Towering trees of Oak, Maple and Spruce, to name a few, provide unparalleled beauty to many a Main Line landscape with their colorful fall foliage and magical snow-covered branches, but they are also the cause of challenge for many homeowners. Why? Because of the shadows they leave in their wake, making it hard for other plant species to survive. Never fear! I’ve created a survival kit, if you will, of plants that not only thrive perfectly well in the shade, they gloat in it. With a mix of different plant species and their cultivars (natural varieties), your shaded landscape can be just as stunning as your rose garden.

But first, there are some points you should know. Number one, in addition to low light levels, plants growing in the shade not only miss out on sunlight, they also compete with shading trees for nutrients and water. They are often subject to poor air circulation, as well. So pay close attention to the soil surrounding your new plantings. Make sure there is proper drainage. You may want to add organic matter if you have heavy clay in your soil to help loosen it.

Also keep in mind, light patterns change throughout the seasons. So an area that may benefit from full sun in one season may have shade in another. In this case, you need to pick a plant species that can tolerate both sun and shade.

That being said, here are the varieties I recommend for your shady spots:

~ Carex
Carex (also known as sedge) has clumps of narrow arching leaves that grow up to two inches high and tolerate both sun and shade. The species, Carex buchananii, has narrow red-brown leaves that curl over at the tip, thus adding a very distinctive contrast to your shade garden.

~ Epimedium
There are approximately 20 species in the Epimedium group (common name Barrenwort) that provide ideal ground covers but are also well-suited for beds and borders. Epimedium resembles a spreading mat of leaves in green, yellow or red and flowers in white, yellow, pink or red. For instance, the cultivar E. x youngianum has heart-shaped leaflets that are brightly marked with red and in late spring, tiny white or pink flowers emerge.

~ Helleborus
Helleborus also bears flowers, in colors apple green, white, pink and deep purple. H. niger, or Christmas rose, has flowers that bloom as early as January and February, even popping through light snow. H. orientalis, or Lenten rose, blooms slightly later. Hellebores are evergreen and keep their deeply-lobed leaves all year. Once established, do not move as they are slow to re-establish.

~ Hostas
Hostas, ranging in size from 6 inches to 3 feet, are commonly thought of when planning shade gardens. While they may be common, they certainly aren’t boring. In fact, by planting a variety of Hosta species in your garden, you can have variegating greens side-by-side (or yellow or bluish tones) and even flowers if you plant the Hosta x ‘August Moon,’ which has large, rounded, seer-suckered golden leaves and white flowers with a touch of pale lavender, come July. For a pleasant contrast against some of the darker Hosta varieties, plant greenish-gold H. fortunei ‘Gold Standard.’

~ Liriope
Liriope, or by its common name Lilyturf, is a grass-like perennial that grows up to 18 inches high and produces violet-blue flowers. Liriope is especially useful as a ground cover but be sure not to plant it in the way of foot traffic. Blue Lily turf (L. muscari) is perfect for edging beds and borders, and for extra punch look for ‘variegated’ with cream-edged leaves. Be wary of the species ‘spicata’, however, as this plant can be invasive and take over its surroundings.

These species are but a sample of what can grow in the shadow of another. Consult your local nursery for more idea inspiration. Or call us. We not only inspire, we install, as well!