My 12 year old son is going through a period of self realization. He is realizing that he will not actually be marrying his first love, events around the world interest him, and that the color of his hair is really ginger (the new term for Red).
The first realization was devastating, the second intriguing, and the third surprisingly difficult. The hair color realization was made even more difficult today because a teacher told him that people with ginger colored hair have a quick temper. This is a complete misconception evidenced by the fact that I didn’t contact the teacher to voice my concern with this statement. It did however make me think of other misconceptions: Danish Pastries are from Denmark, bats are blind, Napoleon was short, and gardening in the shade is difficult.
While I can’t speak to the pastry, bats, or Napoleon, I can tell you that shade gardening is certainly not difficult. The most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen have been in a shady area. While we don’t frequently get to walk through a forested area, the next time you do, take a look at the gorgeous combinations of plants that thrive underneath the shade of the tall trees.
As with any gardening project, it’s important to do some evaluation before planting. When determining the light situation of an area, consider using these guidelines.
Full shade = no direct sun. Sites that may fit this description would be near the side of a north-facing wall or under a mature tree.
Part shade = up to 4-5 hours of direct sun a day. Areas on the east or north sides of a home may fit this description.
Filtered sun = up to 2-3 hours of direct sun and sunlight through a canopy of trees or pergola.
Full sun = full sun for at least six hours per day. Many plants in our climate can receive up to 15 hours of direct sun in the summer months. The west and south sides of the home are usually considered full sun.
Landscaping sites do change as they mature. An area that was once full sun may become part shade as a tree or trees mature. It is best to evaluate your landscape and modify it as the growing conditions change.
The following is a list of perennial flowers and groundcover plants to consider when planting in a shade garden. The first name listed is the botanical name; the second is the common name. I haven’t included a second name if the botanical and common names are generally considered to be the same.
Perennials Flowers:
Alchemilla mollis, Lady’s Mantle
Anemone
Aquilegia, Columbine
Aruncus, Goatsbeard
Astilbe, False Spirea
Bergenia
Brunnera, False forget-me-not
Campanula glomerata, clustered bellflower
Cimicifuga, bugbane
Convallaria, lily of the valley
Dicentra, Bleeding Heart
Dodecatheon, Shooting Star
Doronicum, Leopard’s Bane
Epimedium, Barrenwort
Filipendula, Meadowsweet
Galium, Sweet Woodruff
Geranium, Cranesbill
Helleborus
Heuchera, Coral Bells
Hosta
Iris cristata, Dwarf Crested Iris
Myostotis, Forget-Me-Not
Phlox, Garden Phlox
Polemonium, Jacob’s Ladder
Pulmonaria, Lungwort
Tiarella, Foamflower
Tradescanthia, Spiderwort
Tricyrtis, Toad Lily
Veronica, Speedwell
Viola, Violet
Groundcovers:
Ajuga, Bugleweed
Euonymus ‘Coloratus’, purple leaf wintercreeper
Hedera helix ‘Thorndale’, English Ivy
Lamium, Deadnettle
Liriope, Lilyturf
Lupinus, Lupines
Pachysandra, Japanese Spure
Vinca minor, Periwinkle
This is only a partial list. For more information on the plants listed, consider checking out the website www.perennialquality.com. This website is put together by a premiere plant grower in the area. The plants listed on the site may be purchased through local garden centers.
• Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or tgsinc12@msn.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
