Interesting Plants for Shade Gardens Nancy Lewis
What constitutes shade? Observe your garden throughout the day determine how much shade you have Full Shade Dappled Shade Light Shade
Overview Plants listed in order of season Latin name Common name Light requirement Deer resistance Key points
Helleborus argutifolius 'Pacific Frost' Wayside photo Lenten Rose 4 season interest Deer resistant Dappled shade Tolerates more sun than most hellebores Leaves dusted with white and pink
Helleborus Painted Doubles Plant Delights Nursery photo
Hellebores at Longwood
Mertensia virginica USDA photo Virginia Bluebells Deer resistant Light/dappled shade Native Moist soil Choose companions as it dies away in summer
Trillium erectum and luteum Wake Robin Spring flowering Full shade but will tolerate light Native Completely disappear in summer Rhizomatous
Pulmonaria Blue Ensign Lungwort Spring flowering Dappled/full shade Dark green unspotted leaves One of the showiest pulmonarias Crocus.com photo
Pulmonaria Silver Bouquet Wayside Gardens photo
Carex siderosticha Variegata Broadleaf Sedge Spring summer interest Dappled/light shade Prefers damp soil with shade
Asperula odorata Sweet Woodruff Spring Dappled/full shade Groundcover Will grow under pines Fragrant Deer resistant Wayside photo
Polygonatum odoratum Variegatum Solomon s Seal Spring Part to full shade Moist well draining soil 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year Deer resistant Missouri Botanical Garden photo
Syneilesis aconitifolia Umbrella plant Two season interest Dappled shade Flowers in summer but are often removed Spreads slowly
Syneilesis aconitifolia
Arisaema sikokianum Snow Rice Cake Plant Dappled/partial shade Tall specimen plant Some have variegated leaves Deer resistant
Prunus laurocerasus Cherry Laurel 4-8 feet tall and wide Evergreen Dwarf varieties are selected for landscape use Invasive potential in maritime climates
Polemonium Stairway to Heaven Santa Rosa Gardens photo Creeping Jacob s Ladder Deer resistant Dappled/full shade Native parentage Average to moist soil Spring leaves tinged with lavender
Epimedium 'Beni Yushima' Barrenwort Partial shade 10-12 Groundcover Drought resistant Asiatica photo
Epimedium Pretty in Pink Plant Delights Nursery
Epimedium Sunny and Share Plant Delights Nursery
Tiarella cordifolia Jeepers Creepers Wayside photo Foamflower Deer resistant Foliage three season interest Dappled/full shade Drought tolerant Running form but slowly
Heuchera Hercules Coral Bells Late spring flowering Medium moisture Partial shade Deer resistant Plant Delights Nursery photo
Brunnera macrophylla Hapsden Cream Siberian bugloss Heartleaf alkanet Spring flowers Dappled/full shade Moist soil Medium height 18 Deer resistant Van Bloem photo
Brunnera macrophylla Gold Strike New introduction similar to Gordano Gold Small blue flowers in spring Dappled/full shade Medium height 18 Spreads slowly Variety needs more water than others Floral and Hardy photo
Ajuga reptans Burgundy Glow Bugleweed Partial shade Short plant 5-7 Burgundy effects on foliage Critter resistant
Bergenia cordifolia Winterglow Wayside photo Elephant s Ears Deer resistant Attractive shiny green foliage Purple petioles May rebloom in fall Rich, moist, welldrained soil
Hosta Liberty Pale lilac flowers in summer Dappled/full shade Brilliant yellow foliage 26 tall 30 36 spread Machen photo from HostaLibrary.org
Hosta Komodo Dragon Upright and stately Dappled to full shade Corrugated foliage Vase shaped Rapid grower 28 tall 5 wide
Hosta Virus
Vinca minor Illumination Periwinkle Tolerant of all light Excellent groundcover Three season interest Deer resistant Slow growing Wayside photo
Geranium phaeum Springtime Cranesbill Partial shade Deer resistant Will tolerate dry conditions when established 8 Von Bloem photo
Lamiastrum Hermann s Pride Silver archangel Yellow flowers in late spring Full to part shade Moist soil Deer resistant Groundcover Bluestone photo
Aruncus sinensis Zweiweltenkind Goatsbeard Dappled shade/full shade Summer bloom Likes moisture Native parentage Occasionally severely damaged Wayside photo i
Acanthus mollis Tasmanian Angel Bear s Breeches Late spring to summer Light shade Large specimen plant Variegated variety Wayside Gardens Photo
Acanthus Holland Days Bear s Breeches Late spring to summer Afternoon sun Deer resistant Keeps on giving Plant Delights Nursery photo
Heuchera villosa Tiramisu Coral Bells Early summer Dappled shade Native parentage Tendency to heave Seldom severely damaged by deer Santa Rosa Gardens photo
Heuchera Americana Dale s Strain Alum Root Flowers in summer but foliage is notable Dappled shade Native parentage Seldom severely damaged by deer Bluestone photo
Heucherella Quicksilver Bluestone photo Foamybellls Dappled shade Prefers moist conditions Hybrid of tiarella and heuchera Seldom severely damaged by deer
Cardiocrinum giganteum UBC Botanical Garden photo Giant Lily Native of the Himalayas Slow growing Can grow to 9 feet USDA Zone 6-8 Expensive and vole prone
Astilbe chinensis Diamonds & Pearls Dappled shade Summer High moisture needs First pure white chinensis Seldom severely damaged by deer Hallson photo
Astilbe chinensis Maggie Daley Dappled shade Summer Needs moisture Taller variety Seldom severely damaged by deer Hallson photo
Astilbe Color Flash Lime 10 20 tall Dusty pink flowers Seldom severely damaged by deer Tesselaar photo
Astilbe Color Flash Beauty of Ernst Starts with green leaves 6-10 tall Seldom severely damaged by deer Tesselaar photo
Carex oshimensis Evergold Erect flower stems in early summer Dappled shade Insignificant flowers Edging and underplanting for spring bulbs Rarely damaged by deer Van Bloem photo
Carex comans Frosted Curls Noted for the compact, weeping foliage Dappled shade Suitable for container Illusion of falling water Rarely damaged by deer
Hakonechloa macra Aureola Light/dappled shade Summer interest 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year Leaves flush red in the fall Good container plant Rarely damaged by deer Bluestone photo Seattle Times photo
Hakonechloa macra All Gold Same as Aureola with Foliage is completely gold Slow developing as are all hakonechloa Rarely damaged by deer
Farfugium japonicum Aureomaculatum Leopard Plant Three season interest Dappled shade Medium height Spread slowly by rhizomes Zone 7 or higher
Tricyrtis hirta Miyazaki Imperial Banner Bluestone photo Toad lily Fall flowering Dappled/Full shade Medium height Slowly spreading Reasonably deer resistant Wayside photo
Tricyrtis virus First thought to be a plant mutation First confirmed as a virus in 2005 Similar to a yellow bean mosaic virus New cultivar Raspberry Mousse may be named for its virus affected flowers Remove plants and place in trash Hallson photos
Kirengeshoma palmata Yellow waxbells Dappled shade Deer resistant Fall flowering 3-4 tall 4 spread Protect from wind valleyviewplantgrowers.com photo
Actea atropurpurea Brunette Hallson photo Bugbane Black Cohosh Deer resistant Fall bloomer Dappled shade Native parentage Fragrant Tall
Aconitum cammarum Stainless Steel Monkshood Fall bloomer Light shade Deer resistant Tolerates full sun with adequate moisture All parts of the plant are poisonous Tall 36-42 Van Bloem photo
Dryopteris erythrosora Brilliance Wayside photo Male Fern Deer resistant Dazzling fall color Dappled shade Up to 2 feet tall Evergreen Great plant for dry shade
Cephalotaxus Japanese Plum Yew Tolerates sun and shade Deer Resistant Slow growth Plants spread with age
Two Questions Did you learn anything new? Do you plan on implementing anything discussed today?
Embrace your shade!