Shade Gardening

[spindrift]

Oh yes, alchemillia does well in sunny borders.

[Deleted]

Another one of those lovelies that won't grow here. We can barely grow columbine which is a light shade plant here,a pale yellow one not the other darker blues and purples



this is the one I lust for

[Jazz]

Oh my god, the exquisite blue columbine is beautiful.

This thread was very valuable as I am beginning to develop my shade garden. In the last few days I planted just three recommended plants and they are lovely,

a Japanese Maple to replace the one died inexplicably,

a Hosta with beautiful coloring, the leaves are edged with a blue/green and the centre is a lime green,

in the back left shady corner, a Moonlight Climging Hydrangea which will take take several years to develop,

I would still like to find 2 or 3 Big Dramatic Leaf plants, and perhaps another climbing vine to complete the basic stucture. As well, a climbing rose to compliment the Japanese maple, if it can tolerate little sun. (Will rent a tree snipper and allow more sunlight.) Am thinking of an Elephant Ear, a Rhubarb for the deeply shaded back yard...don't know yet. Then, perhaps a few smaller plants, especially gorgeous ground cover. My yard is not that big and I need to restrain myself. Reading 'Notes From Madoo', by Dash, he is very stimulating. At this time I am inspired by his love of the different shades of green and of leaf shape. This is good for me, with little sunlight.

This is my garden a year ago if you haven't seen it,
anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=gardening&thread=1239&page=1#18824

[bixaorellana]

There is a plant which many people despise, but which can be used very effectively against a wall where there is little sun. That's the homely old mother-in-law's tongue, Sansevieria. There are also low, round ones for filling in the odd corner. I mention these because so often with low-lighted areas of the yard, there's also dryness and these plants are tough and drought-tolerant.

That hosta is really beautiful. Would you want something very low to creep beneath it -- corsican mint, perhaps? I'm trying to think of things which will make it through the winter there, which this mint might not be able to do. Baby's tears? You might even think of using regular garden mint, if you're willing to claw some out occasionally to control it.

For something taller, the trillium Spindrift shows at #16 on the previous page is truly lovely. And for an in-between size, you could go for the tradescantias or the commelina.

If you use elephant ear, won't you have to protect it during the winter? I love this one because of the color. You can see how it makes the red flowers next to it just pop, but blue, white, pink, yellow, or a sherbety orange are equally dramatic with that dull bronze. I'm thinking this color would have the same impact as the rhubarb, but without being quite as close to the shade of the (fabulous!) Japanese maple.

Also, what about very tall ferns? Surely your area of Canada must have some woodland natives that would appreciate a home in your garden.

Your choices so far are exciting and appropriate. I can't wait to see what you'll do next.

[Deleted]

Jazz, would so love to hear an update on this. Am so curious about the climbing hydrangea in particular. Oh,how I want one and may bite the bullet and plant one even though very iffy here.

[bjd]

I have a couple of blue columbines, but they aren't that lovely dark blue in the picture above.

I always think that in a small garden, it's better not to put things with huge leaves, but then again, it's not always easy to find plants that like shade, other than impatiens. And even they need light, if not much direct sun.

[cheerypeabrain]

I have a shady border too....I grow ferns, heucheras...epimediums and other stuff in there....

zantedeschia



astilbe and astrantia



ferns







actea



epimediums





dicentra

[Deleted]

Those are beautiful, cheery. I absolutely dislike direct sunshine and if I ever have a garden at some time in the future, it is sure to be shady. Ferns and things like that...

[tod2]

Lovely photos Cheery! I love ferns and have an odd few in my garden. The most prized are Maiden Hair ferns growing out of a retaining wall - all self seeded .
Those white Arum Lillies are fantastic What a terrific shot.

[bixaorellana]

All so beautiful, Cheery. The callas are perfect, so crisp and cool. I'm crazy about the astrantia and astilbe together, great against the wooden backdrop. I love the way you use more than one kind of a particular plant together, as with the actea. Those two are wonderful, as are all the ferns. The "sporey" one is such a great picture. Oh, and your dicentra pic couldn't be more lovely.

[cheerypeabrain]

You are very kind, I'm not really showing off (honest)...close ups of the successes in my tiny garden neatly disguise the vast tracts of wonky paving, the washing line and the weeds....oh and the dead stuff too ;D

Tod2, a maidenhair fern? wow...I had a tiny one in our garden (bought from 'fernatix') but it didn't survive despite my lifting it and bringing it indoors for the winter....dunno which one it was but it was really sweet.

[bixaorellana]

Oh, Cheerykins ~~ this entire forum is set up so that grown-ups can show and tell! Everyone who takes the time to appreciate, then share through words or pictures, is enhancing this place for all of us.

(& all gardeners know that there's no such thing as "perfection")