We can admire with delight the graceful, evergreen rosettes of Dicksonia antarctica (Soft Tree Fern) and Cycas revoluta (Cycad) or the fan-shaped foliage of Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm). The velvety leaves of a Jewel Orchid are as lovely as any flower petal (what's that you say, lovelier?). There are dozens of other garden-worthy species, all of which perform best in cooler climates. Hosta is grown for its attractive foliage in a wide variety of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes ranging from teacup to truck tire-sized. pictum), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum). Bellflower, Campanula pyramidalis. 3 inches to 2 feet tall, 3 feet wide or greater. 8 to 12 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide; flower stalks can reach 2 to 3 feet tall. Among the earliest perennials to bloom, the showy flowers—in shades of blue, pink, coral, and white—emerge simultaneously with the attractive green, spotted or silver foliage that grows ever larger as the season progresses. Golden Japanese forest grass. Some Hosta varieties, considered one of the best foliage plants for light shade, are extremely showy and architectural. 6 inches to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide. B. papyrifera (paper birch), B. nigra (river birch), B. pendula (weeping birch), B. populifolia ('Whitespire' grey birch). The leaves of the plant provide a golden center with thin dark green margins with edges that curl slightly. Lily of the Valley. Caladium – Caladiums dazzle in shade borders with their large, arrow-shaped leaves splashed with shades of green, white, cream, pink and red. Ferns pair well with nearly any woodland shade plant such as primrose (Primula), bishop’s hat (Epimedium), hosta (Hosta), masterwort (Astrantia) and wood sorrel (Oxalis). Golden or variegated species are valuable for lighting up darker areas with their foliage. Architectural plant grown for its sword like leaves and colourful foliage. Regarded as queen of the shade garden, and it’s easy to see why. ‘Cutting Edge’ foamflower. Giant Elephant Ear – Talk about architectural plants! More assorted Bromeliads, posing for their close-up. This deciduous tree or shrub needs virtually no care once established, with most suitable for small spaces. Smaller specimens can be planted in containers. These colorful perennials put on a spring show with pink, purple, or white flowers; some varieties also offer outstanding fall color in their woodsy-scented foliage. Hellebores (Helleborus) are coveted by avid gardeners for their exceptionally long bloom time, cup-shaped flowers and attractive evergreen foliage. Photo by Proven Winners. Gardening in the shade has the reputation of being difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Update: A flood of new cultivars entered the market years ago, with a mind-boggling array of leaf shapes, sizes and colors. ‘Dark Vader’, ‘Raspberry Splash’, ‘Bertram Anderson’, ‘Sissinghurst White’. Shade plants, especially indigenous species suited to the local conditions are among the most beautiful and tolerant. Kaffir lily. Use as a backdrop or focal point in a mixed border, or as a stand-alone focal point in a lawn. A water loving plant that can actually grow in swampy soil, this plant loves sun but will tolerate some shade. * Required FieldsWe will never sell or distribute your email to any other parties or organizations. Low light plants like astilbe make excellent porch plants for shade. Foxglove (Digitalis) is a classic cottage-style favorite, grown for its statuesque spires of bell-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring and summer. For a nearly endless choice of foliage colors, patterns and forms, coral bells (Heuchera) fits the bill. Architectural plants are often associated with sunny situations. Heart to Heart™ 'Rose Glow'. Caladium can be grown from tubers or purchased as plants. These deciduous trees do best when planted in rich, well-draining soil, and with regular water and protection from hot afternoon sun. Hellebore hybrid. View All. Grown for its frothy flowers that bloom over an exceptionally long time, the heart-shaped, lobed leaves in various patterns provide color year-round in milder regions. ‘Gold Heart’ old-fashioned bleeding heart. Brunnera varieties make great ground cover and do particularly well in dappled shade. Other perennial species are a good choice for a mixed border. Architectural Plants Design a simple plant palette with bold, architectural plants. The graceful vase-shaped structure is just a bonus, with some varieties having additional attributes of fall color or fragrance. Proven Accents® Pink Chablis®, ‘White Nancy’, ‘Golden Anniversary’, ‘Beacon Silver’, ‘Chequers’. Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), H. macrophylla ‘Harlequin’, H. paniculata ‘Limelight’, H. arborescens Invincibelle® ‘Annabelle’. Jungle cacti are epiphytes, which means that they grow (harmlessly) on tree trunks in their natural habitats—and they look nothing like the harshly spiky cacti you may be picturing. Ferns pair well with nearly any woodland shade plant such as primrose (Primula), bishop’s hat (Epimedium), hosta (Hosta), masterwort (Astrantia) and wood sorrel (Oxalis). See more foliage plants: Proven Winners: 20 Fab Foliage Plants for Shady Spaces. Primo® ‘Peachberry Ice’. Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. Proven Accents® Pink Chablis®. Combine with other spring bloomers such as violets, Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), creeping phlox, and bleeding heart. The most commonly grown variety of this deciduous perennial is L. spectabilis (syn. For longer-lasting plants, the foliage and flowers of fringed bleeding heart (D. eximia) or western bleeding heart (D. formosa) will last into fall with regular watering. Use as a specimen in a pot or in sweeps of ground cover. Combine with anemone, hosta, trillium and daffodils. Pagoda dogwood. Top Tips for Growing in Shade The shady understories of forests are filled with a dense array of native and non-native species of plant material wherever you may wander. Maidenhair fern. Photo by Proven Winners. Planted in a group or in isolation can look superb. Among the most beloved ornamental trees, Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are grown for their multi-seasonal interest, elegant structure and brilliantly colored foliage in shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. Tree varieties most available to home gardeners tend to be small to medium-sized, making them suitable to urban lots and curbside strips where power lines are a concern. The white, pink, or red heart-shaped flowers are borne on arching stems above fern-like leaves. Because there are so many options to choose from, it’s important to research which ones will do best in your region, and to choose a variety that will not outgrow its space. ‘Aureola’, ’All Gold’, ‘Albo Striata’, ‘Nicolas’. Dicentra spectabilis), a spring ephemeral that dies back in summer. Grow with compatible understory plants such as daffodils, sweet woodruff, hosta and ferns. Deep in the jungle, blazing sunlight gets blocked out by leaves and vines and trees before reaching the jungle floor, where shade-loving plants of all kinds grow in cheerful abundance. Photo by Janet Loughrey. 3 inches to 4 feet tall, 4 inches to 3 feet wide. The flowers that explode like fireworks above the foliage in late spring/early summer are just the icing on the cake. A property border, hellebores, ferns and coral bells, impatiens, begonias, blooms! 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