Easy to grow Shade Plants... Perennials, Annuals and Shrubs...

For many, shade gardening is considered challenging. However, in reality shade gardening can be quite rewarding. The watering is less and the blooms seem to last forever.

Half of my South Garden lies in total shade while the other half receives part sun and then filtered sun...I guess you could call it moving shade. Most is due to my neighbors trees, their various heights and the location of the sun. Obviously, as the summer wanes, and the sun becomes lower in the sky, the part sun area becomes mostly shade. Not to worry...there are many shade loving annuals, perennials and shrubs to choose from.

Just remember about the little slimey critters that slither out at dark. For some reason the slugs have a tendancy to enjoy shade loving plants. Soil seems to stay moist in the shade and as we know, slugs love moisture! There id the beer in the saucer trick or the half shell of a grapefruit turned upside down in the garden to stay off the slugs, however unless you purchase decorator slugs catchers (yes they are available), the beer saucer and grapefruits can look unsightly in the garden. And let us not forget about the slug pellets. These do work, however they must be re-applied after a rainfall.

Why not try the thin copper wire trick. First of all, copper acts as an electric current to the slugs and once they try to cross over...well, they turn to mush. Take a piece of copper wire and place around the bottom of the plant(s). Any gauge of copper wiring can be used, but sometimes the thinner wire is less noticable. Some gardeners choose to place a heavier gauge of wiring around the edge of their shade garden. Whatever works for you.

Personally, I venture out at night with my flashlight and pick off the nasty critters from my plants. It is amazing to see the night life in one's garden. I even managed to discover and pick off a grub that was happily munching on my Lamb's ear.

Now back to the shade plant varieties...

Why not grow Impatiens. Their blossoms are small but their effect in mass planting is stunning. Waves of reds, oranges, pinks and whites can be striking. Try planting Impatiens underneath a tree in containers. Or plant them in a strawberry container, like I did in the image above.

Then there is the Begonia. Again, the blossoms are small but planting in mass along with their glossy foliage of either bronze or deep green makes a statement!

And what about Hostas...their foliage size varies from tiny heart-shaped leaves to huge platter size. While the Hostas do flower, it's the foliage that counts. Whether the color is lime green, dark green...or the texture is ribbed or quilted...you can't beat a Hosta.

Helping along in the groundcover department is the Ajuga or Bugleweed. Even the spikes of blue flowers in the spring help make this burgundy perennial a winner for the shade garden.

Below are the Shade Plants I planted for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Shade Perennials

• Artemisia Silver Brocade
• Ajuga or Bugleweed
• Athyrium
• Astilbe
• Brunnera
• Coral Bells Georgia Peach
• Coral Bells Marmalade
• Coral Bells Lime Ricky
• Evergreen Ogon
• Hardy Plumbago
• Hostas
• Heuchera (Coral Bells) Caramel
• Forget Me Not Victoria Rose
• Fringed Bleeding Heart
• Ladys Mantle
• Lamium
• Leopards Bane
• Ligularia Othello
• Ligularia Rocket
• Scabiosa
• Sedum Dragons Blood
• Sedum Angelina

Shade Annuals

• Begonia
• Bonfire Begonia
• Dragon Wing Begonia
• Coleus
• Fuchsia
• Gartenmeister Fuchsia
• Impatiens
• Kochia
• New Guinea Impatiens
• Oxalis
• Oxalis Lucky Clover or Iron Cross
• Stained Glassworks Coleus

Shade Shrubs

These shrubs can also tolerate part sun, so don't be afraid to give them morning or late day sunshine. The Dogwood has a tendancy to pout if given too much hot sun, but revives itself with the day's end. Just give it plenty of water.

• Barberry Shrub
• Dogwood
• Hydrangea
• Joe Pye Weed
• Ninebark

Begonia from my garden taken September 6, 2009

Image of the Sum and Substance Hosta taken August 4, 2009

Image of Ligularia Othello from my garden taken July 25, 2009

Check out my Site Index Page for a listing of additional annuals and perennials to plant in your flower garden design.

Check out my page for sun perennials and annuals: My Sun Loving Plants.

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