Gardening in the shade presents certain challenges, and presents different opportunities than full sun garden areas. Here are some common questions and answers regarding gardening with shade loving flowers and plants:
Q) What kind of shade do I have in my garden, and how does the shade influence my selection of shade perennial flowers and plants?
A) Knowing what kind of shade you have is very important if you want to have a successful experience creating a shade perennial garden. Your shade category will determine what kind of shade perennial flowers and plants you can successfully grow in your shade garden. There are three main categories of shade for most gardeners: light shade, medium shade and full shade. For a full discussion of shade categories, read How Shady is Your Garden? Defining Shade Categories. Once you know what kind of shade you are gardening in, you may also be interested in reading about recommendations for Light Shade Perennial Flowers, Medium Shade Perennial Flowers or Full Shade Perennial Flowers.
Q) When is the best time to start a new shade perennial garden?
A) Spring is a good time to start many shade loving perennials, so they can become well established before the summer heat arrives. Fall is also an excellent time to establish a new shade garden, provided that plants have time to establish their root systems before winter. Summer and winter are poor times to start shade perennial gardens in many regions, although if you live in Zone 7 or above, winter might be a good time for you to start a shade garden. To read more about starting a new shade perennial garden, see the article Keys for a Successful Shade Perennial Garden.
Q) What are some good resources to find out more information about shade perennial garden flowers and plants?
A) There are many articles and tips listed on this website that should help you plan your shade perennial garden and select well adapted and beautiful shade loving perennial plants and flowers (for example, see Ten Top Shade Perennial Garden Plants, Easy to Grow Shade Loving Perennials, and Shade Perennial Garden Design Tips). However, one of the best books I have found to date for the shade perennial gardener, is W. George Schmid's "An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials." You can purchase this online at Amazon.com and elsewhere.
In my next post, I will explore even more FAQ's about shade perennial flowers and plants. To read even more about shade perennial flowers and plant, please visit the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Five Fall Blooming Shade Perennial Flowers
This post is part of a two part series exploring the best early and late season shade perennial flowers for gardening. In my previous post, I explored five shade perennial flowers that bloom in early spring, and in this post I will discuss five summer and fall blooming shade perennial flowers varieties.
Knowing and coordinating the blooming periods of shade perennial flowers is an essential part of the planning process when creating a shade perennial garden. By combining both early and late shade perennial flowers in your garden, you will be able to appreciate a flowering garden for much of the gardening season.
Here are some of the best fall blooming shade perennial flowers for your shade garden:
Knowing and coordinating the blooming periods of shade perennial flowers is an essential part of the planning process when creating a shade perennial garden. By combining both early and late shade perennial flowers in your garden, you will be able to appreciate a flowering garden for much of the gardening season.
Here are some of the best fall blooming shade perennial flowers for your shade garden:
- Hostas. Although hostas are often known primarily for their spectacular foliage, they also have beautiful white flowers that bloom late in the season. This is a great shade perennial flowering plant to serve as an anchor in your shade perennial garden.
- Showy Sedum (Sedum spectabile). This Sedum variety has beautiful pink flowers that bloom in late summer and do well in areas with partial shade. The are about a foot tall in height and make a good ground cover when planeted in mass. Good for Zones 4-7 .
- Cyclamen. Suited best for the warmer zones or indoors, but there are some frost hardy types (such as C. hederifolium), these fall blooming flowers are generally pink, purple or white.
- Cimicifuga. These plants have dramatic spikes of white flowers, reaching several feet in height (but will not need any kind of staking). The shade loving flowers generally bloom in late August or early September. Sometimes known by the common name "Bugbane" this shade loving perennial is said to repel bed bugs too.
- Toad Lilies (Tricyrtis). Another shade loving perennial flower that produces beautiful, exotic looking shade perennial flowers during the fall months. Some varieties also have quite beautiful foliage as well. They serve will as companion shade perennial garden plants to hostas, ferns and astilbe.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Five Spring Blooming Shade Perennial Flowers
An essential part of any shade garden plan, is coordinating the blooming periods of your shade perennial flowers. By carefully combining shade perennial flowers that bloom both early in the season and late in the season, you will be able to create a shade perennial garden full of flowers all season long.
This post is part of a two part series exploring the best spring blooming and fall blooming shade perennial flowers. In this post I explore five spring blooming shade perennial flowers. In my next post, I will discuss the best fall blooming shade perennial flowers for your garden.
Here are some of the best spring blooming shade perennial flowers for your shade garden:
This post is part of a two part series exploring the best spring blooming and fall blooming shade perennial flowers. In this post I explore five spring blooming shade perennial flowers. In my next post, I will discuss the best fall blooming shade perennial flowers for your garden.
Here are some of the best spring blooming shade perennial flowers for your shade garden:
- Lungwort. This plant resembles the Hosta plant, with dramatic gray green foliage. But while the Hosta has white flowers in late fall, the Lungwort produces beautiful pink or blue flowers in early spring. They do best in Zones 5-8.
- Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla). This is a favorite spring blooming shade perennial flower. It has sky-blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots, and they do well even in full shade perennial gardens. Good for Zones 3-7.
- Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa). These spring blooming shade perennial flowers are grown from a rhizome and generally pink or blue in color. They are usually under eight inches in height and suitable for Zones 4-8.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis). These shade loving perennial flowers are white and one of the earliest bloomers each year. They are small (usually six inches in height or less), and are grown from perennial bulbs. Suitable for zones 2-9.
- Columbines (Aquilegia). These shade suitable perennial flowers are trumpet shaped and come in a wide variety of colors. They generally bloom in late may or early June and are a favorite and bees and hummingbirds. They can grow up to three feet in height, are suitable for Zones 3-9, and self-seed easily.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Shade Perennial Garden Design: Theme Gardens
Theme Gardens have become increasingly popular of late, be it formal Victorian style gardens, quaint English Cottage Gardens, Biblical Plants gardens, Japanese gardens or Garden Troll gardens.
Shade Perennial Gardens present certain opportunities and challenges if you are interested in organizing your garden around a certain theme. In one regards, shade perennial gardens already have a theme built into them: shade-loving plants. Just by gardening in a shaded area, you will have already predetermined a whole body of plants that are suitable for that gardening area. But some gardeners would like to pursue other themes in their shade perennial gardens as well.
There are some limitations when constructing a themed shade perennial garden. First, you should be aware that since you will only be limited to shade loving plants, some themes may be difficult if not impossible. For example, most shade perennial flowers come in muted shades - whites, pinks, and blues primarily. So creating a shade perennial garden centered around red and green flowers would be a challenge. You may also find it difficult to pursue themed gardens that rely heavily on sun loving plants, like some regional themed gardens may do.
But there are some great opportunities for themed shade perennial gardens as well. Shade perennial gardens centered around white shade perennial flowers would be an easy theme to pursue. In fact, monochromatic color themes are ideal for most shade perennial garden layouts, as long as you stick to the colors you generally find for shade perennial flowers.
You may also find shade perennial gardens amenable to structures such as fountains and benches, since by nature they tend to be restful and relaxing places to spend some time. Shade perennial gardens are also great places to pursue whimsical themes centered around creatures such as frogs, trolls or fairies. The dark spaces of your shade perennial garden can be a wonderful place to hide creatures that will delight visitors young and old alike.
As with any garden, planning and preparation are often key to a successful themed garden. But by keeping in mind what are the limitations and opportunities for a themed shade perennial garden, you should be well on your way to creating a wonderful shade garden.
For even more tips and advice regarding gardening in shade perennial gardens, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
Shade Perennial Gardens present certain opportunities and challenges if you are interested in organizing your garden around a certain theme. In one regards, shade perennial gardens already have a theme built into them: shade-loving plants. Just by gardening in a shaded area, you will have already predetermined a whole body of plants that are suitable for that gardening area. But some gardeners would like to pursue other themes in their shade perennial gardens as well.
There are some limitations when constructing a themed shade perennial garden. First, you should be aware that since you will only be limited to shade loving plants, some themes may be difficult if not impossible. For example, most shade perennial flowers come in muted shades - whites, pinks, and blues primarily. So creating a shade perennial garden centered around red and green flowers would be a challenge. You may also find it difficult to pursue themed gardens that rely heavily on sun loving plants, like some regional themed gardens may do.
But there are some great opportunities for themed shade perennial gardens as well. Shade perennial gardens centered around white shade perennial flowers would be an easy theme to pursue. In fact, monochromatic color themes are ideal for most shade perennial garden layouts, as long as you stick to the colors you generally find for shade perennial flowers.
You may also find shade perennial gardens amenable to structures such as fountains and benches, since by nature they tend to be restful and relaxing places to spend some time. Shade perennial gardens are also great places to pursue whimsical themes centered around creatures such as frogs, trolls or fairies. The dark spaces of your shade perennial garden can be a wonderful place to hide creatures that will delight visitors young and old alike.
As with any garden, planning and preparation are often key to a successful themed garden. But by keeping in mind what are the limitations and opportunities for a themed shade perennial garden, you should be well on your way to creating a wonderful shade garden.
For even more tips and advice regarding gardening in shade perennial gardens, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Shade Perennial Flowers: Five Spring Bulbs for Your Garden
One of the joys of planting perennial bulbs in your garden is the knowledge that with the right care, these bulbs will produce beautiful shade loving perennial flowers year after year. Unfortunately, the number of shade perennial flowers available are limited, but spring perennial bulbs will add to your list of possibilities when designing your shade perennial garden.
When you look at the color selections for shade perennial flowers, you may be surprised to see that the color palette is a bit limited. Many shade perennial flowers fall in the color spectrum of white, blue, mauve, or pink. There are a few exceptions - the daylily for example, which is a brilliant orange color. But in general, you shade perennial flowers will belong to this color palette. Fortunately, most of these shade perennial flowers colors complement each other quite nicely, making combination schemes much easier with these shade perennial flower selections.
Here are some shade loving perennial bulbs to consider for your shade perennial garden:
1) Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) - A beautiful white or pink shade perennial flower that is grown from a rhizome (a type of perennial bulb). These shade loving perennial flowers bloom in early spring, grow up to a foot in height, and suitable for zones 2 - 9. All parts of the plant are poisonous, however, so care should be taken in selecting the area they are planted.
2) English Bluebell (Scilla tubergeniana) - Beautiful violet-blue shade perennial flowers that smell of honey. One planting can produce over a hundred bell shaped blossoms! Small, usually between four and eight inches in height, and naturalizes well. A great selection for zones 3 to 9, although they can survive even in zone 2 if a mulch is provided.
3) Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) - Shade perennial flowers also grown from a rhizome, the wood anemone are very suited to shady areas of your garden, as long as they are also moist. Generally pink or blue, they are another short shade perennial flower (4-8 inches tall) and suitable for zones 4-8.
4) Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) - Unsurprisingly, as the name suggests, these shade perennial flowers are white in color, and they are also very early bloomers. In fact, they may be the earliest perennial flowers you have growing in your garden (shade or not). Small, white shade loving perennial flowers (generally under six inches) grow from perennial bulbs, suitable for zones 2-9.
5) Grecian Wildflowers (Anemone blanda) - These shade perennial flowers come in brilliant fuschia and pink colors, and are great shade perennial flowers for area under shade and trees where you want some bright color. They also come in blue and white shades as well, and bear some resemblance to the daisy. These shade perennial flowers are grown from tubers, and suitable for zones 5-9 (although they may survive colder areas if mulched heavily).
Hopefully these suggestions for shade perennial flowers grown from bulbs, rhizomes and tubers will help you with your shade perennial garden plans. If you are interested in reading more about how to purchase and plant perennial bulbs, please visit the Perennial Bulbs Home Page. Otherwise, for even more suggestions about shade perennial flowers and plants please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
When you look at the color selections for shade perennial flowers, you may be surprised to see that the color palette is a bit limited. Many shade perennial flowers fall in the color spectrum of white, blue, mauve, or pink. There are a few exceptions - the daylily for example, which is a brilliant orange color. But in general, you shade perennial flowers will belong to this color palette. Fortunately, most of these shade perennial flowers colors complement each other quite nicely, making combination schemes much easier with these shade perennial flower selections.
Here are some shade loving perennial bulbs to consider for your shade perennial garden:
1) Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) - A beautiful white or pink shade perennial flower that is grown from a rhizome (a type of perennial bulb). These shade loving perennial flowers bloom in early spring, grow up to a foot in height, and suitable for zones 2 - 9. All parts of the plant are poisonous, however, so care should be taken in selecting the area they are planted.
2) English Bluebell (Scilla tubergeniana) - Beautiful violet-blue shade perennial flowers that smell of honey. One planting can produce over a hundred bell shaped blossoms! Small, usually between four and eight inches in height, and naturalizes well. A great selection for zones 3 to 9, although they can survive even in zone 2 if a mulch is provided.
3) Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa) - Shade perennial flowers also grown from a rhizome, the wood anemone are very suited to shady areas of your garden, as long as they are also moist. Generally pink or blue, they are another short shade perennial flower (4-8 inches tall) and suitable for zones 4-8.
4) Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) - Unsurprisingly, as the name suggests, these shade perennial flowers are white in color, and they are also very early bloomers. In fact, they may be the earliest perennial flowers you have growing in your garden (shade or not). Small, white shade loving perennial flowers (generally under six inches) grow from perennial bulbs, suitable for zones 2-9.
5) Grecian Wildflowers (Anemone blanda) - These shade perennial flowers come in brilliant fuschia and pink colors, and are great shade perennial flowers for area under shade and trees where you want some bright color. They also come in blue and white shades as well, and bear some resemblance to the daisy. These shade perennial flowers are grown from tubers, and suitable for zones 5-9 (although they may survive colder areas if mulched heavily).
Hopefully these suggestions for shade perennial flowers grown from bulbs, rhizomes and tubers will help you with your shade perennial garden plans. If you are interested in reading more about how to purchase and plant perennial bulbs, please visit the Perennial Bulbs Home Page. Otherwise, for even more suggestions about shade perennial flowers and plants please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Ten Top Shade Perennial Garden Plants
Often home owners find landscaping the shaded portions of their gardens to be a challenge, but with the right shade perennial garden plants this need not be the case. Below you will find a list of ten easy and adaptable shade loving garden plants that almost every gardener can have success with planting:
1) Ferns. For areas of your garden that have medium to full shade, ferns may well be the best selection. Ferns have the ability to thrive in areas that are often too dark for other perennials, and you will find that there is a wide body of fern species available to suite many different needs and personal aesthetics.
2) Hostas (plantain lily) may possibly be the most popular shade perennial garden plant grown, in part due to the wide variety of textures, colors and shapes they come in. Besides their wonderful green foliage, the hosta plant also has beautiful flowers that are lily-like in appearance and generally lavender or white in color. The hosta flowers bloom from late spring throughout the summer.
3) Bleeding Heart is a perennial plant suitable for medium (half) shade perennial garden areas, and are also very easy to propagate. The Bleeding Heart has beautiful heart shaped pink flowers.
4) Columbines are shade loving trumpet shaped perennial flowers that are loved by bees and hummingbirds. They come in a wide variety of colors, grow to three feet in height, and easily self-seed.
5) Lungwort has silver and green leaves and are an interesting foliage addition to any shade perennial garden. They do best in areas of partial shade, and also have pretty blue or pink flowers.
6) Common Primrose is a popular shade perennial garden plant for English cottage gardens. The primrose is one of the earliest plants to bloom each spring, and its flowers are generally yellow, white, red, or purple. Both the flowers and leaves are edible.
7) Daylilies are a medium shade loving perennial flower that is usually bright orange in color. They propagate so easily that they are classified as a noxious weed in some areas.
8) Phlox are a light shade loving perennial garden flower that spreads easily, and comes in many colors and sizes so that they suit many different shade perennial garden plans.
9) Foam Flowers are a good choice for full shade perennial garden areas. They are generally white to light pink in color, and can be easily naturalized in moist areas, such as along a stream bank.
10) Siberian bugloss is another full shade suitable perennial garden plant. It has beautiful blue flowers and lush heart-shaped foliage that is green and white.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you plan your shade perennial garden area. Please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page to read even more articles about shade perennial flowers and plants.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Shade Perennial Garden Design Tips
Shade perennial gardens can offer a wonderful space to enjoy nature out of the sun. They are often cool and relaxing spaces, but like their sunny counterparts, benefit from planning and preparation before planting in order to ensure a long lived shade perennial garden space.
Here are some tips to help you design your shade perennial garden so that you will be able to maximize your enjoyment while minimizing commonly occurring problems for shade gardens.
First, you should put adequate time into planning out your shade perennial garden before you plant. Examine the space closely, noting how many hours of direct sunlight the space gets daily (if any), the quality of the soil, and any drainage problems that are visible. Also note what is currently growing in your soon-to-be shade perennial garden space. Some plants you may want to keep, while others may be noxious weeds that may be difficult to get rid of in your shade perennial garden. Consider your water source as well - although it may be counter-intuitive, shade perennial gardens generally need a lot of moisture, and you will want a water source nearby.
Next, you should attempt to sketch out what you would like your shade perennial garden to be like. This is an important step, but you don't have to be an artist to do this. Rough circles and possibly some graph paper will help you quickly notice if your plans are too ambitious, not leaving enough space for plants to grow, or if some plants may obscure others due to their height in the shade perennial garden.
In terms of design, think about the colors, textures and heights of different shade loving plants you are considering for your shade perennial garden. You should also consider the blooming period of the shade perennial flowers that will be inhabiting the space, and try to coordinate these blooming periods for a spectacular show. Also think about the colors of the flowers and make sure there are not any color clashes (pink and orange, for example). White and pastels are favorites in many shade perennial gardens. You should also consider which plants will "anchor" the garden space. Often these are large shade loving perennial plants like hydrangea or viburnum. And then use colorful shade perennial flowers to add color to the space.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Easy to Grow Shade Loving Perennials
It can be easy to grow shade loving perennials, if you select the right plants. Shade loving perennials can help brighten up your garden, or promote a relaxing atmosphere if that is what you are prefer. There are some shade loving perennials that are especially easy to grow and propagate, and thus are ideal for beginning gardeners in search of shade loving perennials.
Here is a list of five of the easiest shade loving perennials you can grow:
1) Columbines. These beautiful shade loving perennials have trumpet shaped flowers that bloom in late spring through mid summer. They are are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds, and they easily self seed. Their height varies between 1 1/2 feet to 3 feet, and they come in a wide array of colors.
2) Daylilies. These shade loving perennials generally have bright orange flowers that propagate very well. In fact, in some areas they are classified as a noxious weed, because they can quickly spread and need to be carefully maintained. But these beautiful medium shade loving perennial flowers are sure to brighten up any garden!
3) Bleeding Heart. Beautiful, but also toxic, bleeding hearts are medium shade loving perennials. They have pink and white heart shaped flowers, and they self propagate easily. I have devoted an entire page to the Bleeding Heart plant here.
4) Phlox. Shade loving perennials with beautiful flowers, most phlox species prefer light shade and do not thrive well in deep shade. They also need moist, well-drained soil. The phlox can also spread easily, and this should be taken into consideration when planting.
5) Hostas (plantain lily). The shade loving perennial hosta plant can thrive in partial to full shade garden spots, and are quite easy to grow. Hostas also come in a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes. They also have bell shaped flowers that are quite beautiful come early fall, and most varieties are also quite winter hardy. You can read my entire article on the hosta plant by clicking here.
I hope this post will help you find the best shade loving perennials for your garden. For even more ideas about using shade loving perennials, please visit the Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas Homepage.
Here is a list of five of the easiest shade loving perennials you can grow:
1) Columbines. These beautiful shade loving perennials have trumpet shaped flowers that bloom in late spring through mid summer. They are are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds, and they easily self seed. Their height varies between 1 1/2 feet to 3 feet, and they come in a wide array of colors.
2) Daylilies. These shade loving perennials generally have bright orange flowers that propagate very well. In fact, in some areas they are classified as a noxious weed, because they can quickly spread and need to be carefully maintained. But these beautiful medium shade loving perennial flowers are sure to brighten up any garden!
3) Bleeding Heart. Beautiful, but also toxic, bleeding hearts are medium shade loving perennials. They have pink and white heart shaped flowers, and they self propagate easily. I have devoted an entire page to the Bleeding Heart plant here.
4) Phlox. Shade loving perennials with beautiful flowers, most phlox species prefer light shade and do not thrive well in deep shade. They also need moist, well-drained soil. The phlox can also spread easily, and this should be taken into consideration when planting.
5) Hostas (plantain lily). The shade loving perennial hosta plant can thrive in partial to full shade garden spots, and are quite easy to grow. Hostas also come in a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes. They also have bell shaped flowers that are quite beautiful come early fall, and most varieties are also quite winter hardy. You can read my entire article on the hosta plant by clicking here.
I hope this post will help you find the best shade loving perennials for your garden. For even more ideas about using shade loving perennials, please visit the Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas Homepage.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Tips for a Great Shade Perennial Garden
Shade perennial gardens are wonderful, relaxing landscapes that any gardener can create, using the right plants and knowledge. Gardening in the shade, however, presents its own unique challenges. Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful shade perennial garden:
1) Although it may seem counter-intuitive, shade perennial garden plants often need more water than their full sun cousins. This is especially true if your shade perennial garden area is under trees, whose roots and limbs often interfere with the amount of water your shade perennials will receive. Water is very important if you want your shade perennial plants to flower, as perennial shade flowers are especially sensitive to the amount of water they receive and will often not bloom, or the blooms will drop, if they do not receive enough.
2) To help preserve moisture, mulching a shade perennial garden is very useful. By applying a mulch, you will also be mimicking the environment many of these shade perennial plants find in nature (frequently these plants are native to heavily forested areas with a thick ground mulch provided by nature).
3) Despite being thirsty, few shade perennial plant like their areas to be wet. Their location should be moist, but also well drained.
For even more tips and advice on shade perennial plants, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas Home Page.
1) Although it may seem counter-intuitive, shade perennial garden plants often need more water than their full sun cousins. This is especially true if your shade perennial garden area is under trees, whose roots and limbs often interfere with the amount of water your shade perennials will receive. Water is very important if you want your shade perennial plants to flower, as perennial shade flowers are especially sensitive to the amount of water they receive and will often not bloom, or the blooms will drop, if they do not receive enough.
2) To help preserve moisture, mulching a shade perennial garden is very useful. By applying a mulch, you will also be mimicking the environment many of these shade perennial plants find in nature (frequently these plants are native to heavily forested areas with a thick ground mulch provided by nature).
3) Despite being thirsty, few shade perennial plant like their areas to be wet. Their location should be moist, but also well drained.
For even more tips and advice on shade perennial plants, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas Home Page.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Book Review: An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials
W. George Schmid's An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials is a must for any perennial gardener's library. The book contains an extensive list of shade perennial plants, and presents the material in an entertaining and readable manner. Schmid has had a shade perennial garden for over thirty years, and the book well reflects his expertise.
Plant entries will cover everything from the origins and common names of the shade perennial plant, to details about its hardiness, flowering cycle, cultivation requirements, how to propagate the plant best, and much, much more. The book discusses over 7,000 different perennial plant species suitable for shade perennial gardens, and is beautifully illustrated with color photos.
If you are looking for the definite guide to shade perennial garden plants, then Schmid's Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials is the book for you. The book can easily be purchased online at Amazon.com. You can easily access the book page by clicking the icon below:
Plant entries will cover everything from the origins and common names of the shade perennial plant, to details about its hardiness, flowering cycle, cultivation requirements, how to propagate the plant best, and much, much more. The book discusses over 7,000 different perennial plant species suitable for shade perennial gardens, and is beautifully illustrated with color photos.
If you are looking for the definite guide to shade perennial garden plants, then Schmid's Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials is the book for you. The book can easily be purchased online at Amazon.com. You can easily access the book page by clicking the icon below:
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Light, Medium and Full Shade Perennial Flowers
My complete series on shade perennial flowers is now complete! Here are links to the following articles:
Light Shade Perennial Flowers
Medium Shade Perennial Flowers
Full Shade Perennial Flowers
I have also recently published an article on Shade Loving Perennial Flowers at Ezine.com as well.
There are also numerous other articles on shade perennial gardens plants and ideas that you will find listed on the right side of the page.
Please check back regularly, more articles are to come soon!
Light Shade Perennial Flowers
Medium Shade Perennial Flowers
Full Shade Perennial Flowers
I have also recently published an article on Shade Loving Perennial Flowers at Ezine.com as well.
There are also numerous other articles on shade perennial gardens plants and ideas that you will find listed on the right side of the page.
Please check back regularly, more articles are to come soon!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Full Shade Perennial Flowers
In previous posts I discussed light shade perennial flowers and medium shade perennial flowers, and in this final post of this three part series I will discuss the best shade perennial flowers for full shade conditions. If you are not acquainted with the definition of shade categories, you may also want to refer to my post "How Shady is Your Garden? Defining Shade Categories."
Full shade is by far the most challenging growing condition of these three shade categories. Full shade refers to an area that receives no direct sunlight at all during the daytime, although there may be quite a bit of indirect or reflected sunlight in the area you are gardening. Far fewer flowers will grow and bloom in full shade conditions than in light or medium shade, but there still are options available.
The Hosta is probably one of the best selections for full shade conditions. Although frequently grown for its lush foliage, the plant also has beautiful bell shaped flowers that bloom in early fall.
The Foam Flower is another excellent choice, especially for moist areas along stream banks where it can easily naturalize. Foam flowers are white or light pink in color, bloom in early spring, and do well in full shade conditions.
Siberian bugloss, also known popularly as the False Forget-Me-Not (Brunnera macrophylla), has beautiful blue flowers and lush green and white heart-shaped foliage that is also suitable for full shade conditions. It also makes a wonderful ground cover plant.
Hopefully this series has helped you find some interesting shade perennial flower possibilities for your shade perennial garden. Please click here to return to the home page for Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas.
Full shade is by far the most challenging growing condition of these three shade categories. Full shade refers to an area that receives no direct sunlight at all during the daytime, although there may be quite a bit of indirect or reflected sunlight in the area you are gardening. Far fewer flowers will grow and bloom in full shade conditions than in light or medium shade, but there still are options available.
The Hosta is probably one of the best selections for full shade conditions. Although frequently grown for its lush foliage, the plant also has beautiful bell shaped flowers that bloom in early fall.
The Foam Flower is another excellent choice, especially for moist areas along stream banks where it can easily naturalize. Foam flowers are white or light pink in color, bloom in early spring, and do well in full shade conditions.
Siberian bugloss, also known popularly as the False Forget-Me-Not (Brunnera macrophylla), has beautiful blue flowers and lush green and white heart-shaped foliage that is also suitable for full shade conditions. It also makes a wonderful ground cover plant.
Hopefully this series has helped you find some interesting shade perennial flower possibilities for your shade perennial garden. Please click here to return to the home page for Shade Perennial Garden Plants and Ideas.
Medium Shade Perennial Flowers
In my previous post I discussed perennial flowers suitable for light shade conditions, and in this post I will now discuss medium shade perennial flowers. This post is part of a three part series, and the next post will deal with perennial flowers for full shade. If you are not acquainted with the definition of shade categories, you may also refer to my post "How Shady is Your Garden? Defining Shade Categories."
Medium Shade (also referred to as partial shade, half shade, semi-shade and dappled shade) loving perennial flowers and plants can tolerate four to five hours a day without direct sunlight. Often this may be the shade situation you find under a mature tree. Whereas there are many perennial flowers that prefer light shade, finding medium shade loving perennial flowers can be a bit more of a challenge, but below you will find some excellent suggestions.
Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum) - Native to the woodlands, these plants have beautiful arching stems that reach up to two feet in length from which white or cream bell-shaped very fragrant flowers hang. They prefer medium shade locations and moist soil.
Begonia grandis (Hardy Begonia). Although there are over 1,500 species of Begonias, only the hardy variety is of interest to northern gardeners. This variety can often survive into zone six and grow well in medium shade. Like their tropical cousins, they need a moist environment to thrive. Because Hardy Begonias generally bloom in fall, they can help extend the flowering period of your shade perennial flower garden.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)- As the popular name suggests, these are a bit reminiscent of sea coral. The tall flower stems bloom from early June through August, and come in a wide variety of colors.
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) - has beautiful, heart shaped flowers bloom in May and June. Plants range in height from just over a foot to nearly three feet tall (D. spectabilis is the tall variety), and they are tolerant of partial or filtered shade.
Daylily (Hemerocallis) - Bright orange flowers that propagate well. In fact, in some areas they are classified as a noxious weed, because they can quickly spread and need to be carefully maintained. But these beautiful medium shade loving perennial flowers are sure to brighten up any garden!
Be sure to check back to read the final part of the series, "Full Shade Perennial Flowers."
Medium Shade (also referred to as partial shade, half shade, semi-shade and dappled shade) loving perennial flowers and plants can tolerate four to five hours a day without direct sunlight. Often this may be the shade situation you find under a mature tree. Whereas there are many perennial flowers that prefer light shade, finding medium shade loving perennial flowers can be a bit more of a challenge, but below you will find some excellent suggestions.
Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum) - Native to the woodlands, these plants have beautiful arching stems that reach up to two feet in length from which white or cream bell-shaped very fragrant flowers hang. They prefer medium shade locations and moist soil.
Begonia grandis (Hardy Begonia). Although there are over 1,500 species of Begonias, only the hardy variety is of interest to northern gardeners. This variety can often survive into zone six and grow well in medium shade. Like their tropical cousins, they need a moist environment to thrive. Because Hardy Begonias generally bloom in fall, they can help extend the flowering period of your shade perennial flower garden.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)- As the popular name suggests, these are a bit reminiscent of sea coral. The tall flower stems bloom from early June through August, and come in a wide variety of colors.
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) - has beautiful, heart shaped flowers bloom in May and June. Plants range in height from just over a foot to nearly three feet tall (D. spectabilis is the tall variety), and they are tolerant of partial or filtered shade.
Daylily (Hemerocallis) - Bright orange flowers that propagate well. In fact, in some areas they are classified as a noxious weed, because they can quickly spread and need to be carefully maintained. But these beautiful medium shade loving perennial flowers are sure to brighten up any garden!
Be sure to check back to read the final part of the series, "Full Shade Perennial Flowers."
Monday, May 11, 2009
Light Shade Perennial Flowers
Light shade perennial flowers (also known as "filtered shade" or "thin shade") are probably the easiest shade perennial flower to place in your garden since there is such a wide variety to choose from. Light shade perennial flowers are those that can tolerate (and often prefer) between two and three hours of shade daily. Many perennial flowers fall into this category, so for this list I decided to pick what are my top five light shade loving perennial flowers.
This post is part of a three part series that will deal with perennial flowers suitable for light shade, medium shade and full shade. If you would like to know more about how to classify the shade in your garden in order to know which shade perennial flower is best for you, I recommend you first take a look at my previous post "How Shady is Your Garden?"
This post is part of a three part series that will deal with perennial flowers suitable for light shade, medium shade and full shade. If you would like to know more about how to classify the shade in your garden in order to know which shade perennial flower is best for you, I recommend you first take a look at my previous post "How Shady is Your Garden?"
Foxglove (Digitalis sp.) - Foxglove blooms in late summer, sending up spires of flowers that can easily reach four feet in height. These look best planted in the background of a light shade garden. Do not try to plant foxglove in areas with medium or dense shade, however, since the flowers will end up being spindly.
Columbine (Aquilegia sp.) - The Columbine is a beautiful flower that is native to the woodlands. It can grow up to three feet tall and comes in a wide variety of colors. It blooms in May and June, and thrives in areas with light shade, and moist but well-drained soil.
Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis), also known as Lenten Roses - These are some of the earliest flowers to bloom each year, and are generally white, burgundy or rose in color. They also have beautiful green foliage.
Daffodils/Narcissus (Narcissus sp.) - beautiful yellow, white and orange flowers that do well in light shade. The perennial bulbs should be planted in the fall in most areas.
Phlox (Phlox divaricata) - Most phlox species prefer light shade, but they will not thrive well in deep shade. They also need moist, well-drained soil. They spread easily, and this should be taken into consideration when planting.
In my next posts, I will also consider five medium shade perennial flowers, and then the third part of this series will look at full shade perennial flowers. For more gardening articles about shade flowers and shade plants, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden homepage.
Foxglove Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Thursday, May 7, 2009
How Shady Is Your Garden? Defining Shade Categories
Often when reading through descriptions for perennial flowers and plants, you will come across terms such as "suitable for partial shade", "prefers filtered shade", or "plant in areas with light shade." The range of shade terms used to describe the light preferences and needs for shade perennial flowers and plants can be very confusing, especially for beginning gardeners. In part this is because many terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same light requirements.
Here is a brief guide to help those purchasing shade perennial flowers and plants. These categories are based on the number of hours per day of shade a plant needs or can tolerate:
Filtered Shade, Light Shade, Thin Shade - This is the shade category that involves the least amount of shade. Generally it means a perennial flower or plant can tolerate two to three hours of shade a day, or that there is very light shade during the day in the area where the perennial garden flowers and plants are growing - such as occasional shade coming through tree branches that are spread wide apart.
Partial Shade, Half Shade, Medium Shade, Semi-Shade, Dappled Shade - Partial shade perennial flowers and plants can tolerate four to five hours a day without direct sunlight. This is the shade situation under many older trees. A dappled sunlight/shade pattern under a tree means that for fifty percent of the time there is sun, and fifty percent of the time there is shade - with the sun and shady areas rotating as the sun moves across the sky.
Full Shade - In a full shade perennial garden or location, there is no direct sunlight hitting the area at all during the day. The location will still receive some reflected, indirect sunlight. There are few perennial garden flowers and plants that can tolerate full shade conditions.
Deep Shade, Dense Shade, Heavy Shade - No direct sunlight and no indirect sunlight. This could be an area such as under a deck platform or in a very densely canopied forest. Almost no plants will grow in such conditions.
Knowing and understanding these shade terms is crucial if you want your shade perennial flowers and plants to thrive. Hopefully these definitions will help you successfully match your garden space with the appropriate shade perennial flowers and plants.
For even more articles about gardening for shade perennial and plants, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden main page.
Here is a brief guide to help those purchasing shade perennial flowers and plants. These categories are based on the number of hours per day of shade a plant needs or can tolerate:
Filtered Shade, Light Shade, Thin Shade - This is the shade category that involves the least amount of shade. Generally it means a perennial flower or plant can tolerate two to three hours of shade a day, or that there is very light shade during the day in the area where the perennial garden flowers and plants are growing - such as occasional shade coming through tree branches that are spread wide apart.
Partial Shade, Half Shade, Medium Shade, Semi-Shade, Dappled Shade - Partial shade perennial flowers and plants can tolerate four to five hours a day without direct sunlight. This is the shade situation under many older trees. A dappled sunlight/shade pattern under a tree means that for fifty percent of the time there is sun, and fifty percent of the time there is shade - with the sun and shady areas rotating as the sun moves across the sky.
Full Shade - In a full shade perennial garden or location, there is no direct sunlight hitting the area at all during the day. The location will still receive some reflected, indirect sunlight. There are few perennial garden flowers and plants that can tolerate full shade conditions.
Deep Shade, Dense Shade, Heavy Shade - No direct sunlight and no indirect sunlight. This could be an area such as under a deck platform or in a very densely canopied forest. Almost no plants will grow in such conditions.
Knowing and understanding these shade terms is crucial if you want your shade perennial flowers and plants to thrive. Hopefully these definitions will help you successfully match your garden space with the appropriate shade perennial flowers and plants.
For even more articles about gardening for shade perennial and plants, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden main page.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Shade Perennial Garden Plant Profile: Hostas
Hostas (plantain lily) are a popular plant for shade gardens because of the massive variety of species available, their ability to thrive in shady garden spots, and their general easiness to grow. Hosta leaves come in a wide selection of colors, shapes and sizes, and their bell shaped flowers are also quite beautiful come early fall. Most varieties are also quite winter hardy,with some varieties surviving into zone three. Hostas make an excellent choice for the beginning gardener, as they are almost foolproof plants that can thrive in almost any shade perennial garden.
Hostas prefer rich, moist and well drained soil. They can work well as a ground cover if planted closely together, where they can quickly choke out competing weeds. The one problem you might encounter if you live in a very moist climate will be slugs, who love to feast on hosta leaves. You may want to look into slug control methods suitable for your shade perennial garden if you fear this will be problem.
Hostas are easy to propagate by divisions, with many gardeners gladly giving away their extras each year. You might want to check if any of your neighbors have hosta varieties they are planning to divide this year that you would like to try in your garden.
Some hosta varieties you might want to consider trying this year in your shade perennial garden include:
Hosta fortunei "aurea" - has nearly gold shaded leaves in the spring, that will darken as the season progresses
Hosta sieboldiana - has very large, blue-green heart shaped leaves. A beautiful specimen.
Hosta undulata - has thin leaves that are wavy, and a white center outlined with green.
You will find that many garden catelogs and nurserys will have a wide variety of other hosta varieties to choose from (there are over 3000 named hosta varieties). In fact, shopping for hostas for your shade perennial garden can quickly become an addiction!
Hostas prefer rich, moist and well drained soil. They can work well as a ground cover if planted closely together, where they can quickly choke out competing weeds. The one problem you might encounter if you live in a very moist climate will be slugs, who love to feast on hosta leaves. You may want to look into slug control methods suitable for your shade perennial garden if you fear this will be problem.
Hostas are easy to propagate by divisions, with many gardeners gladly giving away their extras each year. You might want to check if any of your neighbors have hosta varieties they are planning to divide this year that you would like to try in your garden.
Some hosta varieties you might want to consider trying this year in your shade perennial garden include:
Hosta fortunei "aurea" - has nearly gold shaded leaves in the spring, that will darken as the season progresses
Hosta sieboldiana - has very large, blue-green heart shaped leaves. A beautiful specimen.
Hosta undulata - has thin leaves that are wavy, and a white center outlined with green.
You will find that many garden catelogs and nurserys will have a wide variety of other hosta varieties to choose from (there are over 3000 named hosta varieties). In fact, shopping for hostas for your shade perennial garden can quickly become an addiction!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Top Five Shade Perennial Garden Flowers
What better way to brighten up a shady spot than by using perennial flowers? Unfortunately, many perennial flower varieties thrive in the sun, not the shade, but there are a few excellent choices the prefer cool and dark locations:
1. Dicentra (Bleeding Heart). Dicentra's common name, bleeding heart, comes from the pink heart-shaped flowers on this plant. Bleeding Heart prefers semi-shade to full sun, and also a moist environment. If you have children or pets, however, you need to be careful as all parts of the plant are poisonous.
2. Primula vulgaris (Common Primrose). Common in English cottage gardens, the beautiful primrose is one of the earliest plants to bloom in Spring and they tend to have a long blooming period. The flowers can be pale yellow, white, red, or purple. Both flowers and leaves are edible, with young flowers being a key ingredient for Primrose wine.
3. Aquilegia (Columbine). The Columbine flowers grow naturally in woods and meadows, and are suitable for many semi-shaded locations. They have beautiful bell-shaped flower that come in a variety of colors. They prefer light shade and moist soil, and bloom normally from early to mid-May, although their blooming period can be extended through June if the flowers are removed regularly as they fade.
4. Begonia grandis (Hardy Begonia). There are over 1,500 species of Begonias, many which flourish in tropical environments. Most gardeners in the United States and Europe will be interested in growing the Hardy Begonia, some of which can often survive into zone six. These varieties grow well in the shade, but like their tropical cousins, they need a moist environment to thrive. Because Hardy Begonias generally bloom in fall, they can help extend the flowering period of your shade perennial flower garden. Flowers come in many colors, but pinks and oranges are probably the most common.
5. Iris cristata (Crested Iris). Irises have beautiful, showy flowers that make a wonderful addition to a shade perennial garden. Irises grow from rhizomes and perennial bulbs. Bearded Irises tend to flower in the spring, although some new cultivars may blooms again in the summer and fall (although the second flowering is usually not as showy). Many bearded irises are fragrant, and the flowers come in a variety of colors, with some being bi-colored.
1. Dicentra (Bleeding Heart). Dicentra's common name, bleeding heart, comes from the pink heart-shaped flowers on this plant. Bleeding Heart prefers semi-shade to full sun, and also a moist environment. If you have children or pets, however, you need to be careful as all parts of the plant are poisonous.
2. Primula vulgaris (Common Primrose). Common in English cottage gardens, the beautiful primrose is one of the earliest plants to bloom in Spring and they tend to have a long blooming period. The flowers can be pale yellow, white, red, or purple. Both flowers and leaves are edible, with young flowers being a key ingredient for Primrose wine.
3. Aquilegia (Columbine). The Columbine flowers grow naturally in woods and meadows, and are suitable for many semi-shaded locations. They have beautiful bell-shaped flower that come in a variety of colors. They prefer light shade and moist soil, and bloom normally from early to mid-May, although their blooming period can be extended through June if the flowers are removed regularly as they fade.
4. Begonia grandis (Hardy Begonia). There are over 1,500 species of Begonias, many which flourish in tropical environments. Most gardeners in the United States and Europe will be interested in growing the Hardy Begonia, some of which can often survive into zone six. These varieties grow well in the shade, but like their tropical cousins, they need a moist environment to thrive. Because Hardy Begonias generally bloom in fall, they can help extend the flowering period of your shade perennial flower garden. Flowers come in many colors, but pinks and oranges are probably the most common.
5. Iris cristata (Crested Iris). Irises have beautiful, showy flowers that make a wonderful addition to a shade perennial garden. Irises grow from rhizomes and perennial bulbs. Bearded Irises tend to flower in the spring, although some new cultivars may blooms again in the summer and fall (although the second flowering is usually not as showy). Many bearded irises are fragrant, and the flowers come in a variety of colors, with some being bi-colored.
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