#25680
Apr 18th, 2007 at 10:07 AM
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
First off, I thank everyone in advance for their suggestions; anything would be great!
My husband and I are landscaping. We have this one little spot in our front yard that is perfect for a garden; however, it doesn't get any sunlight. I'm not too experienced in plants fitted for growing in the shade so any suggestions, tips...etc. would be phenomenal. We are wanting to head to our local nursery this weekend (great planting weather) so if I could have any help by then, well, frankly, that would be perfect.
I'm a zone 3. (EEK!)
Thanks again everyone!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183 |
Hostas are beautiful, not much for flowers though. Solomon's seal, lungwort, lily of the valley, coleus, columbines, ferns (japanese painted fern and autumn fern are two of my faves), viola, violets, and Canadian wild ginger. I'm not sure which of these do good in your zone but I'm sure that a lot of them will be suitable.
Sarah - Zone 5b/6
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Thank you sooo much Sarah! I'm doing some research on those right now.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
From what I've read, lily of the Valley are for zones 3-8; quite a nice range. (I never knew that) I'll need to pick one of these up for sure!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183 |
Watch out, LOV can be invasive! But, if you like plants that you can divide later, this is a good plant for you! Japanese Painted fern and lungwort zone 4-9 Autumn fern zone 5-9 Coleus, Annual Columbine zone 3-9 WIld ginger, canadensis, zone 2-9 Solomon's seal zone 3-9 Hope that helps!
Sarah - Zone 5b/6
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,805
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,805 |
Shanbear in one of the posts that I started in "plants and flower" forum, I asked about the " lily of the valley" plant. Try and find it, it was very informative for me since I had just bought lily of the valley bulbs to plant myself.
Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Sarah, I was just reading that it is very invasive. Very pretty though. Being able to divide it up down the road does interest me; as I have a few other spots I can put it. Thanks for the flower names & zoning; very, very helpful!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Rosepetal, I'll find that thread- thanks for the heads up.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 225
Member
|
Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 225 |
actually , while LOV are pretty ,the flowers are downright diminuative. tiny,tiny bells that dont make a lot of impact. i have a large wild patch of em under a fir tree and i didnt know what they were till they bloomed. hostas get bigger and fill in very nicely,and some of the varegated varietys are real nice to look at. if i might suggest,start with some bleeding hearts in the back,and add some hostas around them. that way ,after the bleeding hearts bloom out and start to wither down,the hostas will take over and help hide them as they go into remission. did you know daffodils will grow in the shade? another possibility to plant among your hostas, with the hostas hiding th daffs greenery as it dies out. columbines are very nice,but in my experience,they dont seem to fill a lot of space,maybe i just need to plant em closer and thicker togather. ive also planted calla lilies in the shade but have yet to see a bloom from them there. maybe this year they will bloom ,we'll see. of course you can also tuck some crocuses in for an early bloom.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Porter, thank you sooo much for that. It's always great to know what has worked/ hasn't worked for people in the past. Hosta's are a must on my list. As for the bleeding heart, I never thought of them. I'll have to do more research. Thank you again!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 214
Member
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 214 |
If your space needs a vertical element consider a taller shepards hook with a basket of shade lovers like impatients. Stick to white and any pale color you like. This adds brightness and white makes anything green pop. When a space will have only one verticle element place it just off center and to the right. Hanging baskets will need more frequent watering than plants in the ground.
Pulmonaria is perennial and gives shaded gardens texture and a bit of light with its dark green leaves splotched with silver or white spots.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 749
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 749 |
No one has mentioned Heuchera. I love the color they provide without waiting for a flower. Brunnera 'Looking Glass', with hostas and Heuchera Amber Wave I also like Ligularia
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Herbalyn, honestly, I never even thought about the vertical element to it... that is something to think about for sure. The space is on the smaller side so I would have to only have 1 I think. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429
|
OP
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,429 |
Cinta,
Are these yours? Because they are all beautiful! I love how you have incorporated different shades of green!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for the idea!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,183 |
Yes, I should have mentioned heuchera. My absolute favorite is caramel followed very closely by amber waves. I knew I'd forgotten something!
Sarah - Zone 5b/6
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,238
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,238 |
shanbear i cant wait to see how your shade aresa turn out! any pics?? ps i stoled some ideas that were givin to ya :} lol i love the heuchera! will have to find me some!
|
|
|
Forums65
Topics14,313
Posts240,932
Average Daily Posts3
|
Members16,006
Most Online10,356 Nov 2nd, 2019
|
|
|
|