Re: daisies for shade

Nancy,

I too love daisy-shaped flowers. For me, Rudbeckia (don't think it's
Goldsturm; it was growing here when we moved in 25 years ago) blooms well
in shade, full or half. It does not need staking, so I'm guessing that the
CV I have is more shade tolerant than Goldsturm.

We also grow the Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus) and it does OK in full,
dry shade but there is a high ratio of leaves to flowers. Still, visitors
always admire it when it's blooming. It too was here when we moved in.

There is another perennial daisy that I like called heliopsis that has
both single and double-fl'd CVs and blooms a long time. It has very rough,
hairy leaves and grows in sun to half shade.

Re the Anemone blanda, I find that the blues last quite well but that the
whites and pinks peter out after a year or two. Even with the blues, it
doesn't hurt to plant new bulbs every few years just to replenish the
stock. They are inexpensive.

Some of the woodland asters might do well for you in half-shade. They tend
to be white or pretty shades of lavender blue. I personally have had no
success with them, but will keep trying. Does anyone have any tips? I see
them growing wild in forests around here, but fancy cultivars I've
purchased always seem to disappear. Maybe I should swipe some from
someone's woods.

Oh yes--I used to grow Doronicum and eventually lost it. Thanks for
reminding me I need some more! I love the color. I believe it does go
dormant once the hot weather arrives.

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6

On Sun, 6 Feb 2000, Nancy Stedman wrote:

> I have a real attachment to this flower shape flower even though it's more
> associated with meadows than woodlands. I've done fairly well with Rudbeckia
> 'Goldsturm' in half-shade (plants are much more open than they would be in
> the sun), but I've lost all my Anemone blanda (whether due to dry shade, or
> squirrels, I don't know) and my coneflowers have to be staked. Any other
> suggestions for half-shade? Every now and then I see a reference to
> "woodland sunflower" (various species of helianthus), and I also wonder
> about Telekia speciosa and inula. How about doronicum? Does it go dormant?
> Nancy S. (zone 6B, NYC
>
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