A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Full Shade

Ok, you guys were very helpful in helping me choose a climbing vine for my shade area,I thought someone might have a suggestion on what to plant in a full shade spot. I have an area on the side of my house that is under very large evergreen pine trees. It gets absolutely no sun and is even dark. Everything I've planted has died(even though they are shade plants). The only thing I have been able to grow is ivy and even that doesn't really grow, it just doesn't die. I don't even need flowers-I'd be happy with anything!! Does anybody know of anything that would grow under these type of conditions?

Have you thought about ferns or hostas? You'll have to read up on them. Where in Calif. are you located? Catlover

Catlover(by the way, I love your name--I have 4 strays of my Own). I live in Southern California-zone 9. Our summers are extremely warm, it can hit 100 degrees and more. Our winters are very mild although we do get an occasional frost. I've tried ferns in the area but maybe not the right kind. Is there a fern that does well in full shade? I've also tried hostas and they last a year, maybe two but then die. Somebody told me that our winters don't give them the winter chill they need. Maybe I'm not trying the right variety of them either?

Daisy I have a large coastal redwood and I was thinking about putting hostas underneath. Haven't done it yet still checking out other things. I did cut some of the lower branches off to be able to get half way under it to mow, was getting tired of bending over and still eating the tree. Is there any way to cut the lower branches off yours. I also have a reg. pine tree that makes needle mess but use that as mulch for the tomato plants. Just trimmed the heck out of that one yesterday so now the mailman can deliver mail w/o getting out of his truck. I am still sore. If you trim the branches get some branch sealant to seal the fresh cut otherwise infection can start. I don't know of any plant that can live without ANY sun. Something you might want to think about is what flower Addict told me on one of the forums. You need to look that one up something like Hostas under Redwood????? Have done more reading and there are some trees that it will actually kill the tree if you pile dirt up next to it. Haven't read about pine trees but the Redwood I have can reach 367 ft., has NO tap root and has shallow root system. Kinda scares me if it gets too windy I'm afraid of it landing on 5 cars and my home. Right now it is about 3-4 stories high. Not getting on a ladder to take a measurement thank you very much. Well I have jabbered on and don't think I helped a bit, probably just confused you more. Turned out to be a nice day in Fallbrook this morning it was real foggy. Catlover :rolleyes:

Catlover,
Actually, you have given me a good idea. I think I may need to trim the pine trees(even though they are my neighbors). I think the area needs some more light before anything will grow. I will do some reading to see what type of hosta does well in full shade. Hey, I just realized you live in Fallbrook,which is not too far from us. We are in Lake Elsinore. What zone is Fallbrook?

Daisey not sure what zone either 9 or 10. Different sites say I am in different zones. I live closer to town so it is a lot hotter than where my mother lives toward Bonsall and where my sister lives next to Camp Pendelton. All of us live in Fallbrook but have different temps.,wind, etc. My mom gets the ocean breeze's more than I do here. I drive past Lake Elsinore when I go to the LA basin. Used to live in Walnut,(borders Diamond Bar)where the 57 and 60 frwys meet. Been in Fallbrook for little over a year now and I love it. Guess it only frosted once here about 3 years ago from what my dad said since they moved here. How do you like living in Lake Elsinore? Catlover

Catlover,
I can't believe you mentioned Walnut. I grew up in Walnut and went to school all the way from fourth grade through college. My mom still lives there so I go to visit every week. It's so exciting to hear someone mention it as most people think it's up north(Walnut Creek). I love living in Lake Elsinore. We've been here 10 yrs. And are very happy. However, we also love San Diego and are considering buying a small place there. I would love to garden in that area because it doesn't get as hot there.I would think it's similiar to the climate in Fallbrook. Do you have some plants that do especially well there? We do really well with the drought tolerant plants,i.e. verbena,salvia,and some roses.

Daisey,

I've planted a variety of vinca in a part of my garden that receives nothing but shade--I think it's called vinca minor--small very green leaves, a few tiny purple flowers. The first year I planted it (in the middle of the summer) it didn't do much, hardly spread, but didn't die. I thought I'd lost it over the winter, then last year it sprang up, and spread fairly well. This year it's almost taken over the small area of the garden I wanted it to cover, and also flowered, an added bonus I didn't expect! I'm in zone 6 (Tennessee) and I don't know whether or not it will do well in California, but as far as it's shade tolerance, I can vouch for that!

Ronni

Spiderwort is a very nice flowering perennial for shade at least in KY. Impatiens are a very nice flowering annual although they might do well all year in CA. I've heard that certain anenomes and there is always ferns.

Evan,
I forgot about spiderworts--and I believe I saw a lot of new ones in my spring catalogs. I have some planted in dappled shade, but wonder how they would do in full shade. Ferns are a very good suggestion and I'm researching which ones will work in full shade. I planted some in the area but they didn't do very well. I need some that can handle low light. Thanks so much for your ideas!!!