When it comes to the garden, mention the word "shade" and visions of hostas, ferns, moss and other multi-hued plants of green come to mind for many. In fact, some plants have become synonymous with the term “shade,” especially here in the Pacific Northwest where hostas are hip and rododendrons flourish with ease.
Classics such as these are essential elements of any shady space. But we gardeners have plenty of options outside the classics. Even when shadows fill most of your yard, you can still grow plants that impress with color and excitement.
Sure, any well-designed garden is dependent on evergreen structural plants and foliage attractions in all shades of green to serve as the foundation or backbone. But the most interesting compositions consist of color to enhance the visual interest and bring the garden to life. Here’s a baker’s dozen of colorful shade-lovers to help get you started.
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma and hybrids)
Hummingbird and butterfly favorite for its tight clusters of nectar-rich summer blooms in shades of red, pink and lavender; grows 15 to 48 inches tall. Best in partial shade.
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spp. and hybrids)
Delicate, graceful plants with mid-spring to summer blooms in shades of red, pink, white and even yellow; grows 1 to 4 feet tall, depending on species. Most do well in part shade to full shade; D. spectablilis, which has the showiest blooms, performs best in partial shade.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Spikes of summer flowers in scarlet to flame red rise 3 to 5 feet tall; some with purple-red to bronze foliage. Grow in damp, partial shade.
Coral Bells (Heuchera spp. and hybrids)
Compact and mounding evergreen plants prized for their color contrasts of leaf patterns and explosion of foliage colors. Loose clusters of dainty bell-shaped flowers bloom atop 1 to 3 foot wiry stems. Best in filtered or afternoon shade.
Corydalis (Corydalis spp.)
Clump-forming perennial grows 10 to 16 inches high. Spring to early summer flowers in shades of blue, purple or yellow are sometimes fragrant, depending on the variety. Best in partial shade.
Cranesbill (Geranium spp. and cultivars)
These true geraniums bloom over a long period from spring to fall -- depending on the variety -- in shades of blue, purple, magenta, rose or pink. Grows 1 to 3 feet tall; best in light shade to afternoon shade.
False Spirea (Astilbe spp. and hybrids)
Light and airy perennial grows 18 to 26 inches tall. Blooms from late spring through summer in white, pink or red. Grow in partial to nearly full shade.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Deciduous shrubs with large clusters of summer to fall flowers in white, pink, red or blue; grows 4 to 15 feet tall, depending on variety. The flower color in some varieties is determined by the soil pH, with strongly acidic soil resulting in blue blooms and neutral to alkaline soil producing flowers in pink or red. Grow in light shade.
Ligularia (Ligularia dentata; L. stenocephaia)
Stunning perennials with impressively large leaves bear 3 to 5 foot stems topped by yellow to orange daises in summer. Makes a big, bold statement in the shady garden. Grow in moist, dappled shade or midday shade.
Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii; A. napellus)
Richly hued, hood-shaped flowers on tall spikes bloom in shades of blue, violet or purple from late summer into fall. Delphinium look-alike makes a great substitute in the shady garden. (All parts of the plant are poisonous.) Grow in filtered shade or partial shade.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
This classy rhododendron relative features showy flower clusters from light pink to purple red; blooms in late spring. Slow-growing, the evergreen shrub reaches 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, with dwarf varieties growing to 3 feet in 10 years. Best in partial shade.
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Dense, evergreen shrub grows from 2 to 6 feet tall, depending on the variety. Clusters of early spring yellow flowers are fragrant; followed by grape-like clusters of blue-black fruit that appear powdery blue due to its gray bloom. Holly-like leaves turn purplish, wine red or bronze in winter.
Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium)
Ornamental deciduous shrub grows slowly, reaching 4 to 10 feet tall. Clusters of whitish to greenish flowers in spring are following by colorful, bright red edible berries. Grow in partial to full shade.
DEGREES OF SHADE
Not all shade is created equal. The density and type of trees along with adjacent walls, houses or other structures all cast shadows of some degree, creating different areas of shade from dappled light to deep shade. Knowing the degree of shade in a given area will help you select plants that are best suited to your setting.
Partially shady areas receive sunlight for part of the day (about 3 to 6 hours), whether in the early morning or late afternoon. Plants that can be grown in partial shade can also be grown in areas receiving filtered light or dappled shade from an open canopy of deciduous trees.
Medium shade, which is typically found on the north side of a house or beneath a tree or plants with airy foliage, still provides acceptable sunlight for flowering plants such as astilbe, hosta, acanthus and primrose.
Deep shade is dense year-round shade cast from a building, large evergreens or other large trees with dense canopies. These low light conditions still support a number of intriguing and attractive plants mostly noted for their foliage. As such, gardening options are much more limited than with other types of shade.