No they aren't blooming now. That photo was taken in the middle of September. They bloom here starting in early August I think..
Deep Shade
What a wonderful garden, doss! Did you build that stone wall?
No I didn't build the wall. I had it built. It's not something that I could ever tackle. It runs in a double layer all around the back of my yard.
We need a new retaining wall in our backyard, and I like the way that looks. Good idea to hire a crew to do that heavy work! Looks great.
If it's more than 2 feet tall you'll have to terrace it or put a reinforced wall behind it. That's our county code anyway.
I have trollius, heuchera, daphne, tiarella, azalea, camellia, laurel, rhododendron, aruncus, ferns, bloodroot, hosta, windflower, st. johnswort, astilbe, iris reticulata, monarda, arum, allium, hosta, philadelphus, hydrangea, bleeding heart, primrose, lily of the valley, daffodils, black cohosh, rose of sharon and many others blooming in dense shade Mary.
Thanks for posting that list, Stormy!
You're welcome! I think that I still have some hardy cyclamen out there. I'll look tomorrow. If so, do you still want some? I miss my poodle, Madeline.
Is it deer-resistant? l'll check the list and get back to you, lol.
stormy- excellent list! I'm not familiar with camellia - so I looked it up sounds like a neat plant- but I get the impression that it better for a southern garden, so I am impressed that you are able to grow up north, I would love to see picture if you have one. Also I was not familiar with philadelphus, until I looked it up and realized it's a mock orange.....I found a pic of the 'Miniature Snowflake' Oh, now I want one!
KyWoods- Have you thought about Kerria? I have Kerria ‘Albiflora’ growing and blooming out in the woods (a little dappled light) and I also have Kerria ‘Pleniflora’ which is a double orange/yellow flower, I just love it. I do have that one planted where it gets about 3 sun and bright light.
Shadyfolks, Greer Gardens has lots of cold hardy Camellias for sale. None of mine are in bloom now. They flower from November through April. The "Ackerman Hybrids" will survive most Ohio winters. I like them because they are also evergreen and have beautiful leathery shiny foliage.
I just planted 6 Kerrias. Got them very reasonably from Forest Farms. They are starting to bloom. It's so HOT I'm seriously behind on my planting. Of couse shade gardening is a blessing in this weather!!!!
Kerria? Not familiar with those, but I'm headed to Plant Files to check it out, thanks!
Edit: Oh, noooo, there's no pic of the one you have, Shadyfolks! Do you have one you can post? Here's the link: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/80190/
The others are pretty, though.
This message was edited Jun 10, 2008 5:35 PM
Ky Woods,
You know I looked and I don't have a picture of any Kerria. Do a Google search the have lots of pictures of the plenifora (double). I don't know if it's my monitor or what but with my plant the blossoms are definitely yellow/orange and all the pictures to me just look yellow and are about the size of a golf ball. Kerria japonica 'Albiflora' looks like an old fashion single rose.
Also the pictures on the internet. I wished my plants bloomed like those! I am in the woods so mine get much less sun so they are not nearly as prolific in the bloom department, but they still put on a show.
Stormy-- congrats on your kerria, I am surprised they are blooming so late. Mine bloomed like a month or more ago.
As for the Camellias, I'll bet they don't do well around here. We live in a area that has lots of nurseries so I am VERY fortunate to have access to a large variety of plants and no one has it for sale. but I will have to ask around. I just might be passing them by.
Shady, We also have lots of Nurseries and almost no Camellias. I came across these three years ago and they are doing fine. There is quite a lot of information on the web about Ackerman Hybrids. I've heard of them growing in Minnesota! Apparently Mr. Ackerman from DC has devoted his life to bringing Camellias to the world. Nurseries tend to stock what sells the most. If I knew how to propagate one, I'd send you a cutting. Those beautiful blooms in January are worth the risk!!
I've just ordered another red beauty from Greer called "April Tryst". Take the leap!!
Blooms in January?? In PA? Gotta check this out....thanks!
Ky, Camellias bloom either late fall/early winter or late winter/early spring. They are divided into these categories in the catalogues. Try one!
Here's an article on camellias that can tolerate cold.
http://camellia-ics.org/_ics/ackerm1.htm
Interesting--thanks, doss!
Yeah, Doss, I had read that article too and didn't realize that I owned two Ackermans. There's also a west coast hybridizer and some of their camellias for the colder zones are available at www.camforest.com.. I found the prices to be better at Greer. Maybe they'll get cheaper as they become more available.
Shady, I got those Kerria from Forest Farm and they came with buds on them.
Doss,
Thanks for an interesting article. They sound like a pretty plant. I wonder if I have the best place for them? I my property is high humidity,moss loves to grow here.
Your place sounds a lot like ours, Shady! We have a lot of interesting mosses here, too. I have actually put some in my aquarium, and they grow underwater! I rinse the mud off, first.
I have several Ackerman camellias (and several other supposedly 'cold-hardy' camellias) that I've tried planting outside in St Louis area. Unfortunately, they really haven't been very successful. The leaves are so ragged through the winter, and the occasional blossom is stunted and deformed, but I'll admit they at least do bloom. The ones I keep in pots in the garage are fabulous (I haul them out on warm winter days and they look truly fantastic). The outside plants are still alive, but struggling, so I'm not sure if they'll acclimate and eventually do OK or not. My suspicion is that they still just can't tolerate our winters, despite zone ratings that suggest otherwise. I'd be interested in other people's experience in the midwest.
Weerobin, I was worried when I planted them, so I looked for the most sheltered spot. It turned out to be a bed along my garage & about 40' away from the next building. That whole section is under giant old spruces and is full of moss and virtually no sunlight. It's mushroom heaven!
I've tried to put mine in as sheltered position as possible also.
But, alas, I suffer from the peculiar brain delusion known as 'zone creep',
where I think I should be able to grow things at least 1 zone warmer than mine.
So my 'sheltered positions' are totally cluttered with horrified Zone 7-8 guys,
like edgeworthia, indian hawthorn, elliottia, illicium, osmanthus, loropetalum, choisya, etc.
Some thrive, some fail, and lots of them just survive.
But I still enjoy the endeavor.
Weerobin, I've been down that road, but got tired of my "Boulevards of Broken Dreams"! I still lose lots of stuff labled for my zone. I'm wind challenged, and the tags never address that factor. Lots of plants are impulse buys, with no research. We are suckers for beautiful things!!!!
LOL, Weerobin, I got the funniest image of your "horrified Zone 7-8 guys", a bunch of plants with faces, wide-eyed and shivering in the cold!
Ky, Makes you want to give them some scarves and mittens!
Hi All, speaking of shade plants, my Hellebores which I planted 3 summers ago just started blooming last month. This is the 1st time they've flowered. Isn't this very late for them to be blooming? Also, they are over 18 & 20 inches tall. I've never seen any so big. They are one of the never varities with nuetral & peachy tones. Mary
Trollius globeflower blooming in deep shade!
Itea spricht "little Henry" in deep shade.
My shade garden is looking depressingly green. Can anyone suggest some silver leafed plants? I'm not looking for ground cover. Last week I planted some ghost fern and they were promptly dug up and eaten by something. I ordered some silver brunnera, but also want something taller. Any suggestions? Had a lovely weekend scrubbing the mold off of the house. Mary
Stormy, I noticed that some of the plants called "Dusty Miller" call for partial shade. There are so many different ones, maybe one will work.
Thanks, Ky. My silver mound does not do well in shade. I know that some people have luck with it in shade, but maybe it's too rainy & humid here.
I do have a large patch of silver king growing in dappled sun. It's worth transplanting some to see how it does. Thanks, Mary
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/90848/ I have this "Variegated Japanese Knotweed" or "Speckled Mexican Bamboo" ('Variegata'
Polygonum cuspidatum), and it has made some babies. If you are interested I can see if one is small enough to mail. Like the person who posted the photo, I have had this at least 10 years, and it is not invasive (unlike some persicarias).
Thank you Happy! You are so kind. I would love one. I will mail you postage. How tall does it get? Thanks, Mary
It gets about 4' - 5' tall -- a nice height. It spreads out wide at the top, like a wide vase.
Does it have to be silver?
There are several gold or white variegated shade-tolerant plants (polygonatums, tricyrtis, asarums, etc).
And of course beautiful blue hostas, in addition to all the variegates.
And heucheras / heucherellas can also have quite colorful foliage in the shade.
I have a beautiful colony of white-striated disporums, which may not be exactly silver,
but stand out nicely.
Thank you, Weerobin! Those are great suggestions. No, other colors will do. I just planted some Toad Lily corms. I have some blue and chartreuse hostas that I can divide and move. I'd love to find some white ones. The Soloman's seal looks nice, I'll try to find a buy on the varigated one.
Does anyone grow Filipendula? It looks very nice for shade. I'd also like to find some golden dicentra.
I had some varigated artemisia limelight planted there, which was bright, but on the advice of other DGers, ripped it out before it could take over the garden.
Believe it or not, I have a spot under evergreens that even Chameleon plant wouldn't grow! I'm now trying ferns and hosta there.
I planted a dozen heuchera yesterday, but could certainly look for some more in other colors. These went into another shady area. My house is bordered with trees on 3 sides. I want some Midnight Rose. What other non-green Hueuchera do you all think would compliment it? Thanks, Mary
There are a bunch of new heuchera cultivars out now.
They are especially nice for us gardeners in the eastern half of US because they're more heat / humidity tolerant.
Plant Delights has a broad selection on their website (I don't know how to make a 'hyperlink').
Their prices are a little high, but they send nice quality stock.
Or you can at least get good ideas for your space from their website photos.
You might consider epimediums for the under-evergreen shade.
They do pretty well in dry soil w/ root competition.
Weerobin, Thanks, Relative to adding a hyperlink, last night I found this.
Go to any forum
Open any thread
Click on F.A.Q.
Click on "How do I add a hyperlink in a post"
Print out the page so you have it in front of you while trying it.
I'm going to reply to your post and try it out. Mary