Gardeners often complain that their garden is in the shade and few plants will grow in that position. They love the coolness that trees provide, especially if they enjoy being outside in warm weather, but they also want to enjoy beautiful surroundings. They want a lush perennial bed that gets the sun they don’t have.
My shade garden brings me constant joy. It is pleasant to work in the garden on hot days and there are inviting places to sit and enjoy what you have accomplished. I especially enjoy the shade garden in the late afternoon when I am sitting with a friend. You too can have a beautiful summer garden in a shady spot if you do a little planning and plant plants that you know need less sun.
There are two types of shade plants to consider: those with colorful flowers and those with colorful foliage. Both have great qualities. You also need to think about choosing plants with different textures and foliage colors and consider the water needs of different plants. You may also want to have a specific color palette that blends different foliage and flower colors together. Don’t forget that leaf color is important. You don’t want all plants to have dark green leaves. By adding a splash of cream, gold or white foliage, you can bring the garden to life.
One of my favorite perennials for shade is the hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’. I planted it in a border and it blooms all summer long with beautiful purple-blue flowers. Do not confuse it with a plant also called geranium that is an annual. The annual geranium is quite different from the hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’.
Hardy begonias are a must for a long period of color with white or pink flowers. The flowers tower above the interesting foliage and provide beautiful color. I have some growing in moist and drier spots. If they are comfortable they will go to seed and give you a real show. They come later than other plants so don’t disturb the soil in early spring or you will lose these beautiful, charming plants.
If you want tall, upright plants, consider astilbe. Astilbe thrives in moist soil and doesn’t like to dry out completely. If you have an area that tends to be a little more humid, this is a good choice. They come in shades of red, white, pink, coral and purple.
Oriental lilies, as well as other true lilies, do very well in a shade garden. I have several that bloom at different times, tucked among other shade-loving plants like ferns and hostas. I like the fragrant ones best, but I also have others that give dazzling blooms over a long period of time. Plant them in well-drained soil amended with compost in spring for best results, and plant the bulbs at least 8 to 10 inches deep.
One last flower I want to mention is not too showy but exotic: the toad lily. It has small, intricate flowers that grow on upright, arching stems. The foliage varies depending on the variety, as do the flowers. The flowers remind me of a small orchid and the foliage is really interesting and often in two shades of green.
Hosta is at the top of the list for most shade gardeners. The variety of textures, shapes and sizes of hosta is amazing. There are quite large hostas, but there are also tiny ones. Two large varieties that come to mind are ‘Empress Wu’ and ‘Sun and Substance’. These huge forms are a real eye-catcher in any shade garden and very impressive. ‘Empress Wu’ can grow to 4 feet tall and 7 to 8 feet wide with leaves that are a good 15 inches wide. Some of the small hosta plants don’t grow more than 5 inches tall and have leaves that are 1 inch wide. One of my favorite varieties is the Royal Standard with its fragrant white flowers in early August. I have a new variety called ‘White Feathers’ that lights up the garden like a light. It starts with brilliant white leaves and turns to a creamy green as it matures. This hosta is great for adding color and contrast to a shady area.
Bunnera is a must in my opinion. There are many different varieties, but my three favorites are Queen of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts and ‘Jack Frost’. They all have beautiful clouds of tiny, pale blue, airy flowers in spring, and the foliage, which is why I grow them, is beautiful and will brighten up a shady spot. The heart-shaped, silvery leaves are edged and veined with green and remain attractive throughout the growing season, forming a dense and lush mound that deer and rabbits resist.
When I heard people talk about ornamental grasses, I was never excited until I started growing Japanese Forest Grass ‘All Gold’. It forms a mound of small, arching golden leaves that grow up to 18 inches tall, a perfect size to go under a maple tree or line a bed. Since its color comes from the foliage, it blends well with plants with darker foliage, looks pretty all season long, and brightens up the garden.
For a beautiful, airy look in the shade garden, you can’t beat ferns. They add natural appeal to a shady spot, are very disease and pest resistant, and require little maintenance. Ferns make great companions for other plants and come in all sizes. My favorite is the maidenhair fern, but I wouldn’t be without some of the fall ferns either. Cinnamon ferns, with a rusty brown hue, add another dimension, especially when they pop up in the spring. I love these, but my favorite are the various types of maidenhair ferns. They have gently arching fronds that seem to float above the ground in a graceful, fan-like shape. They like humidity and plenty of shade.
Two other foliage plants to consider are Solomon’s seal, with its graceful arching stems, and some gingers as low ground cover. ‘Callaway Ginger’, with its round, evergreen leaves, has striking silvery-white mottling. It forms a large clump over time and you don’t have to worry about deer eating this plant. Don’t forget the annual coleus, which come in all sorts of patterns and colors.
There is no better shrub for summer color in shade than some of the many different hydrangeas. The Annabelle type (Arborescence) and the blue and pink ones (Macrophylla) do great in shade, as does the oakleaf hydrangea. Arborescence have been popular for years because of ‘Annabelle’, a pretty white hydrangea. Now you can get Arborescence in various shades of pink, burgundy and almost red. There are all kinds of new Macrophylla that bloom on both young and old wood. These are the ones to buy in case a late frost kills the buds. ‘Bloomstruck’, ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Summer Crush’, as well as the Let’s Dance range from Proven Winners. These are the ones you need to plant. The further south you go, the more important it is to plant these in shade.
One of the first things you need to know when planning a shade garden is what type of shade you have. Light shade or partial shade means you have some sun, but it is filtered or only shines for a few hours a day. Deep shade means you have large trees blocking the direct sunlight. You also need to know what type of soil you have, alkaline or acidic, and whether the soil is bone dry or a little moist. These conditions will determine what plants will do best for you. You may have a small area that is moist and areas that are very dry.
Have fun creating your shade garden. And rest assured, once it’s established, it will be an exciting place to enjoy.
Betty Montgomery is a master gardener and author of Hydrangeas: How To Grow, Cultivate & Enjoy and A Four-Season Southern Garden. You can reach her at [email protected].
