Re: Fast growing plants for the shade...?
- Subject: Re: [SG] Fast growing plants for the shade...?
- From: S* a* R* I* <i*@AIR.ON.CA>
- Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 14:25:05 -0400
To Nancy's list I would add viburnums such as the highbush cranberry if
they do well in your area. The bright red fruit lingers through the
fall, as birds here choose first the berries on dogwoods, saskatoons
(aka serviceberry), hawthorns and chokecherries. The cranberries are
eaten much later, after they have been sweetened by several hard frosts,
or even in early spring. They grow and fruit here in fairly deep shade,
while the saskatoons are more a woodland edge type of plant. They will
survive in deeper shade, but I'm not sure how well they will produce
fruit without much sun. Also, what about hazelnuts? I imagine that
these are all easy to propagate by collecting and planting ripe seed in
the fall.
Sharon, near Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada Zone 3/4
Hi James!
For edging shrubs I suggest hawthornes, hollies or serviceberry.
Although you might have to purchase the first one of these, I believe
that they are easy to propogate from tip cuttings. Up here in the
Cleveland, OH area, all three are found in my local nursery under
'these plants need a good home' sale area in the fall. It doesn't
matter what their current shape is as they are easily pruned; they do
need to be healthy, tho.
All three provide a good source of food (and 2 for shelter) for our
feathered friends.
Nancy
>
> I have a particularly shady back yard courtesy of the trees which
form quite
> a canopy back there.
> I want to replant the area but I'm especially interested in plants
that have
> wildlife value -- specifically, those that will yield food in the
form of
> berries, nuts, fruit, and so forth.
