Re: Flower Perrenials for the Shade

Everyone has given you lists of great plants, depending on just where in
the world you garden.  You need to make sure the plants you select will
grow in your area :-)  As a totally crass plug, I've been writing about
plants that grow in my shade garden (USDA zone 7 - colder part) for almost
two years on Suite101...have something like 83 articles up.  Many of them
have photographs - the most recent ones have actual photos in the article -
since I acquired a scanner - or links to photos.  So, if you are curious
about what some (not all) of the plants everyone has listed for you look
like and need a bit more detailed information about them, you may be
interested in taking a look at my articles.  Not that they are the final
word, by any means, but they may help you.  The URL to my front page is in
my SIG and you can click on the "more articles" link in the left column to
find the complete list.  As you see from everyone's lists - a *lot* of
really neat plants grow in shade.

However, I've not found one that flowers continually from June to October. 
Most perennials will flower for only a few of weeks, and many that are
adapted to shade are spring bloomers - they get their major growth and
flowering done before the trees fully leaf out.  Some will continue, if you
deadhead them religiously and some will throw a few blooms for a long time
after their major flush.  A lot depends on your climate.  Plants will
flower longer in cooler, dryer climates than they do in my hot, humid one. 
 You can select perennials that flower in different parts of the season, so
you always have something in bloom.  Also, consider plants that have
foliage that you like and that remains nice all season - that way you will
have something to look at that gives you pleasure, whether it's flowering
or not.

I'm a variegated foliage nut.  One of the reasons is that variegated
foliage lights up those really shady spots, even when not in bloom.  Some
people don't like variegated foliage, but if you do, your garden is richer
for it, IMHO.  Plus, there are plants that come with foliage in shades of
yellow or in shades of red that are really nice accents.  Most of the gray
foliage plants won't do in shade as they want a lot of sun.

And, don't forget the ornamental grasses.  A lot of them grow very well in
varying degrees of shade and have beautiful foliage and the bonus of their
own brand of flowers during the season.  Plus, they can still be ornamental
after they've died and turned lovely shades of beige and bone through the
winter, until cut back in early spring.  They are very good with bulbs
because they need to be cut back early when the bulbs are doing their thing
and then they put on growth that hides the dying bulb foliage after the
bulbs are finished.

There are three biennials (or short-lived perennials) that I wouldn't be
without:

Digitalis (foxglove)
Lunaria annua (Money plant or honesty)
Hesperis matronalis ( Dame's Rocket)

The Digitalis and Hesperis get tall, too.  All three of these are best
started from seed, which I just scatter where I want it to grow.  They make
a rosette of leaves the first year and bloom the second; set seed and die
(always in the case of Lunaria).  I have had Digitalis and Hesperis plants
live for a couple of years, but sometimes they don't.

For untempermental, continuous bloom in shade, you can't beat Impatiens in
my book!  I love them and wouldn't be without them.

Have fun picking your plants!  

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
current article:  Planting Under Trees - Part 6; Special Pets
http://www.suite101.com/frontpage/frontpage.cfm?topicID=222
Gardening Topic Index for Suite101:
http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/79/gardening.html


----------
> From: Kennedy, Cheryl <Cheryl.Kennedy@analog.com>
> Date: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 11:21 AM
> 
> Does anyone have recommendations for flowering perrenials for the shade?
> This are gets sun in the morning until 11 a.m. and then is shaded all
> day. I'd like to plant some flowering perrenials that will bloom
> June-October. I plant tulips in the spring and I border this area with
> impatience but would like to add some taller (12-24" or so) perrenials
> in the back. Any ideas?
> 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index