Flowers for the Shade Garden

By Ron Dieter, Sunnyfield Greenhouse & Gardens

Unless you just moved in to a new home in one of our Midwest cornfield subdivisions, you probably have at least a small amount of shade. At first it may seem that shade is shade, but in fact there are varying degrees and kinds of shade. There's morning shade and afternoon shade. Depending upon their age and species, trees can create dappled shade (honey locusts), high shade (tall oaks and elms), or heavy shade (maples).

Moisture also gets into the act so there is dry shade (under shallow-rooted trees such as maples) and moist shade (the north side of buildings with no eaves or gutters). Now consider all the permutations and combinations of shade and moisture and you begin to see one of the great challenges to gardening--matching plants to light and moisture conditions.

In the annual department the old standbys for shade gardens include impatiens and begonias, both tuber and fiber rooted. These plants will tolerate all ranges of shade but they don't like dry conditions. Most gardeners plant them where they get at least afternoon shade.

Generally speaking, most annuals labeled for shade at the nursery will do well if they are planted where there is afternoon shade. Keep in mind that the darker the shade, or the longer the shade, the fewer flowers that will appear.

Other shade annuals include coleus (although there are new varieties developed for full sun), pansies (light shade), lobelia, and balsam. In many cases, full sun annuals, such as petunias and salvia, will grow in part shade, as long as they get at least a half day of sun.

In the perennial arena, the list of shade plants is much longer. Astilbe, Bleeding Hearts, Brunnera, Cimicifuga, Corydalis, Ferns, Helleborus, Ligularia, Lamium, Lysimachia, Pulmonaria, Rodgersia, Pulsatilla, Thalictrum, Tiarella, Trollius, and Vinca are just a few. Some readers may notice that I didn't mention one particular perennial that is seen in every shade garden on every garden walk. Well, I did that on purpose. Although some gardeners collect them like Beanie Babies, frankly, I've seen enough of both. In many gardens they outnumber the neighbor's dandelions. Now I know there are thousands of "different" varieties of this relative of plantain, a common garden weed, but once I've seen the first twenty or thirty of this shady cliche, my eyes glaze over. It is possible to have a shade garden without using "that plant." I have a shade garden that is bursting with color and texture contrasts right now and there's only one of "those plants" in it.

One of my favorite shade perennials is Astilbe. Sometimes called false spirea, most Astilbes have delicate finely dissected leaves. The blooms are erect or arching panicles, like plumes, about six inches long. Foliage colors range from green to a bronzy red and are very attractive. It contrasts nicely with the leaves of that "other" plant. Astilbes must have moist summer soil and dry winter soil to do well. Common varieties include 'Deutschland', a compact plant with white plumes, 'Fanal', with bright carmine plumes, and 'Red Sentinel, an intense red flower with finely cut foliage. Astilbe is a perfect plant to place at the edge of a garden pond.

Ligularia is another great shade plant. Once established the foliage is bold and beautiful, with broad round green leaves with deep purple stems and undersides. This is a plant for deep moist shade. In too much sun it will wilt and collapse until shade reappears. I had one planted in morning sun and it looked ill every day until afternoon.

Ligularia 'The Rocket' has gorgeous spikes of yellow flowers, like rockets, that soar above the foliage. Ligularia 'Desdemona' has round daisy-like flowers, not nearly as striking as 'The Rocket', but they add interest and diversity to the shade garden.

Work up that shady spot in your yard and add some color. You can even use one or two of "those plants" for accent or contrast. By the way, spectator gardeners may be wondering what "that plant" is. Well, it rhymes with "pasta".