My sister has an area of her yard that has deep shade and she's having a difficult time finding a colorful perennial that will bloom there. Her garden is in zone 5. Do you have any suggestions?
Color needed for deep shade
It is probably not a surprise that there are not many options for deep shade. Light shade, or areas which only receive a few hours of sun can accept a number of plants. This includes Hydrangea (shrub), Bergenia cordifolia, and Hostas, but all flower for a limited time, and again, they require some sun to bloom. Astilble for example is also a good choice, but also require a fair amount of spring sun. If you are willing to supplement with annuals, then tuberous begonias and impatiens are obviously, but they too require a few hours of morning sun, or all day filtered sun.
However, even if fairly dark places, you can get a lot of interest out of hostas. They come in various sizes and leaf variegation. The different shades (green, blue, gold, white, variegated, etc) produce nice contrast in a shaded area and can be supplemented with ferns for example. Even if they never flower, they can create a great landscape.
Click on these links to see some examples:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/garden%20photos/Dscn8648.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn9239.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn9238.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn8980.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn7961.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn7952.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/kdjoergensen/gardening/shade%20gardens/Dscn7830.jpg
Is the shade deciduous or evergreen? That can make a ton if difference in plant selection.
I'm a zone 5 gardener too, wondering also if this is shade that is more open in spring because trees haven't leafed out yet, in which case spring blooming woodland plants do real well- like trilliums, tiarellas, violets, jack in the pulpit, epimidiums, wild gingers. hostas of course too- In deep shade, like the shade of a house, or the shade of evergreen trees- the gingers, hostas, epimidiums will still grow, but not bloom so much- though their leaves are beautiful- also ferns can add a lovely touch. Then there's moss... I'm just reading "Moss Gardening", by George Schenk and getting inspired out that........
If under deciduous trees, for a spring garden don't forget the wide range of daffodils available today--particularly the pink ones or the 'poeticus' with spanish hyacinths or muscari....very pretty interplanted with hosta or ferns in spring and daffs and muscari are known to perennialize.
For a good selection of bulbs for shady gardens try John Scheepers http://www.johnscheepers.com/tips_d.html
Also some hardy geraniums will give color in shade gardens.
Good luck. t.
I know this is a very late reply. But I have a spot that gets complete shade. I recently planted 2 pulmonarias (Victorian Brooch and Silver Shimmers). Though, I know very little of these plants since I just planted them about a month ago, they've already bloomed. I researched the growing habits of these particular plants and have found that they are hardy in zones 4 - 8. You might want to try some of these flowering pulmonaria/lungwort plants. I think mine have very nice foliage silvery and beautiful fuchsia to purple small flowers. I would suggest researching more into them if you have the time.
This message was edited Mar 8, 2005 3:35 PM
Has she tried limbing up any trees? Are they her trees, or a neighbors? Or is it a building causing the shade?
I have a wonderful perennial for shade called Kirengeshoma. It is beautiful and blooms in late summer, early fall. It has light yellow flowers, likes dry shade, I do nothing to it and it comes back year after year. The foliage is mid-green, shaped like maple leaves, and always looks good. The pale yellow pearl-shaped buds are held above the leaves and form early, making you wait as they open ever so slowly. It looks like a chandelier.
Mine is right up under a 100 foot tall pine tree.
By the way, Tabasco, which hardy geraniums do well in shade? I never have understood.
How about Spiderwort -Tradescantia is suppose to be shade tolerant or
Ajuga-though it can be invasive. I found this picture of Ajuga reptans 'Silver Beauty' that I just love. Well shoot, can't find the picture now, but it is really pretty. Also 'Burgundy Glow' has nice coloring. While I was trying to find another picture of the 'Silver Beauty' I stumbled across this link you might want to look at, it says for deep shade plants http://www.plantideas.com/shade/index2.html
Bright White Caladiums, my dear,,,,,,,,,,,,,Colors nice too!
"eyes"
Toad liles are nice. I am just getting into them, but the ones I have now have been going strong with little or no care in full shade for three years.
Try ligularia, coleus, impatiens, turtleheads and even foxglove!!!
Don't forget Caladiums for summer color. Impatiens and Bleeding heart and Columbine and Honesty are bright too
Don't forget Caladiums for summer color. Impatiens and Bleeding heart and Columbine and Honesty are bright too. Also brightly variegated Lamium come with several colors of blooms.
What about Pink Pewter Lamium?
It's easy, adds green, silver, and pink to any shady area. I sold a lot of it last year and everyone just raved about how much they love it.
Attached a picture
Shelleydar - I love it just from the picture! Very nice....definitely going to have to get that one. Thanks! Do you know if it attracts hummingbirds? Just curious...cause that would really be a bonus for me.
This message was edited Mar 31, 2005 9:23 AM
Don't think so...it only grows about six inches tall - makes an awsome ground cover. I'm planting more of it on a steep hill next to our wing wall - I just love the stuff. I've heard it is only supposed to bloom for a month or so, but mine starts blooming in June and doesn't stop until fall (zone 5). You can buy it with a few different flower colors - pink and purple shades.
I'm a little hummingbird obsessed right now LOL Well...I love it! Going to add to my shade garden. Thanks.
Hey Shelleydar, can you fill us in more about that adorable little lamium??? annual or perennial? soil preferences? Latin name? Stuff like that....maybe who carries it in your area...not that I can drive over, but might help me track some down over my way. Thanx.
oops. Did a search on the Web. Found it.
Perennial
Partial to full shade
Normal sandy or clay
Neutral Alkaline or acid soil
Average dry or Moist
easy care
spreads to 23"
will take light foot traffic
deer and rabbit resistant
This message was edited Apr 7, 2005 3:43 PM
Hi, everybody--
just got back to this thread...about the hardy geraniums for shade... G. maculatum or
G. endressii 'Wargrave Pink' are two to try...
they are hybridizing for more shade h. geraniums--this article by Robin Parer of 'Geranaciae' talks about others... http://doityourself.com/flowers/hardygeraniums.htm
I will let you know how mine are doing in a few weeks... the narcissus 'actea' bulbs are doing great though, in woodland shade environment. Don't know if I will get them to perennialize, though.
Happy gardening. t.
Darleen, sorry I missed your post (it's a very busy time of year for us). Normally I have the Pink Pewter Lamium for sale through our Web site but unfortunately (or fortunately) all of my stock this year is spoken for. It is a wonderful plant and I'm surprised we don't hear about it more often. I ran across it in a nursery a few years ago and everyone without exception that I've talked to who has planted it is glad they did. It is perfect for adding color to shade areas - I'll be anxious to hear how well it works for you.
I planted the Pink Pewter Lamium last year but it died when it the temps were in the 90s. It is beautiful, though, and really brightens up a shady area.
Noooo problem, Shell. I have only a couple of spots of shade around my house. I'm not planning to do anything to them this year, so I'll just poke around garden centers locally to see if anyone has any and make inquiries for future reference. It is a nice looking little ground cover though. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
How did you know my pet name was Shell? (smile)
We have 10 acres of woods - just logged the very mature trees last year and cleared an acre for our business. I am always looking for plants that thrive in the shade...just spent a small fortune for one Helleborus "Pine Knot Southern Belle Strain" ...it shipped yesterday. I'm am hoping it performs as well as they say it does - looks beautiful in the pictures ( of course ).
Also purchased a Japanese Painted Fern "Ursula's Red". Have you seen them? Attached a picture below.
Wow, is that fern gorgeous! Is there any way we can get one, or are they just at wholesale places?
I bought mine through Wayside - out of the retail cat.
On my way to Wayside...
Received my fern today....VERY dissapointed. Maybe it's dormant - it so, it's the most dormant plant I've ever seen. Planted it anyway. If it doesn't grow I'll ask for a refund. Most of the plants I received from them today looked pretty bad, and they used styrafoam peanuts - YUCK! Honestly, I would be embarassed to charge their high prices for the quality they have.
Don't think I'm gonna use wayside anymore.
I have been watching this thread. it is so informative!
I do mostly shade gardens, and have recently put in some long paths with basic structures: camellia, rhodies, mahonia, pieris, azaleas, etc. I already have great luck with cyclamen, ferns, hostas, many others you guys mention. But the leads, especially for geraniums, are great. I am surprised that the lamiums do well in shade. I have mine in mostly sun, they are spreading nicely, although they get puny in the summer, so I can see how a little shade, at least midday, would help.
Also, I have seen and read about forsythia in light shade. They made a lovely, more open, vase-shaped plant, less bloom, spaced nicely along the branches. i will be trying this, especially since I find the full sun forsythia too garish for my taste.
I have a forsythia bush that is planted between 2 live oak trees in a raised bed.It has been there for 5 years and does very well.It is as you said very opened and not as many flowers but nevertheless a real beauty when in bloom.
Glad to hear this working for you also downscale_babe!
Don't downscale on the plants!
Peter
Ivy1, does Kirengeshoma have a long bloom period? I can't grow Caladiums here, the nights are too cool. I plant them in pots and shrink and finally disappear. It looks like a film of a plant growing, in reverse, lol.
I found this picture of Kirengeshoma on Google; it was in a French website. Ivy1, do you know where I can order it? Please put it on the Plantfiles if it's not there.
LOVE the thread, guys as I have a very shady yard. As the pine trees have grown it gets dappled sun. I went to get some lamium (licorice plant) and my nursery is really not stocking the "good" stuff. impatiens are super for shade.
caladiums as well. I am going to try some creeping jenny and some licorice plant. I want to researcgh the kirengeshoma, tho. looks fascinating! Since I am in Houston TX, we get pretty hot and cyclamen are our winter plants. mine are in mostly sun but I am thinking about "summering" them in the back yard in shade. Any comments?
One comment on the forsythia for April bloom--We placed 3 of the shade tolerant forsythia in our woodland border last year and they seem to be doing fine... their leaves are attractive in the shade, too...
Along with them we planted some narcissus 'actea' and some spanish bluebells--it's an attractive and bright pairing for an area that is usually so densely green... we'll see if the narcissus and bluebells will perennialize...I hope so...
Good luck with your shady corner---
I'm with 'eyes', you can't beat Caladiums to brighten up a shady corner. They are also excellent for us in an evening garden. I simply did them up in the fall before the first heavy frost, clean them off and store them. Two years ago I purchased 12 plants at $5 each. Kind of pricey if you have a big area. Now my mother and I have about 50-60 plants from those original 12.
I e-mailed Ivy1 and she said to try Forest Farms nursery for the Kirengeshoma. I did and they have 2 varieties, on upright and one nodding.
I've had a fun time looking up kirengeshoma the last few days. Interestingly, although it is growing well for ivy1 in dry shade and no help, the various experts claim it needs moist, deep, humousy soil! Maybe they are all quoting each other!
Also interesting, some say that the korean variety is smaller with tinier flowers, compared to the japonica; other say it the other way around. the consensus seems to be that the koreana is smaller, but one source has the flowers as opening more, and larger. Duh? Most folks say about 4 ' for the larger one, busome have seen 6 feet. And so on. Sounds like a good plant for a mixed, informal, wooded area, with bloom at a useful time, and charm. I am gunna get one, or both types! Then I will be an expert on size and bloom and soil!
Incidentally I have both "red" and white flowered comfrey blooming now. The white was taqgged for dry shade, and it is true. It is in its third year and is about 2' across, maybe 14" high, covered with nodding white bells, like tiny lily of the valley blossoms. It probably blooms for about 6 weeks. The red one has started very slowly, but the flower color is a delicious deep pink. It is in part shade; the white doesn't see direct sun at all, is in moderate shade.
Peter
This message was edited Apr 19, 2005 11:04 PM
Shelleydar....did those plants come back to life?? or did that up and die?? I was just curious how the progress was going if any at all.
I'm sorry, Woodspirit and Pdkrones! I must not have marked this sight as a watch sight. I had no idea you guys were asking me questions!
I just e-mailed woodspirit about where to buy the Kirengeshoma. It is on Plantfiles; and Big Dipper Farm, ForestFarms, and Avant Gardens have it. It really is a great plant but you definitely have to wait for it to bloom.
Oddly, mine is planted in a pocket between the very large roots of a 40 foot tall fir tree. The pocket is about 1 foot wide and about 2 feet long, just enough to give it some dirt and protection from the trunk of the tree. It has done very well for 2 or 3 years. I think last year it was about 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. It may never get bigger because it is in that "container".
Again, sorry I didn't respond. I'll be sure and stay tuned for further developments!