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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 1:43:41 GMT
More than half of my garden is in some kind of shade which is fine by me. I fought with a neighbor (actually a slumlord of sorts) over some "trash trees" that he let proliferate shading out the one section I had some sun to grow citrus,herbs,vegetables and some cut flowers. An area of full sun is desirable to me only for those reasons.I do have a small area with a few succulents and other related small sun lovers. Hurricane Katrina took care of that small problem (trees and slumlord) and then some. All the aforementioned trash trees blew down all over my garden taking my fences with them. Anyway,I digress. I then had not only my area of sun back,I also acquired some areas of half sun in which to grow some specimens of other plants I had access to but no where to put. In shade gardening there are really 2 major categories and many get confused because nurseries and garden centers will place plants classified as shade plants into all one area.Oft times it's difficult to consult with someone working these places because many of them really aren't qualified to dispense the right info.(Just because one "loves" plants and works at a nursery does not qualify. Also,the pay is usually really poor). The 2 categories fall into plants for FULL shade or DENSE shade and plants for HALF shade,PARTIAL shade,SEMI shade,and LIGHT shade. It's important to consult and plant in the correct light to allow the plant to really flourish. It gets tricky with shade gardening because what looks ok can look really,really good with just the right adjustment. I've seen Calla lilies and Hostas in dense shade and then half shade. The tiniest adjustment can make all the difference in allowing optimum performance in a plant. Sometimes the removal of one branch of a tree will make a dramatic difference. Of course different times of the year play a huge part as well ,but most gardeners figure this out fairly quickly especially if you're investing a lot of time and money. Tomorrow I will post some pictures of my favorite shade plants from shrubs(native and exotic),perennials,bulbs,vines,all that.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 30, 2009 5:54:33 GMT
I can vouch that calla lilies will take much, much more sun that is usually recommended, and will be quite robust and happy as long as they get enough water.
What you say about the removal of a tree branch is so important! Frequently there is a simple fix that makes all the difference.
Another thing to consider is the kind of sun in ones area. Something that can take full sun in one kind of climate might be devastated by it in another.
A major problem here that I never had in the States is the extreme movement of the sun in different seasons. Even cacti and succulents can burn rather badly in the sunny dry season. And I long since found out the hard way that all plants in those families don't want full, blasting sun all day.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 10:44:51 GMT
Ardisia crenata,Coral berry;Evergreen shrub,NO direct sunlight,moist soil. Glossy dark leaves,small,white scented followed by berries which last six months or more that droop in clusters below the foliage
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 11:02:47 GMT
Tetrapanax papyriferus,Rice Paper Plant,Aralia family,semi evergreen shrub or tree,15 feet.A mature plant in bloom is dramatic,flowers are one inch white globes on 3 foot spikes in fall,winter,followed by berriesBees love the flowers,birds the berries I have a long alley of these along one side of the house,never fails to draw comment
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 11:12:26 GMT
Odontomena strictun,Firespike,Perennial shrub,Acanthus family,6 feet.Clumping stems which are erect or lean towards the light give this plant a sprawling look. Flowers appear in early summer and last through autumn,are stem tip spikes of one inch scarlet flowers. A major hummingbird favorite.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2009 11:19:32 GMT
Mahonia bealei,Grape Holly,Barberry family shrub evergreen to 7 feet. Tough and leathery,hollylike leaves.Flowers are yellow,fragrant spikes,which protrude above the foliage. Clusters of bluepurple berries follow,persist on the plant. Valuable to birds and bees.
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Post by bjd on May 30, 2009 20:05:50 GMT
I often find that plants that are supposed to be for shade actually like light, even if they don't want full sun. I have a different Mahonia than the one in the picture just above -- it gets some sun, but not very much.
I wish we had hummingbirds here.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2009 10:35:51 GMT
Saxifraga stolinifera,Strawberry begonia,wonderful ground cover for small areas. I love this plant. Sends up spikes if white flowers in spring. Is neither a strawberry or a begonia another perennial favorite, Ajuga reptans,great groundcover,sends up an intense blue flower in spring,it's so teeny but I've seen hummingbirds go down to nectar off it. Justicia carnea,also comes in white,perennial to about 3 feet,great to plant in a mass,likes some moisture or will look ratty Tradescantia virginiana,Spiderwort: sometimes referred to as a wildflower,grows in clumps,beautiful blue. One of the first springtime bloomers.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2009 11:13:08 GMT
Zantedeschia aethiopica,Calla Lily; Arum family,tuberous rooted perennial.Likes,demands lots of moisture. I've grown in bog conditions in the shallow edge of a pond.Needs to be fertilized often. Also available in the trade in green,pink,yellow,spotted,variegated and miniature. Eucharis grandiflora,Amazon Lily;Amaryllis family so should be planted with neck just above the soil,bloom is heavier when roots are crowded so may grow in container.Blooms are fragrant and waxy,white,four to six on each 18 inch stalk. Arisaema triphyllum,Jack in the Pulpit,Arum family,bulb,fleshy rooted perennial,flowers in spring,tubular spathe striped with red and brown lines,foliage erect one feet high,fruits a cluster of red berries in autumn.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2009 15:59:15 GMT
The Fancy leaf Caladiums,this one the cultivar 'Aaron' These gorgeous leafed plants grown from a corm can brighten up the dullest corner of a garden. They love heat and are relatively pest free. Available in a multitude of whites,pinks,reds,solid or mixed. There is a lance leafed variety that is a bit more understated.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 31, 2009 16:36:28 GMT
Some gorgeous stuff there, Casimira. Caladiums are a real treasure as they can provide color where it's too shady for colorful flowers. And the white-leaved ones matched with dark green groundcovers such as monkey grass are classic favorites.
A question ~~ can you (or anyone) give a little guidance on layer planting of shade plants? In other words, what can be done with tall shade plants that will create even more shade beneath themselves. I love rice paper plants, for example, and ajuga would be very effective beneath them, but what about the space between? It seems some height and different texture/color would be effective, but what? Would solomon's seal or false solomon's seal work, for instance?
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Post by bazfaz on May 31, 2009 16:36:34 GMT
What North Americans call calla lilies we call arums. They flourish in full sun in our garden. I do water them in summer but maybe only twice a week. The tradescantia is also in full sun and is flowering now. Of course I don't imply these won't flourish in shade but it isn't necessary.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2009 18:40:28 GMT
Baz,when you say full sun,do you mean full morning sun,a southern exposure. or out in the total open with summer afternoon sun as well? The tradescantia and arum can take morning sun ,especially the tradescantia ,but here ,no more than that ,as the foliage takes on a chlorotic appearance.As Bixa commented earlier,the intensity of the sun in other places varies. The tradescantia are extremely drought tolerant,a virtual wildflower here. The calla or arum need way more moisture. Perhaps Mrs. Baz is watering as well. Bixa,I have some ideas for layering.The plants you mentioned could work. It depends on if you're looking for flowering specimens or strictly foliage. Some of my rice paper plants have the Ruellia(Mexican Petunia) growing beneath,and some different ferns. Some of the smaller gingers could work too. Then there's Aspidistra ,especially the green/white variegated variety.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 31, 2009 18:52:31 GMT
I don't know what the temperature is in Baz's southern France garden, but I suspect he's up high enough that it's not broiling there. Correct, Baz? In places where plants get less dense heat & humidity, the flowers persist in better shape longer and the plant is not as thirsty. Although it is hard to believe that the callas would endure harsh day-long sun even in perfectly benevolent circumstances.
Lovely ideas, Casimira! I am very much a foliage person, but it was a general question to cover all tastes and situations. For instance, I wouldn't have thought of the ruellia, but that would be a lovely combo of the soft green-to-gray-to-white of the rice paper plant and the stolid green of the mex. petunia foliage plus its pink or purple flowers.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2009 22:03:22 GMT
The ruellia is available in all white as well. And then there's the ever faithful mirabilis peruviana (4 o'clocks) in their rainbow of colors as well.
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Post by bjd on Jun 1, 2009 12:20:19 GMT
I saw huge clumps of arum lillies in Kenya -- in full sun because all the trees had been cut down in the area. It was at 2500m, but hot during the day -- maybe around 10° at night. They grow in the sun here too (I'm not too far from Bazfaz but at sea level).
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Post by spindrift on Jun 1, 2009 18:39:06 GMT
Trillium grandiflorum.....one of my favourites for shady places.
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Post by spindrift on Jun 1, 2009 18:42:01 GMT
Hellebores.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2009 20:34:28 GMT
I read that something like 90% of the plants sold in nurseries as indoor plants are rain forest plants that grow naturally in permanent shade under a leafy canopy. This makes perfect sense, since indoor plants will never get full sunshine no matter where you put them, and if they are behind a window, they are not receiving the same rays as outdoors.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2009 20:58:30 GMT
For a long time people used to give us house plants as gifts mainly because they knew I was a gardener and seemed like something we would like. More than 50% of them I put outside in light shade or as understory plants beneath the huge shade trees,very similar to what you suggest K. They are so big,have long since busted out of their pots and stuck their roots down into the ground. The idea of being house plants again would be so ridiculous . A few did succumb to some cold snaps,others came right back strong.
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Post by Jazz on Jun 2, 2009 7:30:57 GMT
Casimira, I have been following this thread and trying to put together some ideas for my garden. I have either been working or travelling in the last 7 years when it shifted finally from a whole sun garden of the first 10 years into a gradual shade garden, now it is a dense shade garden. Thus, I did nothing. However, it has 'the bones', anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=gardening&thread=1239&page=1#18824My plans are simple. I want to create a raised portion in the back left corner. I will put in earth and create a semi-circular wall, 1-1 to 1/2 feet with my special rocks. In this raised semi-circle, I want only two plants, the furthest back would be tall, about 5 or 6 feet, then something in front, perhaps 3 feet. Someone suggested to me a grass for the tallest...the one that has a long stalk with a bullrush like top. I love the idea of it waving in the wind. Or, something else? What I would love may not be compatible with dense shade and my climate (Toronto,Canada)...exotic, dramatic and some with blooms, preferably plants that would bloom from June to September. I love texture and varied unusually shaped, large or beautifully coloured leaves. Essentially, I want to create the cornor, then, vines along the fence (again, all now in shade) and groundcover at a low level..perhaps less dramatic, but lovely plants. I want to plan for low maintenance, the less weeding the better! You and Bixa are exceptional gardeners, so I will be reading on...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2009 11:24:07 GMT
All that shade is a challenge for what you desire but one of the plants that came to mind although not a grass but one that has gorgeous foliage and plume like blooms that does well in full to light shade,even some sun is the ASTILBE. They do like a lot of moisture.Bamboos also in the grass family,of which there are many,don't know about for shady areas but worth a look into simply because there are so many.
Vine wise there is the Hydrangea petiolaris,Climbing hydrangea which is featured in the Vines thread,a vine akin to your area commonly known as Canadian moonseed,Menispermum canadense,and then the Virginia creeper,Parthenocissus. I think that the Climbing hydrangea combined with some smaller leafed ivy (solid or variegated) would be a great display on a fence.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2009 14:43:33 GMT
Thanks, Jazz, but I'm not in the same league w/Casimira!
Have you thought about some judicious pruning before you start the corner project? Besides being helpful in extending the range of plants you could grow, dappled light is really a garden feature in and of itself. It might mean getting in some tree guys & a fairly horrible morning of shrieking saws, but experts would be able to handle the big limbs for you without destroying anything beneath or damaging the tree.
The two plants that came to mind for the background are -- based on your friend's recommendation -- pampas grass (yeek!) and papyrus. Pampas grass is a space-grabbing monster that I'd think you'd rue planting. I'm pretty sure all of the grasses, such as the Miscanthus, want full sun. Papyrus takes part shade, but I don't think it would tolerate your climate. Also, I'd think you'd want a plant that would look good even when dormant.
For the tall, background plant you want, I think you should research Thalictrum -- many varieties, tough, shade-loving, tall & beautiful.
The front planting will give you much more leeway in choices, and should probably be chosen after the background plant is decided upon.
It's going to be magnificent -- I am in total admiration of your talent for choosing plants and placements for the long run of the garden.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2009 10:20:35 GMT
You are too kind Bixa,let me remind you that you are one of my garden gurus. You have an exceptional eye and taste. Your garden on the Northshore was a work of art. I shuddered when I saw the mere mention of Pampas grass although I initially found it graceful and lovely. It grew so wide and threatened to go wider when I had one here. I had to pay someone handsomely to extricate it from my property and that was after 4 people turned down the job. Of course it would never ,I don't think , get that huge in Canada. It does need a bunch of sun. Jazz,scope out that beautiful Botanical Garden there in Montreal. I looked at their website and was impressed with their plantings. Oft times I cruise the one here,not nearly as expansive as yours,and always come away inspired. One plant that I have always lusted after that grows in the shade in cooler climates is Gunnera although it may overpower a small space. Maybe there's a dwarfed variety available.
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Post by Jazz on Jun 3, 2009 16:14:04 GMT
This thread has given me some great ideas. I've explored them online, noted down what I like the most and I am going to go to a nursery in the next few days to see everything 'in person'. This particular nursery is huge, with 12 specific greenhouses (ie. one for herbs, one for grasses, exotic tropical etc.). Then, there are a few acres of plants ...roses, evergreen trees, fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, etc.etc.etc. ......
Casimira, I will check the Montreal site and will be going to the Hamilton Royal Botanical gardens which are exquisite...many gardens, a Japanese garden, roses ...each garden is beautiful....my favorite is the lilac garden which contains the largest single collection of different species of lilacs in the world. Many painters and photographers go there. This time I will take my camera. These gardens are spread over acres of land and you need to drive or take the shuttle to reach each of them. You couldn't possibly see them all in a single day, or even three days.
Yes, perhaps it is time to lop off the bottom three branches of the mighty oak! I love dappled sunshine. Also, the comments by Casimira and K2 about the 'house plants'. I think I'll experiment wth a few and let them live 'in the wild' and see what happens. Living under the oak would be like living under a canopy. Thank you for your suggestions. Forget modesty, Casimira and Bixa, I think it is obvious that you are both artists of the garden.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2009 17:01:00 GMT
Sometimes I really wish that Paris needed more shade.
I love it when I go south and am sitting under entangled vines with just a tiny bit of dappled sunshine peeking through.
(I am not a big fan of full sunshine.)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 3:04:50 GMT
Me either,not a big fan of full sun. The only place I like it is in the early fall(Indian Summer) up North in the by then warm Atlantic, bodysurfing. Jazz,the idea of a garden of Lilacs is so sumptuous. I do believe I miss them more than any flower. I think you will come away so inspired, I did check out the website. Is it conducive to riding a bicycle through? Do keep us posted. Your photos will be splendid I'm sure.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2009 13:15:30 GMT
The Hosta family bear more than a mere mention when it comes to shade gardening. The botanical name for Hosta is FUNKIA,I always thought this a hoot when I learned it. Known primarily for their magnificent foliage there are so many hybrids available it boggles the mind. I subscribe to a catalogue from a nursery in North Carolina who specialize in Hostas. The irony is that they do not do well here due to the heat and lack of an extended cold season. So,the ones I have planted languish pitifully until they succumb to the slugs and snails who will devour them in a heartbeat.The masochistic tendencies of gardeners are well documented. Here's a sampling : one could go crazy,there are hundreds. The first photo of the "blue" leafed is my favorite. It reminds me of a summertime bedspread we had when I was a child.
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Post by spindrift on Jun 4, 2009 19:26:24 GMT
I don't know whether Alchemillia Mollis is a shade-loving plant but I have some plants in the shade and they're doing well.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 4, 2009 20:53:49 GMT
*envy* They are so lovely, and that chartreusey yellow of the flowers would spark a shady corner beautifully. I see the ones in the photo above have true ("cranesbill") geranium and Dianthus behind them, which must mean the Alchemilla can tolerate some sun. Either that, or the photo was taken in a plant nursery and could be completely misleading.
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