Free Garden Catalogs

Have any shady garden plans?

I've decided into get gardening this spring. My yard is rather big, but 1/2 of it is a pond, so there is not many garden oportunities. So Im having troubles finding good places to dig. So far, the only place i think might work is up against the front of my house, so there is shade there half day, its about 3 ft wide, and 10ft long. The color palette im thinking of contains orange, scarlet, and purple accents. Do you have any garden plans that would fit- or any types of flowers that you find grow nicely in partial shade?

Public Comments

1. go to springhill.com
2. Heucheras are plants that are grown for their incredible foliage colours, as well as annual flower displays. Their leaf colours are in incredible orange, reds and purples, and you could have a good selection of these to provide much of what you need. Depending on where you live these are generally evergreen and last for years, not really needing much care, apart from trimming off dead flower blooms. They'll grow to around 18-24'' tall, so are good for front or mid border. http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Heuchera-caramellarge.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Heuchera_caramel.html&usg=__pcdLIpbk2tqx7UyKrL2xsRDiqao=&h=375&w=500&sz=25&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=_B2MSvtKk_oZ5M:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dheuchera%2Bcaramel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1 http://asaltydog.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/heuchera-obsidian.jpg http://www.buddgardens.com/buddgardens/Heuchera_Peach_Flambe_2b.jpg or the Creme brulee variety - http://www.odla.nu/artiklar/images/bilder/heuchera_creme_brulee.jpg As you've guessed, too much shade and you restrict the volume of flowers or the types of plants that will thrive. A great purple leaved shrub that grows in semi-shade really well is the 'Smoke Bush', botanically this is Cotinus Coggygria and Royal Purple or Velvet Cloak are great purple varieties - http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/cotinus-coggygria-royal-purple-abg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.scottarboretum.org/gardenseeds/2008/09/chartreuse-adds-color-to-gardens-year-round/&usg=__Hf1or3Rr4-OXpF7xo8B7sL_1eiY=&h=3264&w=2176&sz=2847&hl=en&start=5&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=3JQlMTfM0JYf_M:&tbnh=150&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcotinus%2BVelvet%2BCloak%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1 Daylilies are also good in part shade, and there's an abundance of orange and red varieties - http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&client=opera&hs=lJB&rls=en&q=daylily%20orange%20velvet&aql=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi Orange Velvet is a really nice one. Red Hot Returns is a good repeat blooming red - http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=1.800.700 The perennial Lobelias offer good red colour, for semi shady moist locations - Lobelia cardinalis is the plant to look for, and good for nearer the back of your border, growing 4 to 5' high. http://www.jungleseeds.com/images/LobeliaCardinalis.jpg Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob.
3. Japanese azaleas are yellow and will grow in those conditions http://www.cirrusimage.com/flower_Japanese_azalea.htm Many caladiums are red/red mix and will grow in partial shade. http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m56/meckms1/Caladiums/CaladiumRedRhapsody.jpg