Shade plants?

Question

Cany anyone recommend a nice hardy shade plant that can tollerate filtered sun? I usually only plant impatients and its getting kind of boring each year.

Answer 1

Do you want ground covers that come back every year? Or foliage plants with flowers? Is your shaded area facing North, South , East or West. That should be taken into consideration also, when planning on what to plant. A nice ground cover that has flowers and will spread after its planted is Lily of the Valley. It has a very nice fragrance and blooms in the Spring. Some hostas have fragrant flowers in June. Christmans Rose Helleborous is a nice plant with flowers that can take full or part shade and will bloom for years once its planted. Another thing to consider about your particular shaded area is if it's a dry area or moist. Some plants thrive in areas with wet soil and others need dry soil.

A good source for you to use free in your area is your Home Extension office. They have Master Gardeners that donate their time to answer garden questions and can tell you what plants will thrive in your area. Also, you might check your local college agriculture department or any local green houses or garden clubs.

Answer 2

Heuchera are awesome. The foliage comes in all colors from lime yellow to purplish bronze to a mottled white/green. It gets sprays of flowers...mine are blooming now in zone 4/5. It does great in shady areas and sunny areas, but prefers a filtered shade like your speaking of. It's one of my favorite plants. Hosta can also take quite a bit of sun.... I'm told the rule is the green/white plants can take more sun than the blueish ones.. and most hostas are very hardy. The only one I've ever had that's seemed kind of slow to get going is "Remember Me". Other than that I have several varieties that grow in quite sunny areas including sum and substance.... which gets huge. Then there is golden tiara which stays fairly small.. so depending on the area you have.

Answer 3

Like the others posted above - Hostas, Huecheras/Coral Bells, Ferns, Bleeding Hearts, Vinca, and Astilbe.

Here's a website where you can look at some shade lovers - if you find some that you like go to a nursery and ask if these plants will do well in your area. Also, they might have some suggestions for things that do well in your climate.

Answer 4

Impatiens are an annual. Are you looking for a different kind of annual, or are you looking for a perennial (plants that will come back year after year, without having to replant each year?)? If you want the color and constant blooming of an annual in your shady spot, try begonias. If you are more interested in planting perennials, try hostas, ferns, pachysandra or vinca. They are not as colorful, but are much less hassle. Good luck!

Answer 5

Hosta is an excellent choice and there are many varieties. Also Bleeding heart. If you want to look for lots of different kinds go to Michigan Bulb. They have a website and I have purchased from them.

Answer 6

Hosta

Answer 7

the hosta plant is a good shade plant. i also have some azalea bushes and they really don't need that much shade either. i hope this helps. hydrangeas are good too.

Answer 8

Columbines & periwinkle are great for little to no sunlight.

For morning sun and afternoon shade, try bellflowers, shasta daisies, hyssop, pincushion flowers, coral bells, pansies, goldenrod, dianthus, coneflowers, soapwort, candytuft, asters, foxglove, poppy mallow, butterfly bushes, gladiolas, sugarbowl clematis, and rockrose...to name a few!

Good luck!

Answer 9

How about geraniums and begonia's are nice alternatives. Both of these have flowers and begonias even have a large interesting verietal called begonia Rex

Answer 10

I have Coral Bells in my shaded back yard and they do great.