Deb - I grow Hellebores and they do very well here in zone 9b. They can even take morning sun although sometimes the leaves get burned.
Ligularias haven't been mentioned I don't believe.
Farfugiums are very cool and they can grow in your zone.
This is a young ligularia plant. Marie-Britt Crawford I believe.
My favorite source for ferns is http://www.fancyfronds.com/
They have a wonderful search engine by light, moisture, zone, evergreen, etc. It's a lot of fun.
In zone 8 here in SCentral Alabama the Hellobores do extremely well, I have 5or 6 blooming now and whoever said the flowers last a long time was right on as mine will last about 4 months. It's hard to beat them blooming mid-winter. One thing though, if you acquire small plants they will take 2-3 years to flower. Mature plants are pricey for that very reason. Rule of thumb we follow is flowering the 4th year from seeds.
Disporum is another good woodlander...and it comes in a variegated form as well. the flava is beautiful
Levilya: Like this? http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/00691.html. Does it do ok in deep shade?
Happy: How about azaleas? I believe most are hardy to z6 and I have a few that grow and bloom well in pretty deep shade.
Deb
My azaleas in deep shade don't thrive -- but you are absolutely right -- I have a lot of azaelas, but I have a good sized section where I could add them, and I love them. Do you know the names of the ones that do better in shade?
I also recently realized (maybe I already mentioned it) that part of the reason my deep shade area isn't doing well is probably that I don't water it much. Obvious, I'll grant you, but it only just occured to me! It is very fast draining because it is new soil built up against a retaining wall. I bet I'll been stressing the plants that I haven't provided supplemental water (much). That'd help the azaleas as well.
I'll go back through my notes and see which varieties of azalea are the ones that are doing well in shade. The old memory ain't what is used to be!
Deb
Azaleas really do need some sun (morning)...I can't open that site Happy but yes the Disporum does well in shade (I actually don't think anything does really well in DEEP shade).
Well, it isn't pitch dark. I wish there were an effective way to measure brightness so we could be accurate in what we describe. Is anyone aware of a light meter that works well for this purpose?
Kurume azaleas do really well in shade. They are the ones with the little flowers but when they bloom they are covered with them. This one is on the north side of my house and gets no direct sunlight. Southern Indicas won't grow well in the shade.
Happy: It's be good if there was a meter that would tell you what kind of shade you have. My meter only measure how much actual sun, but it'd be great if there was one that would tell you if you had bright shade vs deep. It sounds like it would be obvious from observation, but it's not that cut-and-dried, is it?
I think I'll ask my DH who is a professional photog if there's a way you could do it with a photo light meter. Hmmm.
Deb
Thanks, Doss: I didn't know that -- and now I know what to look for!
DebinSC: I would be suprised if a photographic light meter would be helpful, because that is directed at a narrow area, but I could be wrong . . . . Someone really should develop an instrument for gardening purposes -- it would be very useful.
happy~
does this area get any direct sun light? when and for how long?
Does it receive indirect/filtered sun light? When and for how long?
No direct sun.
Some indirect/filtered sun. But I haven't ever spent a day measuring it. If my digital camera weren't broken, I'd post a picture.
There are quite a few varieties of caladiums that'll do great in filtered shade.
Bill
This message was edited Feb 27, 2007 9:12 AM
What about Arisaema's (jack in the pulpit) have they been mentioned yet? Got to love these, they bloom late spring. I love them all but I think these are quite showy:
Arisaema candidissimum
Arisaema ringens (June for me) this is a great one~
Arisaema sikokianum
another Aroid: Arum Italicum There are a number of varieties out there now.
Polygonatum was mention by DonS earlier the varigated one is fairly common, but for good reason!
Saruma Henryi (upright ginger) is another great perennial (grows like a small bush 3'x3' I had this growing in deep shade and it did bloom a little, lost the tree and now it blooms a lot.
Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow waxbells) Mine is growing in dry deep shade and it still puts on a show in the fall. I just keep wonderinging how it would do
with a little more light and moisture
Hydrangea's I have some growing in deep shade (forget the variety-white not really lace cap or the ball type???)
This message was edited Feb 27, 2007 12:07 PM
Bill: Which caladiums are especially suited to a lot of shade?
Shadyfolks: Thanks for the suggestions -- I had forgotten some of those!
Epimediums are beautiful in the shade.In the spring they get some dainty flowers that just hover above the leaves I have one that flowers a really pretty red with a yellow border and one that is yellow. They spread but not really fast Mine has been there about 5 years now its probably time to divide it. Also bleeding hearts, of course hostas. I just found online the wayside nursery it a shade clematis it called Rooguchi. I havent recievedd them yet but can not wait. They have a very dainty bell shaped blossom.So we will see.
I have a small pulpit plant called green dragon. Mine lives in an area that gets no direct sunlight at all. It has spread into a nice patch that thrives all summer. Tripartate leaves a nice green pitcher with a spadix that threads upward.
happy, it's been awhile since I visited this thread but have a few suggestions for you :) Disporopsis perneyi - Evergreen Solomon's Sealhttp://davesgarden.com/pf/go/37100/index.html perfect for the deep shade and best part is its evergreen foliage. I absolutely love this plant in our gardens and people always ask what it is. Thalictrum kiusianum http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/213/index.html is another nice groundcover with dainty foliage and lovely little pink flowers that takes alot of abuse, i.e. tolerates "dry" shade. A great Carex for the shade is C. dolichostachya 'Kaga-Nishiki' http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/98497/ - picture taken in January. Bright gold and green variegated foliage that is evergreen and adds a splash of color for the shade garden all year!
Included a picture of the Thalictrum - everyone always refers to the "diamonds" that form on Lady's Mantle, I like to think of these as my "rhinestones" :)
Debbie
Debbie: Thanks for the suggestions! I have to check my plant lists to see if I have any of these -- I don't think I do -- and if not I'll put them on my shopping list for the Green Spring sale! See you there!
Gaots bears are beautiful they add alittle height, with a white plume in about June very showy. Epimediums,jack in the pulpit, ferns, primroses, lenton roses, grape hyacinth, of course hostas pretty just kinda hohum, gound cover of kenworth ivy, sedge grasses (some). There are quite a few. Columbines of all colors. Saxifraga toad lilies, heart shape plant bleeding hearts. And so on..... Good luck I Love our shady back yard. Ronna
I am so excited about all these suggestions -- thank you!
Gardenlady123, I assume your are referring to goatsbeard, yes? If there is another plant named goat bear, I can't find it!
This message was edited Apr 27, 2007 10:30 AM
yes sometimes my brain isnt working right sorry about that, but they really are a very pretty plant.
Your brain works just great in my book -- I just wanted to confirm. I love goatsbeard, but in my experience it doesn't work in deep shade.
well i have two of them. one in more shade than the other the dappled shade one does just as well as the other. they both get the beautiful plume on it. very showy. but it is kind of a bright shade not in the middle of the woods kind of shade. but they are beautiful so i dont know if that makes a difference. they both have spread quite a bit.
happy, there was a place along the coast of Maine that had the most incredible planting of Aruncus dioicus (the tall one) and it was very deep shade. Never seen anything like it in the Mid Atlantic states however. I'm thinking they like the cool moist conditions of the woods in the northeast better? There are a couple other choices of Aruncus for you however. The dwarf Goatsbeard (Aruncus aethusifolias) works fairly well for us in deep shade and there is a new "dwarf" (2'?), a cross of A. dioicus and A. aethusifolias, called 'Misty Lace'. It's an introduction from Allan Armitage (Georgia) which supposedly has red stems and is heat and humidity tolerant and probably a better choice for our summers.
Debbie
Debbie and Gardenlady: Thanks so much for the suggestions!
hey another plant for the shade can be ligularas they do need a good amount of water though most do any way. but they do flower and get rather large leaves. But very showy
Great idea -- I never would have thought of that. Thanks!
Lady ferns and pulmonaria saccharata also do well in dry shade and are well-behaved for the most part. There are a lot of named selections of both of these, but the ones I know most about are plain old Lady Ferns and Pulmonaria saccharata. 'Mrs. Moon'.
Jewelweed is a weed and will take over, but it still looks nice some places. I let one plant go last year to collect seed and now i have them coming up all over. They are easy to see, identify and pull. I have them in red, orange and yellow.
Lamium is also a weed after 10 years. Come and get it if you want buckets full, although most people I have given it to have trouble transplanting it.
Here are a few shade plants that may not have been mentioned.
The photo is Begonia Grandis, I've seen it listed as a zone 6 plant but it is hardy for me in zone 5a. Spreads but not invasive. Pink or white flowers dance above the dramatic foliage in the fall.
Tiarella, some varieties have variegated foliage, pretty foamy white or pink flowers in May.
Phlox divaricata has fragrant lavender flowers.
Kerria japonica (a small spreading shrub) with brilliant golden yellow flowers and dainty bright green foliage. I like the single flowered type. It's much more graceful than the double.
Clematis, Silver Moon blooms a beautiful silvery blue that glows in the shade.
Stylophorum Diphyllum, yellow wood poppy, cheerful yellow blooms for several weeks and pretty foliage too.
And don't write off hostas. there are hundreds of varieties with pretty flowers (some are even fragrant) and beautiful foliage that lights up the shade garden.
I forgot I wanted to mention Hackonechloa, (Japanese hakone grass). It has fine grassy foliage with a beautiful arching habit and looks great at the edge of a shade border. I have two varieties, one with green leaves edged with cream and one (Aureola) that is chartreuse and gold. Although it is described as a shade plant it grows for me in shade and also fairly sunny areas. The bright grassy clumps along the path are Hackonechloa 'Aureola". A small plant becomes a dramatic clump in just a few years.
Great suggestions - -many are plants I have in other areas, so I need to do some propagating.
I love begonia grandis -- I have tons of it. It is really underused. I don't know why it isn't more prevalent, because it sparkles in July/August when the garden can start looking tired.
I so agree with you about begonia grandis. Around here no one has ever heard of it. And no local nurseries carry it. I suppose that's because it is not listed as hardy in my zone (5a) But I have had it in my garden for many years. I'll bet it's a lot more vigorous in your region.
Even in my zone, Chris, Begonia grandis is really hard to find !
I first came across it in a specialized nursery for shadow-loving plants two years ago. At first I couldn't believe it was winter hard but now after two winters I am really convinced. I love it!!
This plant needs some promotion!
chris_h what is the plant right under your window is that a shade plant your photo is beautiful I love it. I have a side yard Ive been working on and am getting along pretty good. I really want to get some of the japanese grass its so awsome looking. Is that a yellow wax bell on the other side almost acrossed from the window? I have one I just moved from one spot hopefully mine will get taller now. I really like the pink flowers in your photo also whats that?? happy_ macomb have you tried jack in the pulpits?? Or maybe prim roses? They are very colorful in the spring and several times during the season. Well have a great day Ronna
Begonia grandis makes a nice stand in my zone. In fact, I toss a lot of it each year because it has spread throughout my yard. It is very very easy to pull out, so I wouldn't call it invasive. And it makes a beautiful showing in July/August -- almost fairytale-like pink flowers.
gardenlady123: I haven't tried primroses in years. If I remember, I bought one or two many years ago, and they didn't make it. I try to buy plants that will live forever -- I'm both cheap and lazy, so I don't want to be purchasing and planting new plants each year. Do you find they perennialize well?
yes I do they are absolutly adorable every year. I just love the colors they are so bright. I have them in shade kinda dappled they do beautiful. But dont waste the money which I understand I like plants that come back every year also. I buy very few annuals I love impatiences though I have to have my big pot full of them in the summer.. So if you had touble with them then check them off your list Have a great one Ronna
Gardenlady, That picture is from last fall and the tallish pink flowered plant under the window is an aster. (is that the right one?) That is the sunnier side of the garden. It's the south side of the house but gets some shade from nearby trees. I'm surprised that aster blooms as well as it does because that end of the garden is fairly shady.
The other side of the path is shaded by the same trees and a very tall house and gets only a little filtered morning sun and a little filtered late afternoon sun.
Yes, there are Japanese waxbells on the shady side. I don't know how you spotted them. the little pink flowers on that side are the begonia grandis.
Here's a picture taken from the other end on 4/22. You may notice we removed the magnolia in front. We just couldn't keep it away from the roof and gutters. Haven't decided what to replace it with yet.
