My front yard gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I want more blooms, but don't know what to plant. Any suggestions, landscape ideas, ect would be appreciated.
Need a list of blooming shade plants
My shade faves for blooming as well as foliage are Heucheras (and Tiarellas and X Heucherellas); hellebores, and pulmonarias.
It's a long list, but I hope this helps some. This list was given to me when I took a seminar sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens®. As always, you will need to check to make sure that the plants are suitable for your region.
SHADE-LOVING PLANTS
These plants prosper in light or half shade. Plants marked with ‘*’ also do well in difficult deep shade.
ANNUALS
Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum (wax begonia)
Coleus x hybridus (coleus)
Impatiens wallerana (impatiens)
Lobularia maritima (sweet alyssum)
Torenia fournierni (wishbone flowers)
Viola x wittrockiana (pansy)
BULBS
Agapanthus hybrids (lily-of-the-Nile)
Begonia x tuberhybrida (tuberous begonia)
Caladium x hortulanum (fancy-leaved caladium)
Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop)
Hyacinthoides hispanica (wood hyacinth)
Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake)
Lilium martagon (Martagon lily)
Lycoris squamigera (resurrection lily)
DECIDUOUS SHRUBS
Abelia x grandiflora (glossy abelia)
Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye)
Callicarpa spp. (beautyberry)
*Calycanthus floridus (sweet shrub)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush)
Clethra alniflora (summer-sweet)
Corylopsis spp. (winter hazel)
Daphne x burkwoodii (Burkwood daphne)
*Dirca palustris (leatherwood)
*Euonymus alatus (winged euonymus)
Fothergilla gardenii (dwarf fothergilla)
Hamamelis spp. (witch hazel)
Hydrangea macrophylla (french hydrangea)
*Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea)
Ilex decidua (possum haw)
Ilex verticillata (winterberry)
Itea japonica (Japanese sweetspire)
Kerria japonica (Japanese rose)
Lindera benzoin (spicebush)
Lonicera fragrantissima (winter honeysuckle)
Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony)
Philadelphus coronarius (sweet mock orange)
Rhododendron hybrids (Knap Hill, Exbury and Mollis hybrid azaleas)
Rhododendron spp. (native azaleas)
Salix purpurea (purple osier)
Sobaria sorbifolia (Ural false spirea)
Symphoricarpos spp. (snowberry)
Viburnum plicatum forma tomentosum (double file viburnum)
Weigela florida (old-fashioned weigela)
FERNS
*Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern)
*Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’ (Japanese painted fern)
*Cyrtomium falcatum (Japanese holly fern)
*Dryopteris marginalis (marginal shield fern)
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Polystichum arostichoides (Christmas fern)
Polystichum munitum (Western sword fern)
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ (golden sedge)
Carex morrowii (Japanese sedge)
Chasmanthum latifolium (sea oats)
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Japanese wind grass)
PERENNIALS AND BIENNIALS
Aconitum spp. (monkshood)
Alchemilla mollis (lady’s-mantle)
Anemone x hybrida (Japanese anemone)
Astilbe spp. (astilbe)
Begonia grandis (hardy begonia)
*Cimicifuga spp. (bugbane)
Corydalis lutea (yellow corydalis)
*Dicentra spp. (bleeding-heart)
Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)
Eupatorium coelestinum (hardy ageratum)
Helleborus niger (Christmas rose)
Hemerocallis fulva (tawny daylily)
*Hosta cultivars (hosta)
Lamium maculatum (spotted dead nettle)
Ligularia spp. (ligularia)
Liriope muscari (blue lilyturf)
Lunaria annua (honesty)
Myosotis sylvatica (woodland forget-me-not)
Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox)
Primula spp. (primrose)
*Pulmonaria saccharata (Bethlehem sage)
VINES AND GROUNDCOVERS
Actinidia kolomikta (Kolomikta vine)
*Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ (bishop’s weed)
*Ajuga reptans (bugleweed)
Akebia quinata (five-leaf akebia)
*Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry)
*Asarum caudatum (British Columbia wild ginger)
*Bignonia capreolata (cross vine)
Campsis radicans (trumpet creeper)
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (leadwort/blue plumbago)
*Chrysogonum virginianum (goldenstar)
Clematis x hybrida (hybrid clematis)
Clematis maximowicziana (sweet autumn clematis)
Cobaea scandens (cup-and-saucer vine)
Convallaria majalis (lily-of-the-valley)
Epimedium spp. (bishop’s hat)
Ficus pumila (creeping fig)
Galax urceolata (galax)
*Gaultheria procumbens (checkerberry)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jasmine)
*Hedera helix (English ivy)
Hydrangea petiolaris (climbing hydrangea)
Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine)
Juniperus conferta (shore juniper)
Liriope spicata (creeping lilyturf)
Lonicera x heckrottii (goldflame honeysuckle)
Lysimachia nummularia (creeping Jenny)
*Mazus reptans (mazus)
Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese spurge)
*Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Polygonum aubertii (silver lace vine)
*Saxifraga stolonifera (strawberry begonia)
Thunbergia alata (black-eyed Susan vine)
Trachelospermum jasminoides (confederate jasmine)
Vinca minor (myrtle, periwinkle)
What a wonderful list!
Robyn
Impatiens can be wonderful if you can find a place that carries more than the ho-hum bedding plants.
I found a nursery that carries a good selection of heights, colors and types. I've got some doubles, some with variegated leaves. Those get about 12-18 inches high when well grown and get very bushy. Very attractive. The singles come in a bright range of colors and in different heights and sizes.
I mix mine in containers with ferns. Adds a lot of color and texture.
Thanks Terry and Michael for all the great info. I have really neglected planting things in my front yard due to the shade, and tons of oak tree roots. I like alot of color in the lanscape. The more the merrier. Hopefully I can comprise a nice planting with your help =).
WOW what a great response to edenawaitsme's question. I needed the answer also since I have giant oak trees all around the house.
Judy
I've had great success with Zantedeschia Rehmanni--Pink Calla Lily, Zan. Albomaculata--Speckled leaf variety w/beautiful white, long blooming flowers. They also do well in a water feature--very cool. I ended up placing the plants in a shady section of my herb garden and in the spring they came back--go figure. Not demanding at all., BUT, don't appreciate being really dry.
Mandevilla Dipladenia--a fast-growing, glossy leaved climber with a striking red flower. I cannot imagine my shade garden without this beauty. I purchased this plant in Tulsa as an annual, but will attempt to overwinter inside. I have high hopes and don't think it will mind.
Hydrangea Anomala subsp. petiolaris--not you everyday hydrangea--you just need to see this one. Multiple blooms appear to be floating in a mist of tiny flowerettes. It's been very hardy for me in substantial shade for such a delicate looking plant.
Good luck in your garden!
Thank you all =)!