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Whether it’s a Zen garden or a woodland paradise, we show you some plants that grow in the shade!
Designing a shade garden can be an easy and creative project. There are so many plants that will thrive in the shade–probably a lot more than you think– from perennials to annuals.
Gardeners can choose ferns, woodland flowers and luxurious ground covers. Whether your shade garden will be an accent or a focal point, here are some plants that should fit right in.
(See the Resources section at the end of the post for where to buy.)
Dicentra
The common name for this very pretty perennial is bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.), and it blooms with pink, heart-shaped flowers in May. Some varieties will bloom all summer, which makes it a nice addition to an area filled with foliage plants.
Dicentra likes a rich, fluffy soil that drains well and can be planted in the sun but prefers a shady spot. Most varieties of bleeding heart are hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
Lady Fern
Ah, the Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina). Is this one gorgeous or what? Imagine it in your shade garden offering year-round beauty.
“In the wild, you will find Lady Fern living happily by streambeds, in dappled forest edges, meadows, in moist woods and thickets. Because she thrives in such challenging conditions out there, can you imagine why this Lady will excel in your home garden?” (Nature Hills Nursery)
The Lady tolerates dappled shade as well, so if you’re an apartment dweller, consider growing her in a hanging planter.
An easy grower, check out the hardiness zones: 5 though 10! Yes, she even tolerates a bit of heat and humidity. Plan to keep the soil on the acidic side and consistently moist.
Lady’s Mantle
This member of the rose family is another ground cover for a shady garden. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis ) will grow to a height of 10 to 12 inches tall and bloom in the summer with small, yellow flowers. Provide fertile, moist soil and this plant will thrive. Lady’s mantle is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 7.
Hosta
No self-respecting shade garden would dare call itself complete without a few hostas sprinkled here and there. With its gorgeous foliage there is a variety to accent anything planted near it. Hosta keeps a low profile, so it’s great for the front of the garden or bed, but you can place them in among the taller plants as well.
Grow hosta in a shade garden in USDA Zones 3 to 8 but there are a few that can make it in Zone 9 winters.
Lilafee Barrenwort
Gardeners in USDA Zones 5 though 8 are able to easily grow barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum). The plant pictured above is the ‘Lilafee’ cultivar and loves the shade so much, her leaves will burn in the sunlight.
Lilafee barrenwort grows from 1 to 1.5 feet in height with a spread of 0.75 to 1.5 feet. It blooms in May in lovely lavender to violet flowers, which is why many growers use it as a ground cover in their shade gardens.
Unlike many shade plants, this barrenwort tolerates dry soil and partial shade as well as full shade. The one thing it won’t tolerate, however, is alkaline soil.
This plant is evergreen except for those grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 and 6, where it is deciduous.
Spegelia (Indian Pink)
If you crave color in your shade garden, have we got a winner for you! Native to North America, this spigelia (Spigelia marilandica ‘Ragin Cajun’) has what the folks at Spring Hill Nurseries call “… massive flowering power.” And the flowers are unforgetable — bright hot orange that attracts pollinators from far and wide.
The bonus? It’s an easy grower, tolerates sun but feels right at home in the shade of a woodland garden. This is one amazing plant.
- Hardy to USDA Zones 5 through 9
- Grows to 24 inches in height with an equal spread (a rounded habit)
Resources
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