that I have too many plants for the given space. I guess it will be survival of the fittest in the coming years.

Well stated. Survival of the fittest is definitely my gardening strategy!

Heeheeheee, mine is "survival of speedie's mood". < =D