I should have written ....trunk and 'lower' limbs. This is a huge old oak whose canopy hangs low and covers everything under it in deep, deep shade. Tree stands on an empty lot surrounded by homes and fences and lots of oaks....so it may have it's own little micro-climate. It will be interesting to see if fern's still there after the hurricane. I know part of the canopy was blown away. I'll have to check on it this spring. I have an old piece of oak bark that I thought might make a planter to start a piece on. I know that some people there consider it an eyesore, but I love the fact that it survives and keeps coming back!
Inviting plants for full shade?
Oh my Pod! That is awesome space! Instant Mulch! I could plant forever! ... sorta reminds me of my homepage. Pod your could plant Hostas bac there forever. What about water how do you plan to get it there? Also you definitely need deep shade Hostas ... Ventricostas, Gunsmoke and Huge Hostas, Sagae, Sum & Substance etc. Patty what the name of that WU plant at Naylors that everyone is jumpinon there is numerous list around. I will get a list for you.
Have you seen the new Garden Gate, they have a good article on shade plants. Lot of ferns, Trycist(sp, Arisaemas, Epimediuns and some other rare plants that live in the woods. I will look them up when I get home.
Sylvia @ Work
Empress Wu?
Did you order one of those, Sylvia? I think I am the only order to Naylor this year that didn't include one. Rose Red is going to be my only expensive hosta for this year.
Podster: About the caladium bulbs. Moles eat bugs mainly and don't bother them. We don't have voles here thought, so I don't know if they would eat them.
Deb
The problem with moles is they disturb the dirt around the roots so the roots dehydrate. We have had a really bad problem with moles. When we do a really thorough cleaning out of the beds we always find lots of tunnels around the roses and spirea. Some of my roses and especially the spirea are very stressed most of the time. I even lost 2 spireas and when I dug them up, there were huge tunnels under them. I tried MoleGo this year. I hope it helps
Silverfluter: Yes, you're so right. I guess it could depend on how bad the mole problem is and what kind of soil and if your yard has their favorite foods! LOL. I should've said that I haven't had that problem with moles eating my caladiums. We do have moles, but they seem to stick to the lawn area.
Deb
All right! Thanks for the fern suggestions ~ after touring the links, I will say this is the resurrection fern. I haven't seen it grow any higher than the bases of hardwood trees (3-4 feet high) and haven't noticed if it prefers a certain type of tree although they have been healthy hardwoods for years. It is a beautiful and native fern. Fascinating to see its' sudden presence after a good rain. Sad to see it wither away. I have never tried to relocate it but was interested to read the info in plant files. Thanks for the ID.
As for watering in this area, I only water when plants are new and getting established. I try to mulch and pick durable plants to survive my neglect. I do have a large Spirea and it receives morning sun, blooming well. Will it still bloom in full shade?
I have some plants I intend to relocate in this area like the cast iron plant and toad lilies as well as sword fern. I stole some time at work today to look thru the PDN catalogues, looking primarily for shade plants. The pickings are slim. I did find that I have an arborvitae fern and it is reputed to do well in shade and more hardy than I had anticipated. It will be moved out to this area too.
Still perusing the catalogues and open to ideas and suggestions. Thanks for all the ideas and encouragement so far! pod
Going to Canton First Monday tomorrow. Lots of growers come only in the early spring. yayayaya! If I can find anything that would be good for you I will buy and let you know.
LouC
Whoa! LouC ~ LOL. I am a ways away from planting. I have to remove the old fence, dig up some of the trashy weed plants and prepare the soil. Keep me in mind on ideas only for now please but thanks for the thought! And have a great time at Canton. pod
On my way. Perfect weather!
LouC think of me next time you go to Canton. :)
I don't think anyone mentioned ajuga, but that was one of my favorites at my previous home which was mostly shade. Mine wasn't super deep shade, but it was dappled at the most. The ajuga is low growing, spreads well and has pretty purple bloom spikes. It's not gonna hide the neighbor's house, but it's pretty for the front of the border.
I didn't know spirea/bridal wreath likes shade! That's great news because I've been wanting one, but didn't know where I could put it. I've got lots of possible places if it will bloom in the shade!
Pod-
I am not far from you and am doing an area very similar to yours. I too am not sure what to put there. It will have to make it on it's own as water will be an issue. I will take things growing well and need dividing in the yard. Since I have lots of natural sand stones I may even make a pathway winding down the hill to the area. Deep leaf mulch in the area. Spent much of yesterday getting the saw briars, wild blackberry and other crap out of there. Wore gloves as I am sure the poison ivy is there but yet to show. Also need to thin some of the trash trees out. I was a little wild with the chain saw a while back and the wife still has me on "chain saw restritions".
I may try some of the oak leaf hydrangeas since I have several potted up but they need well drained soil and a good bit of water to get established. In the area that gets a bit more sun, I will try the salvia that reseeds so heavy here. Texas red or Lady in Red, not good with plant names. Obedient plant spreads fast but not sure about shade. Also have a good source of Stella daylily and they take little care once established. This area is a good distance from the house so want a big splash of color down there.
If you want the wild azaleas- last year at the SFA- Stephen F. Austin University- spring sale, I got several that have done very well and are budded up now. Think they are the yellow and orange colors. This is a great sale each year.
I have the moles that are everywhere. Armadillos are also a big problem. Trapped many last year.
We will have to post photos and compare our successes and failures. Love this time of year and start another big project each year. More fun than maintaining what is already in place.
DD
LOL~ DD, I agree on the maintenance! I would love to hit the SFA sales but alas work on Sat. so it is not to be. And I honestly can't say I would enjoy the crush of people either. It can be a madhouse. When are you doing the Forrest Hill tour? Again, I would go there someday if able...
Peep ~ Ajuga I like for its' lovely color. I thought it would be like many plants that need sun for color but maybe not. I had put some by the pond and in morning sun it almost became bleached out. I might give that one a test drive. Will put it on my consideration list ~ lol
I like the salvias and was looking thru HCG and PDN for shadier salvias ~ nothing yet. Company coming this weekend and rain too so I probably will have to wait on cleaning it up. But I hope to visit and page thru plant catalogues and books.
Podster, DdeTex, if this plant has been mentioned before, forgive me. I think that you both will like Odontonema strictum (red firespike). It has grown both in the shade and sun here for me in Red Oak. It blooms from early summer into the fall and is a hummingbird and butterfly magnet. I love this plant, and am willing to send you both a little start, if you want one.
These are some of my plants growing in shade with no direct sun:
Red firespike, hosta (So Sweet), cyclamen (dig up the bulbs when they go dormant so that they do not rot), river fern, Japanese fern, autumn fern, lenten rose, sweet violet, wandering jew white, low fern, kaffir lily, hairy wandering jew (Tradescantia spathacea), white-flowered Wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensi) - this comes up by itself, but is easily removed from places you do not want to grow), golden club moss, baby's tears
These have some morning sun and filtered shade in the afternoon:
Gingers:
Variegated Shell Ginger, Black Ginger 'Midnight', 'Elizabeth'
Begonia: tuberous begonias (protect during freezes), waxleaf begonias(bring baskets in during freezes, mulch over ones in the ground), hardy begonia, star begonia (Begonia heracleifolia - somewhat rare, native to Mexico - bring in during freezes), cane begonia (bring in during freezes)
Petunia: dwarf Mexican petunia (Katie and purple variety), red wild petunia (Ruellia elegans),
wild petunia (Ruellia humilis)
Salvia: sapphire carpet sage (electric blue), eye-lash sage, 'Coral Nymph' (Salvia coccinea), Sinaloa Sage (Salvia sinaloensis), Blue Anise Sage 'Black and Blue' (Salvia guaranitica)
Others: blue shade, liriope, rain lily, variegated hrydrangea, spider plants, pigeonberry, wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), ), sweet violets, dwarf penta, shrimp plant, princess flower, four o'clocks, 'Mona Lavender' plectranthus, acuba, cala lily, Brazilian plume flower, geranium, kaffir lily, Chinese Fringe shrubs, woodland phlox, hairy wandering jew (Tradescantia spathacea), palmy, spikes, chameleon, several types of sedum, cast iron, coral bells, false freesia, water zinnia (Wedelia trilobata - can be invasive), golden club moss, oyster plant (Tradescantia spathacea - invasive in Fla., but I have never had a problem with it like I have with the purple heart which I hate unless I see it in someone else's yard ), white-flowered wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensis), baby's tears, umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius), trailing chenille plant (in hanging basket - bring in during freezes), geranium (Regal) and other geraniums (bring in during freezes)
Fern: Tassel, Autumn, Japanese Holly, Japanese Painted, Indian holly, river
Annuals: stock, magilla perilla, cloeme, gerbera daisy, black-eyed Susan vine
SFA is a hoot. Love to watch the plant nuts running with their wagons to get their goodies.
Forrest Hill is another story although I have never been. Stroll around to the many GH's and finding bargins. This is about half way to my son's so may plant a spring down that way. Also have a friend in Jasper that wants to go so may do that. I know it will require me to get a hotel room as there is so much to see.
My area has many GH and is fun to visit. Mostly they grow the anual bedding plants and I no long do that. Just go now to some of my friends GH as they give me the used potting soil, pots and flats of the plants that they are going to dump.
I have tons of ajuga and love the color even when not in bloom. If you need some, mine has spread everywhere. I will not use much in the new area as I think leaves will cover plus the distance from viewing will not give me what I am looking for. If I do a path, may border it with ajuga. Also like the yellow blooming sedum for this purpose. Let me know if you need either.
I have the fire spike and it does well but needs some water during the hot summer months. That will be difficult in the new area. Guess I could tap my water line and run it the 50 yards but rather do with plants that require less care.
Just because I have so much of the red salvia, I will try it and see. Just time lost if it does not preform well.
Bet we figure it out and create something that does well.
Hi Hazel. Glad you're back.
Podster, I don't remember if you wanted only natives or not, but we planted a Oregon grape (can'trememer the other name), between 2 huge live oaks. It's doing really well and we haven't watered it except in July and Ausgust. It's not a vine, it's a sort of small tree.
Thanks, silverfluter. I have always wondered how well the native Oregon grape do. I think that they planted a lot of them at Brackenridge Park here.
It's not growing fast, but it seems to be happy. Blooms and does it's thing with no help from me.:)
Hey Pod ... just wanted you to see a hosta buddy did with her trees, but you do have more of a woody area, where you can do more woody plants.
Sylvia ~ "that" is absolutely gorgeous. It does look like a park. Mine will never be that snazzy... and it would take more maintenance than I have time to deliver.
I am not sure how much room I will have in this area till I get the smaller trees cleared out. The oregon grape is a shrub I need to look into further. I am not familiar with it. Thanks for the suggestion.
I haven't specified natives but am interested as they require less effort to be better suited.
Pod- SFA is having the Native plant conference on May 28-31. They will have a sale during this time. Maybe a good source and information. They really grow some nice things there.
DD
In my new area, I am fighting the saw briars- the roots/bulbs are a job to remove and if you leave any, they return. Also the honeysuckle is bad. We will get there someday.
Podster, the oregon grape reminds me of a holly. They are kind of spiny, but it makes clusters of very small yellow flowers. Mine is blooming now. After the flowers you get small dark berries about the size of blueberries.
I just looked it up and there are many varieties of it, do you know which one you have?
Podster, I think I have the first one. It's about 3 feet tall now. It was probably 18 " tall when I planted it 4 or 5 years ago, so I wouldn't say it's grown very fast. So it could be the compact version, but I think the tag that came with it said it would get to be too tall to be the compact form. The new growth from this past year is about 5 inches, probably because it rained so much last year. If it were the compact version I don't think it would have grown that much in one year.
Podster just take your time ... make a list of all the things you would like to do in there and take it from there ...
meantime here is a link to developing a Woodland Garden or you can just google for them.
http://www.ahs.org/040329_TAG/Woodland_44-48.pdf
Pod, these are some good shade tolerant native plants;
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANQUW
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AQCHH
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARAU2
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BALU
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COBO2
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CRTE2
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CRALT
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EYTE
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SAGR4
Check them and see what you think, some might be hard to find, but they are all great.
Josephine.
The orchid tree and kidney wood tree I have and I promise you, they are very tough. They get only rain water and are doing very well. But I didn't know the kidney wood tree was shade tolerant. That surprises me, but it's good to know. Hmmm. Maybe I can try that under my live oaks.
Marylee & Josephine where can I find Bauhinia lunarioides in white? I want to cover my ugly fence with them ... maybe Debbie?DMJ
I am sorry, of those I listed I only have, the Flame Acanthus, Prickly Poppy, and the Columbine, I haven't seen any of the orchid shrubs around here.
You could also try Crossvine on your fence, It is evergreen and very pretty.
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BICA
Sylvia, what's the common name? I don't what that animal is you asked for.:)
I have one of the Anacacho Orchid Trees. I should point out that it does not have dense foliage to hide things very much. It's more one of those light and airy looking shrubs with small leaves. Kidneywood is pretty versatile and I have seen it as understory under trees, although it seems to bloom more with more sun.
Its the Orchid tree ... in white. Linda I was wondering about the density of the plant too, I like the leaves tho. I didn't know the Cross vine liked shade, no wonder it would not make it for me. Ok you guys you know what I want! lol
I bought my orchid tree at Schumacher's in New Braunfels I think. Either there or the Antique Rose Emporium in SA. Sylvia are you saying you can't find one near you? If you want I'll try to find one and bring it to the RU.
Pod
Yesterday I noticed that the May Apples are coming up. Do these grow in your area ? I love them and have several drifts of them. They do not transplant very easily so I have to like it where they decide to grow.
DD
Thanks for all the additional suggestions. Thanks also for the links Frostweed. As I have houseguests, I promise to research them later in the week. Company will be leaving Wed as I have been treating them ugly! LOL Yesterday, they helped me remove this old fence and started cleaning on this area... Yippee!
DD ~ Mayapples do grow here but I have not found them on our small acreage. I actually had thought about them but think they are sensitive to the correct soil requirements.
The honeysuckle has also taken over this area. I like the fragrance and turned a blind eye to it before but now will need to remove it. Green briars are another story. They are known as "wait a minute" vines here. You get tangled in one and holler "wait a minute"! A friend dug up a huge root to show me and told me it was small in comparison to some he had seen.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/179421/
Wow! that was some root, we fight them at the edge of the paths at the wildscape, but leave some for the wildlife.
Josephine.