Plants that do well in the shade and are colorful perennials?

Question

Hi, I have a front porch that is always in the shade but protected from strong wind. It is easy to water but I need container plants. What I would like to do is arrange them so one group is blooming all year around. I live along the coast (Palos Verdes near Trump National in Southern California) Heat is not a problem and the air is moist nearly all year. Any of you expert gardners have some ideas?

Answer 1

Astilbe, Helleborous, Canna Lilies, Ferns, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Princess Lilies (Alstromeria).....whats growing in our shade houses right now :)

Answer 2

While hostas are great shade plants, very few of them produce blossoms. They usually have a dark green leafy texure, and some have white specks in them. Lilies are a good plant for the warm climate in California. I'm a big fan of calla lilies, but they are hard to keep alive. They require much attention. Check out your local nursery and talk to some experts there about more specific ideas. (Lowe's and Home Depot Garden Center does not qualify as "experts" - those are just teenage kids that need a summer job!!) Good luck!

Answer 3

You're located in USDA Hardiness Zone 10 ... that's a toughie. When I searched the Breck's Nursery site for shade plants for that area, nothing came back. I then switched it to any sun exposure and managed to pull up a few plants:

http://www.brecks.com/search.asp?t=pf&pf_category=0&pf_zone=10&pf_sun_exposure=0&pf_color=&pf_usage=0&x=13&y=11

I then backed it up to Zone 9 and using partial shade and got a few more items that might work:

http://www.brecks.com/search.asp?t=pf&pf_category=0&pf_zone=9&pf_sun_exposure=partial_shade&pf_color=&pf_usage=0&x=10&y=7

If you really think the heat would not be a problem, you could try putting a variety of these in a container and see how long you can keep the color growing ...

Good luck!

Answer 4

at the same time as hostas are super shade vegetation, very few of them produce blossoms. they frequently have a gloomy green leafy texure, and a few have white specks in them. Lilies are a stable plant for the warmth climate in California. i'm an excellent fan of calla lilies, yet they're stressful to maintain alive. They require lots interest. look at your interior of reach nursery and talk to some experts there approximately greater specific concepts. (Lowe's and abode Depot backyard center does not qualify as "experts" - those are basically teenage young toddlers that choose a summer season job!!) good success!

Answer 5

hostas!they thrive in shade,and u cant kill them!very hardy.they dont all flower,and those that do,only briefly have some light purple blooms.however,they have many varieties with exotic,patterned leaves,and they come up every year.i,too,have a lot of shade,and hostas really worked for me.be sure to water frequently.good luck!

Answer 6

The nice thing about containers is they can be planted with slip in pots so you can rotate out plants but leave heavy ornamental containers in place. Or you can group several containers so there is foliage, color and fragrance shifting between the plants over the season.
Look to a small fragrant daphne. Daphne is evergreen with bluish green foliage, slow to grow and very fragrant. A small one (2x2') is Daphne x mantensiana that reblooms in summer and fall sometimes. Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight' is heavily vaiegated or Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice' is a bit taller and less variegation. There are many species and cultivars to choose, some for more shade some for less but all bloom early with spirit lifting fragrance.
Use this as a center element and surround it with a complementary trailer like ivy, Plectranthus argentatus (Silver plectranthus) and a fine foliaged veronica 'Georgia Blue'.
Hostas can come with exquisite leaf figuring and there is the August Lily, (Hosta plantaginea),that produces waxy, trumpet-shaped flowers with a honey scent. 'Fragrant Bouquet' has a broad chartreuse leaf with a wide creamy margin. You might even be lucky enough to to succeed with the rare double flowered form that needs moist soils, warm days and cool nights to perform its best. This is a native from china. http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=0&langId=-1&mainPage=LGprodview&ItemId=41183&cid=wgblog0001


Plants with white or very pale blooms that reflect light include 'Purity' cosmos, 'Armour White' verbena, 'Bride' impatiens, 'Alba' bleeding heart , 'Moonraker' cape fuchsia, 'Perry's White' Oriental poppy, 'Alba' columbine and 'White lace' dianthus.

Edge a shaded stair way in flowing grass. For a cascade where the plants step from pot to pot down the steps unify them with a surround of Japanese forest grass Hakonechloa macra `Aureola` This falls like water billowing down slope. Then plant the center of each pot with a different complementary plant. Use heavy leaved hostas for contrast with the delicate drape of the grass.
Fuchsia magellanica ‘Pumila’ dresses in narrow green foliage with startling red pendant flowers pairs with Hakonechloa macra or Tiarella 'Neon Lights'
You do not want to use all gold or all variegated just as you would not use all large leaves or all fine foliage but a mixture gives greater fullness and highlights each with respect to the others.
For a third dimension try a climbing fragrant vine on a small trellis in a container. Lonicera x italica 'Harlequin' is variegated and fragrant.
http://www.terranovanurseries.com/wholesale/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=196
Trailing plants can include the soft silver Helichrysum petiolare (Licorice plant), the heart shape leaves of Ipomea batatas (Sweet Potato Vine) in ink dark burgundy to pale gold shimmers, or dainty Sutera cordata commonly known as the “Bacopa”.

Answer 7

I cant think of any perennials that are bright. Also, they tend to bloom only for a short time.

If you would consider annuals things like impatiants and eveing primrose are bright and cheerful and will bloom for a long time, fushias are pretty too!