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Suggestions for partial shade plants please.?

I have created a border underneath a pear tree and I would like any suggestions for plants please. Preferably the cottage garden type with flowers which I could cut. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. Some of the shade lovers might work for you if you don't mind a bit of whimsey in your bouquets, like hydrangea or tiarella, columbine, cyclamen, foxgloves, and garden phlox.
2. Impatiens might be nice there.. lots of colors availlable and they like some shade.
3. A good shrub is Kerria, The double flowered version Kerria japonica flor pleno, also known as bachelors buttons is quite pretty with yellow flowers and doesn't mind the shade. It will spread by underground roots and has to be kept in check.It will be more difficult to grow annual flowers suitable for cutting if the site is in almost total shade. Foliage plants would do better, like bamboo or hostas.If you get a certain amount of sunshine you could try things like penstemon or even delphiniums. Good luck anyway.
4. Hostas do well, with little care and can be used an anchor plant for bulbs and annuals. They also flower. Coral Bells are an airy flower, along with astilbe. These are all perennials and you can mix them with annual bedding plants for some quick color. A lot of bulbs will also work for early color, as they usually flower before much of the leaf cover causes a lot of shade from the trees. Daylillies are another shade tollerant favorite of mine and the old fashioned variety (orange) has edible flowers that work great in salads. Better Homes and Gardens web site has a design feature that can help with space allowances and plant varieties - for free with registration. It makes a great planning tool. I have included a link in the sources.
5. If you have partial shade, does that mean you also have partial sun? If so, then you have a vast choice of plants at your disposal - just avoid the ones that specify 'full sun'. Provided they have some sun for part of the day, most plants will grow well, but as your pear tree will take a lot of moisture from the soil around it, just make sure that the plants are watered regularly as they will soon droop, especially in the summer.
6. In my 17 ft by 20 ft north facing garden on heavy clay i plant just about every thing that is not supposed to grow in such places