- What are great plants for under shade?
Before planting your shade garden, there are a few things that you’ll need think about and to ask yourself: How much sun does the area get? Does the area get and/or hold water or is it very dry? Will I be watering and mulching? What size or types of plants do I want – groundcovers to trees, annuals or perennials? Do I want flowers or mostly foliage? Are there other conditions or interests, such as plants for pollinators?
Here are a couple of ideas that touch on each of these questions. There are also many resources to research and I’ve listed a few of them below.
How much sun do I get? There are basically four classes to determine the amount of sun you get. Once you are familiar with the level of sun, you can select the type of plant and variety that will work in your area. The four general classes are: Light shade or partial shade receives 4-6 hours of sun, mostly in the morning; Dappled or filtered shade is sunlight filtering through a canopy of trees; Full shade refers to areas with 2 or less hours of sun a day; Deep shade is an area that receives no direct sunlight.
General ideas for plants that will thrive in shady areas – please check the variety to be sure it’s right for you.
Annuals: English daisy (Bellis perennis), Lobelia (Lobelia erinus), Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens), Pansy (Viola tricolour var. hotensis), Begonia (Begonia spp.), Coleus (Coleus blumeii).
Grasses: Sedges (Carex spp.), Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa), Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonica; O. planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’), Oriental fountain grass (Pennisetum), Reed grass (Stipa brachytricha)
Groundcovers: Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis), Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), Baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii), Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
Perennials: Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla), Hardy cyclamen (Cyclamen spp.), Cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum), Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.), Bishop’s hat (Epimedium spp.), Hellebore (Helleborus spp.), Coral bells (Heuchera spp.), Plantain lily (Hosta spp.),
Ferns (e.g., Polystichum: P. munitum — sword fern; P. setiferum — soft shield/Alaskan ferns; P. acrostichoides — Christmas fern; P. tsus-simense — Korean Rock Fern)
Shrubs: Variegated aucuba (Aucuba japonica), Skimmia, Camellias (Camellia japonica or Camellia sasanqua), Fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida), Lily of the valley shrub (Pieris japonica), Evergreen euonymus (e.g., Euonymus fortunei), Barberry (Berberis thunbergia ‘Aurea’, Winter daphne (Daphne odora), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), Euonymus japonica, Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)
Trees: Dogwood (Cornus kousa or Cornus nuttalii), Vine maple (Acer circinatum), Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonica), Western yew (Taxus brevifolia)
Vines: Clematis (Clematis chrysocoma), Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Drought tolerant: Bears breeches (Acanthus mollis), Anemone (Anemone x lipsiensis) Camellia, Helleborus, Western columbine (Aquilegia Formosa)
Sources
The Informed Gardener. Linda Chalker-Scott.
Fine Gardening
McNeilan, R. &J. (1997) The Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Book of Lists.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Washington State University. Planting in Dry Shade in the Pacific Northwest
Xera Plants Inc. Dry shade
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Shrubs page
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