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Re: [SG] SUGGESTION OF PLANTS

Roberta,

Thanks so much for your response.  Next spring I will investigate
some of your suggestions.  I'm from Texas. . .so I'm thinking I
may have a problem growing some of the plants here. I love red
geraniums. . .I've planted them in pots but never in the ground.

Thanks again.  It was very kind of you.

Judy
>
> Hi Brad and Judy,
>
> I don't have too much time to answer adaquately suggestions for you,
> but will list some of my favorites and also suggest that some shade
> books , catalogs and the web might supply some pics for you to take a
> look at.
> I live in Gloucester Ma at zone 6.5  and am speaking mostly of light,
> moderate, dappled shade, not DEEP shade!
>
> Ajuga, ground cover with wonderful spikes of flowers in the spring.
> Favorites are  Caitlins Giant, deep burgandy foliage and the largest
> of spikes, the variagated leaves of Purple Brocade, or others.  Hard
> to clean up leaves with a rake with these.
>
> Aquilegia, many forms,but I like the large flowered- they are showier
> when clumped also.  Music Blue and Music Red and Yellow are favorites.
>   White also looks nice in dark corners
>
> Astilbes, not only flower, but the leaves remind me of ferns.  Again,
> I like the mass effect.  Many sizes, boom seasons and color of
> foliage as well as flowers.
>
> Campanula takesmania is my favorite ground cover.  started from seeds
> from T and M.  Shiny heart shaped leaves with bells that are creamy
> with burgandy spots on the inside.  I love it!
>
> Sweet Cicely, fernlike foliage about 2 ft high, flowers like Queen
> Annes Lace, and then black long seedheads late in the season.
> Another must have!
>
> Corydalis, the yellow native to here, or else if you can the Blue
> Panda, which is sometimes not hardy.  Great lacy foliage and they
> flower ALL season
>
> Cynoglossum, self seeds and is the summer forget me not
>
> Dicentra, Bleeding Heart.  both the large old fashioned one (which
> disappears completly in the summer) or the ones that I like best -
> the exemias. They are shorter, have greylike lacy foliage and bloom
> all summer.
>
> Digitalis, foxgloves.  If you are introducing these for the first
> time, and have no others around, try a special one, like white, or
> apricot and when they self seed, most of the time you can keep the
> color.  also the strawberry one which sometimes does stay perennially,
>  Mortenensis, or mortensia?  Others like lutea, and lanata with
> smaller yellow flowers are nice.
>
> Feverfew, self seeds, with little white daisy flowers,  Will bloom
> all season.  The gold foliage one is nice even when not in bloom, and
> the all white daisy button is nice
>
> Geraniums.  Perennial. If I could suggest one very underutilized
> wonderful plant group.  Easy to get now too.  some clumps get 3x3 and
> some like Ballerina, are teeny weeny must haves
>
> Heucheras, newer larger flowered ones, like Rhaspberry splash (i
> think) and the purple leaves and splotched or veined ones are of
> great leaf interest.
>
> Heucherellas, part H and part Tiarella,  Great newer ground covers -
> not invasive.  Nice foliage, some blossoms of white or light pink
>
> Ligularia, Desdemona,  has dark large and interesting leaves
>
> Lunaria, variegated form with white flowers are different and very
> early spring bloomers
>
> Lychnis coronara, the old rose campion which now also has blush
> colored flowers.  Biennials, mostly
>
> Monarda does spread and get fairly tall, but you might have a place
> for it.  Get the mildew ressistant kind if possible.  also white,
> pink, mahogany purple, colors
>
> Myosotis, forget me nots.  Cheap, self seeding seas of blue in spring.
>   love it, but remember that it can self seed vigorously.  given the
> right spot, there are breathtaking
>
> Nicotiana, annuals are a favorite instead of impatiens.  and
> sylvestris the old tall, large tubes of flowers are spectacular
>
> pansys and violas - again a must for the colors and shade gardens.
> look for unusual ones since they will self seed
>
> Perilla, self seeding coleus looking very tall, purple/reddish/silver
> sheen foliage. Total favorite here
>
> Polemonium, Jacobs ladder, has very pretty foliage, has a new white
> flower form that is nice in shade and will self seed
>
> Pulmanaria,  another addictive collectors plant!  for the foliage as
> well as the flowers.  Mrs Moon, British Sterling, and EB Anderson are
> some favorites
>
> Solomans Seal, the great tall bending stalk of paired(?) leaves which
> has bells that hang down in the spring.   A statement when in a clump
> (and it does fairly soon)
>
> Veronica- birds eye is a natural here with low matting form and blue
> flowers that match forget me nots
>
> Well, that's all folks!  for now!
>
> Bobbie B in MA
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