Gardening in the Shade,Best plants to choose

planting shade garden

The definition for shade,gardening in the shade varies according to the amount of shade you have. If you have an area that gets between 3 to 6 hours of sunshine, then yours is a partial shaded area. Some manufacturers use the term, dappled shade when they describe the sunlight requirements. This simply means that the plant gets sun but it comes through the trees, therefore its similar to partial shade. Full shade gets less than 3 hours of sunshine.

Choosing the Plants for a Shade Garden

If you have deciduous trees, those that lose their leaves in the fall, that create the shaded area, you have a huge selection of spring bulbs and flowers from which to choose. Most of these beautiful flowers bloom long before the trees fill out with leaves. Plant several different varieties in your shade garden for a spectacular spring show. Since the flowers and most of the greenery disappears long before the summer plants get very large, you can plant them relatively close to your summer plants to save space. Do not use bulbs you have to dig up each year.

One plant that works well in gardening in the shade and has a beautiful flower and is the hallmark to announce summer is on its way is the Primula. It has a common name of Hardy Primrose and comes in over 40 varieties.

The Primula auricula, a favorite variety with brilliant two-toned flowers, is one of the most attractive. It likes half shade and well-drained fertile soil. If you have a heavy shade area but with deciduous trees, this one is perfect since its finished blooming before the leaves set. Each variety of Primula has its own distinct flower. Since some of them grow in meadowlands, some along mountain areas and some in the forested areas, you will find one or two varieties that you will love. Many nurseries offer a group with several varieties. Be careful when you purchase this flower by the common name since there is also another plant called the Primrose that is a sun lover and will fail immediately in a shaded area. Most of the time, these are referred to as Arkansas Primrose.

More Plants for a Shade Garden

If you want an unusual plant for your shade garden, try a Bergenia. These plants have beautiful chocolate leaves on the plants with bright red flowers. Astilbes are unusual plants that come in a variety of colors. These tend to be a little more temperamental than some of the other shade plants and prefer a rich soil. Some other flowering plants for shaded areas are Bleeding Hearts, Forget-me-nots, Ladies Mantles and Hostas.

There are so many different varieties of hostas with different sizes of leaves, variegated patterns on the leaves and leaf colors that some people create an entire garden of hostas. These hardy plants love the shade and love to multiply. Depending on the variety, you may have a beautiful stalk of white or purple flowers or flowers that are inconsequential compared to the leaves showy presence.

The last list of plants that love the shade isnot all-inclusive but gives you a great place to begin. Foliage plant like the lamium, ferns, silver grass, blue sedge and black mondo grass add an attractive background for many of your other shade plants.

Once you begin gardening in the shade, you will find that it becomes an almost addictive challenge to create a fairyland without the aid of a bright sun. Include a bench in your shade garden and the calming shade garden will be your refuge for many years to come and you will wonder why you never started one earlier.

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