A shady area of your garden can be just as difficult to plan as that hot, all day, bake in the sun spot. As with anything, a little research and planning will get you that lush, shady hideaway area of your garden. Choose from the plants listed below to start you on your way. Take a look at my Ground Covers for Shade for more choices.
Click on photos to see a larger view
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Common Name
Bleeding Heart
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Botanical Name
Dicentra
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Description
Part shade to full shade perennial. Depending on species it grows from 6" up to 3'. Requires rich, moist soil with good drainage. Blooms in spring then usually die down and become dormant by mid-summer.
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Photo
Photo by: Dr. Leonard Perry, UVM Extension
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Cardinal Flower
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Lobelia cardinalis
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Part to full shade perennial. Native to eastern U.S. growing 2' - 4' tall. Blooms during the summer. Requires rich moist soil.
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Astilbe
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Astilbe sp.
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Shade perennial that can take the sun in the upper south. Grows 1' up to 4' tall. Requires moist, well drained soil. Blooms late spring through the summer.
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Calla Lily
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Zantedeschia
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Full sun to part shade rhizome. Protect from hot afternoon sun. Grows 12" - 18" tall. Plant rhizomes in fall for spring bloom.
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Lenten Rose
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Helleborus orientalis
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Partial to full shade perennial. Grows 12" - 16" tall. Blooms in late winter and continues til spring. Self sows freely. Caution: All parts poisonous if ingested.
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Photo by: Dr. Leonard Perry, UVM Extension
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Solomon's Seal
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Polygonatum sp.
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Dappled to full shade perennial. Grows 3' - 5' tall. Dwarf species grows 4" - 6" tall. Needs loose 'woodsy' soil with regular water.
P. biflorum is native to eastern North America. |
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Bugleweed
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Ajuga reptans
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An evergreen perennial approximately 4" to 10" tall. Fast spreading ground-cover with a variety of cultivars. 3" to 5" tall purple, pink or white flower spikes in late spring.
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Columbine
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Aquilegia sp.
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Full sun to filtered shade. Protect from hot afternoon sun. Grows 2' - 4' tall, blooming in the spring to early summer. Cut back spent flowers to get second bloom. Soil needs to be well drained.
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Photo by: Dr. Leonard Perry
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Coral Bells
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Heuchera sanguinea
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Semi-evergreen in South Carolina growing approximately 12" high. Blooms June thru August. Many varieties available with striking colored foliage.
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Hosta
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Hosta sp
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Easy to grow perennials grown mainly for their foliage. There are hundreds of species and thousands of cultivars to choose from.
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Lily of the Nile
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Aganpanthus
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Full sun to light shade. Grows 24" - 30" tall. Blooms spring to summer. Very adaptable and will tolerate some drought once established.
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Snakeroot
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Cimicifuga racemosa
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Best in partial shade. Grows 3' - 5' tall blooming summer to fall. Native to eastern U.S.
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Photo by: Dr. Leonard Perry, UVM Extension
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Ginger Lily
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Hedychium coronarium
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Light shade tender perennial. Grows to 6' high. Needs moist, rich organic soil. Very fragrant flowers.
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Foam Flower
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Tiarella cordifolia
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Partial to full shade perennial. Grows 6" - 12" tall blooming in spring into the summer. Needs moist well drained soil.
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Japanese Anemone
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Anemone japonica
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Partial shade to shade perennial. Grows between 2' - 4' tall. Blooms in fall and requires regular water. Caution: All parts poisonous if ingested.
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Begonia
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Begonia sp.
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Partial shade to full shade annuals and tender perennials. Grows 12" - 36" tall, blooming spring through fall.
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Shown here Begonia semperflorens
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Creeping Jenny
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Lysimachia nummularia
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Full sun to shade evergreen. The more sun it gets the more bright, green, florescent it is. Spreads at root joints. Fairly drought tolerant when established.
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