A shade garden offers a wonderful respite from the sun, giving a cool feeling even at the height of summer. These gorgeous, easy-care and waterwise shady ladies are readily available at garden centers, nurseries and online sources.

 

Shady border

Knowing the kind of shade you have is helpful for selecting shade-loving plants. Some shade is thought of as morning or afternoon, like when a building or another plant casts shadows during certain times of the day.

 

Shady path

Other shades are dappled, such as those found through the canopy of trees; or full shade found in woodland gardens where tree cover is so thick, sunlight barely penetrates.

 

Shade border

Don’t let sun-starved spots go un-planted in your garden. There are many great plants to brighten a darkened area. Even in areas where no sun shines, you can grow a garden. Adding these shade-loving flowers and foliage to your beds, borders, or containers will give you a garden that’s made in the shade.

 

rockapulco apple blossom

Rockapulco® Apple blossom Impatiens Impatiens walleriana

A shade garden offers a wonderful respite from the sun, giving a cool feeling even at the height of summer. These gorgeous, easy-care and waterwise shady , mounding habit with double blooms resembling a rose. Will bloom all season without deadheading.
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 10-20 inches
Spacing: 12 inches
Hardy Temperature: 35ºF (1.7ºC)
Uses: Containers, hanging baskets, and beds where color is needed
Colors: Pink

 

diamond frost

Diamond Frost® Euphorbia Euphorbia graminea

Blooms constantly through frost. Ethereal looking, yet tough as nails. Heat and drought tolerant, and deer resistant
Exposure: Part Shade to Sun
Height: 12-18 inches
Spacing: 12 inches
Hardy Temperature: 35ºF (1.7ºC)
Uses: In pots serving as a filler with other plantings
Colors: White hovering over green

 

heuchera blackberry ice

Dolce® ‘Blackberry Ice’ Coral Bells Heuchera hybrid

Blooms in mid summer. Drought and humidity tolerant, deer resistant, and attracts hummingbirds.
Exposure: Sun or shade
Height: 8-12 inches
Spacing: 8-12 inches
Hardy Temperature: -30ºF (-34.4ºC)
Uses: Because of their low, mounding habit, they are often used as edging along paths or in containers. Try cutting a few of the tall flower scapes for fresh bouquets.
Colors: Cream flowers, purple black with silver netted foliage.

 

cityline venice hydrangea

Cityline® Hydrangea ‘Venice’ Hydrangea macrophylla

Tight full plant without the need for pruning. Excellent mildew resistance
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 12-36 inches
Spacing: 44 inches
Hardy Temperature: -20ºF (-28.9ºC)
Uses: Great in mixed borders, containers, or as a specimen plant. Lovely cut flowers
Colors: Fuchsia to blue depending on the soil’s pH

 

color blaze lime time tag

ColorBlaze® Lime Time™ Coleus Solenostemon scutellarioides

Grown for foliage, this annual performs until frost. Deer resistant, and attracts hummingbirds
Exposure: Sun to shade
Height: 20-36 Inches
Spacing: 12-16 Inches
Hardy Temperature: 30ºF (1.1ºC)
Uses: Beds, borders, and containers. Use wherever a pop of intense color is needed
Colors: Chartreuse; to keep foliage in top shape, pinch off the pale blue blooms as they appear.

 

seducer hosta

Shadowland® ‘Seducer’ Hosta hybrid

Border plant, container, cut flower; attracts hummingbirds
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 22-26 inches
Spacing: 36 inches
Hardy Temperature: -40ºF (-40ºC)
Uses: In the bed or border, containers
Colors: Variegated foliage; lavender flower

 

Virginia Sweetspire Little Henry

Virginia sweetspire Little Henry® Itea virginica

White cylindrical shaped flowers blooming in the spring. Deer resistant
Exposure: Shade to Sun
Height: 24-36 inches
Spacing: 44 inches
Hardy Temperature: -20ºF (-28.9ºC)
Uses: In the garden bed
Colors: White

 

Ligularia Bottle Rocket

Ligularia ’Bottle Rocket ’ Ligularia hybrid

Mounded compact habit with striking summer bloom and interesting architectural foliage
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 28-34 inches
Spacing: 24 inches
Hardy Temperature: -30ºF (-34.4ºC)
Uses: Make a statement in your shade garden with bright flower spikes. Ligularias are at their best when grown in cool, moist locations in part shade.
Colors: Yellow

 

anemone Honorine Jobert

Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert ’ Anemone × hybrida

Tall, woody-based perennial with elegant single petaled flowers, and deeply lobed glossy green foliage
Exposure: Part Shade to Sun
Height: 36-48 inches
Spacing: 36 inches
Hardy Temperature: -30ºF (-34.4ºC)
Uses: In the bed or border, containers
Colors: White petals with a pink underside, and bright yellow stamens

 

Ostrich Fern

Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris

Spreads by underground stems, cut back old fronds after new growth in spring.
Exposure: Full Shade to Full Sun
Height: 36-72 inches
Spacing: 24 inches
Hardy Temperature: -50ºF (-45.6ºC)
Uses: Tall elegant fronds, great for the back of the shade garden or border. En masse makes a nice statement.
Colors: Light green

 

Astilbe YOUNIQUE CarmineV erscarmine

Astilbe YOUNIQUE Carmine™ ‘Verscarmine’ Astilbe

Floriferous, compact habit flowers in perfect proportion to foliage size
Exposure: Part Shade to Sun
Height: 16-20 inches
Spacing: 20 inches
Hardy Temperature: -30ºF (-34.4ºC)
Uses: Nice container plants for patios, woodland shade gardens
Colors: Hot fuchsia

 

Lenten RoseIce Follies

Lenten Rose ‘Ice Follies’ Helleborus × hybridus

Large 3-inch blooms in early spring. Naturalizes in a woodland setting.
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 18-22 inches
Spacing: 24 inches
Hardy Temperature: -30ºF (-34.4ºC)

Uses: As a ground cover in a border or companion plants in the shade garden
Colors: Cream to light yellow flowers, heavily speckled with burgundy red flecks

Images and plant specs courtesy of Proven WinnersPerennial Resource, and Missouri Botanical Society

 

 

© Caruth Studio

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