By Christina Perez
This article was adapted from a presentation entitled ‘Success in the Shade’. Part I of this article can be found here: Success in the Shade
Plant Selection
Shade plants have wonderful variations of texture and color. The following charts are by no means extensive but do include a few options for the shade garden that have been successful in my own garden. Whatever you chose, be sure to keep track of your purchases and where each plant is planted in your new shade garden. Enjoy your new relaxing and calm garden retreat!
ANNUALS | ||
Scientific Name | Common Name | Notes |
Begonia semperflorens
Begonia tuberhybrida |
Wax Begonia
Tuberous Begonia |
Likes moist, well-drained soil |
Caladium | Caladium | Great colors and textures; likes warm, moist soil |
Heliotropium arborescens | Heliotrope | Can grow in sun to part shade; the plant is known to be poisonous, so do not ingest |
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia siphilitica |
Lobelia | These two species are native to the Piedmont, and the fall blooms attracts hummingbirds |
Nicotiniana ‘Perfume Mix’ | Flowering Tobacco | This cultivar has a sweet fragrance and new hybrid varieties have great compact blooms |
Coleus scutellariodes | Coleus | Likes well drained soil and ample water. Coleus gives wonderful color and texture options |
PERENNIALS | ||
Scientific Name | Common Name | Notes |
Astilbe arendsii | Astilbe | Beautiful and feathery early spring blooms |
Helleborus hybridus | Hellebore | Very reliable shade plant |
Hosta ‘White Feather’ | Hosta | There are many excellent varieties of hosta, and this specific cultivar has lovely bright white leaves |
Thelypteris kunthii | Southern Shield Fern | This hardy native makes a wonderful addition to the shade garden |
Pulmonaria officinalis | Lungwort | Fantastic spotted leaves with colorful, compact spring blooms. Good spreader in rich soil |
Aquilegia canadensis | Eastern Columbine | This native is a great spreader and gives a colorful bloom in late spring |
Dicentra exima | Bleeding Heart | This Piedmont native gives a great pink bloom in the spring |
Digitalis purpurea | Foxglove | These come in a variety of colors and give a lovely effect when planted in groups |
Stylophorum diphyllum | Celendine Poppy | Excellent addition to the shade garden. A good spreader with bright yellow blooms |
Heuchera americana | American Alumroot | Native plant with a delicate spring bloom; lovely leaf gives good variety to the shade garden |
Groundcovers | ||
Scientific Name | Common Name | Notes |
Asarum canadense | Wild Ginger | While not the same as culinary ginger, it does have a tasty root and is very low maintenance |
Galium odoratum | Sweet Woodruff | Spring bloom that is fragrant and edible |
Phyllum- Bryophyta | Moss | Moss is much preferable to grass in shady environments, and many different moss varieties thrive in North Carolina 6 |
References
- Evans, E. Flowers and Woody Ornamentals. In: Evans, E., ed. The North Carolina Master Gardener Training Manual. 5th ed. Raleigh, NC: NC Cooperative Extension; 1998.
- Miller, H. Gardening in the Shade. Horticulture Learn and Grow. University of Illinois Extension.
- Givnish, T. J. 1988. Adaptation to Sun and Shade: A Whole-plant Perspective. Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 15, 63-92.
- Hutchings, M.J., Harper John, E.A., Stewart, A.J.A. 2001. The Ecological Consequences of Environmental Heterogeneity: The 40th Symposium of the British Ecological Society. Held at the University of Sussex. Symposia of the British Ecological Society.
- Robinson,, S.A., Lovelock, C.E., and Osmond, C.B. 1993. Wax as a Mechanism for Protection against Photoinhibition — A Study of Cotyledon orbiculata. Botanica Acta. 106(4): 307-312.
- Martin, A. The Magical World of Moss Gardening. Portland, OR: Timber Press; 2015.