Re: DEEP shade

Well, Louise, sounds like the perfect place for some ferns to me.
Ferns come in all sorts of sizes and actually in assorted colors -
think Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum')

http://fancyfronds.com/dev/getdisweed.cfm?ID=10

Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) is another I wouldn't be without
- new growth is an incredible cinnamon color and this one remains
more or less evergreen for me - just got done removing winters
tattered fronds, some still green.

http://fancyfronds.com/dev/displayfern.cfm?ID=44

I would think that Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) would
also grow there...I have them in all sorts of light conditions.

Podophyllum peltatum, the common mayapple should also do well in
these conditions and will spread to form a groundcover, easily
contained by removing the rhizomes that grow just under the surface
of the soil.

Asarum (gingers) would also do well.  A. canadense, the Canadian wild
ginger is deciduous and spreads to form a groundcover of large, soft
green round leaves.  A. europaeum, is evergreen, with small glossy
green leaves and A. shuttleworthii forms have marvelous shiny marbled
foliage.  There are quite a number of this genus  available
nowadays...some of the newer introductions from Japan and other
points far east are a tad more difficult to grow, but there are also
more native ones and cultivars thereof being offered.

Check out Primrose Path for what they have - you can also buy
wholesale from them if you can use the quantity limits. Just came
away Saturday from a lecture by Martha Oliver with 3 pots of Asarum
children..lovely!

http://www.theprimrosepath.com/

For a simple, evergreen groundcover that will grow in the darkest
corner, good old Pachysandra terminalis is hard to beat.  The
variegated form would be more interesting in a small place, I think,
and is not as vigorous.  Or, perhaps the native P. procumbens, which
is probably not going to be fully evergreen for you.

Some of the dwarf forms of Nandina should also do well - 'Firepower'
is one I have and the foliage survived even this nasty winter quite
well, I see.  There are some with very red foliage out there.  Some
are hardier than others and you're sort of borderline for them, but
in a protected spot.....

Try Stylophorum diphyllum, the celandine or wood poppy.  Seems to put
itself in pretty shady spots in my garden, as well as places that get
sun.  Seeds around to make thick stands if you let it.  Shiny golden
yellow flowers in spring (and longer if you carefully remove the
football shaped seed pods) and very interesting foliage all season.

Or consider Symphytum  grandiflorum.  This is a low-growing comfrey
that spreads to form a thick groundcover.  Attractive bell shaped
flowers in late spring.  It grows well in part sun and has even put
itself under some junipers in my garden and grows away, so it should
do in your shady spot.  Weird Dude's (my current article - see SIG
for link) has a variegated form I must have...that would brighten
your deep shady spot.  I don't think the  uplandicum forms would do
as well.  Have a lovely one I got from Ellen Hornig in 1999 and put
it in my woodland garden in a pretty shady place and think it needs a
bit more light...rather incredible plant, however, for those who like
variegated foliage.

Gene can probably come up with a few more suggestions, but seems to
me you have an opportunity for planting some nifty plants in that
area....there is more than Hosta available for the shade garden:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Louise Niemer <naturverbunden@EMAIL.COM>
>
> I have a small pathway on the northwest side of my house.  At the
very most,
> it gets some direct overhead noon light and filtered mid to late
afternoon
> sun.  I have some varigated hydrangeas there (they're doing OK),
some
> 'Silvery Pink' rhododendrens, and 3 mahonia. It is reasonably moist
and soil
> is good.  However, hosta just do not seem to like it there - get
leggy and
> trashy looking.  I'm looking for some ground or understory interest
- would
> love some color but don't hold out much hope - just some good
contrast with
> green and texture would keep me very happy.  Any suggestions?
>
> Louise in Park Hills, KY (zone 6)
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