Shade flowers

[LilAnn]

I am trying to plant some flowers in a pretty shaded area. I'm wanting a variety of color, and I would really like them to be perennials. Any suggestions?

 

[Everbrown]

Hosta, lily of the valley, that plant that seems to have sprung up in my yard with purple flowerets on a stalk and dark leaves. that small plant with bluesih 'cup' flowers.

Do you want flowers all the same time or flowering at different times to have color through the seasons?

 

[Beth_B]

Hi @LilAnn, I maybe missed where you live: that makes a big difference in your options. What's appropriate in Florida probably won't work in north Dakota or Arizona..

Most decent greenhouses have a "shade perennial" area with plants that will work in your region. I adore hostas and have many. Ferns don't flower but add a lot of interest. Other flowering perennials around here include bleeding heart, violets, bush honeysuckle, phlox, lilies, hydrangea. ...in general blue and purple flowers do better in shade or part shade.

But for accurate and helpful responses you really need to respond with at least your region.

 

[LilAnn]

Hi @LilAnn, I maybe missed where you live: that makes a big difference in your options. What's appropriate in Florida probably won't work in north Dakota or Arizona..

Most decent greenhouses have a "shade perennial" area with plants that will work in your region. I adore hostas and have many. Ferns don't flower but add a lot of interest. Other flowering perennials around here include bleeding heart, violets, bush honeysuckle, phlox, lilies, hydrangea. ...in general blue and purple flowers do better in shade or part shade.

But for accurate and helpful responses you really need to respond with at least your region.

I'm in Kentucky, far west, northern corner. No mountains or a trying like that

 

[Beth_B]

State cooperative extensions and Master Gardener programs are a fantastic resource; you might find this helpful:
https://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/homehort2.html
Or this:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/gardenflowers/zbestshade.html

You are lucky to live in a very pretty area! After looking at the second link, I remember I also have coral bells and hardy geraniums; if they grow here they will surely do great where you live. There is also a hardy perennial begonia that I've grown up here before. I'm going to give another shout-out for hostas: they do not have long-lived or showy flowers but there's about 400 hosta varieties from little blue "mouse ears" to the ones with giant 3-foot long leaves, and many have very dramatic leaf coloration for the entire growing season, plus they are extremely hardy.

As @Everbrown says, depending on your space, think about whether you want flowers coming and going all year around or just in spring or whatever. Most flowering perennials are of relatively short duration so if you want season-long color you'll probably want to plan ahead so that as one plant starts losing flowers, another will start blossoming.

 

[LilAnn]

Thank you! I'm going to go to lowes and see what they've got, this after noon!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

when selecting plants for shade, it is important to look at the leaves also, as they are even more important than the flowers in the shade. As with Coral Bells, forget me knots etc, and of course the hostas. I am a shade gardener. If you look on my You tube sight you will see many plants that work. the hardy geranium works well also.


Lowes, ???? really, there has got to be better in your area than that.

 

[Beth_B]

Lowes, ???? really, there has got to be better in your area than that.

@LilAnn , I agree with Esther - Lowes or other big box stores are only acceptable if you really have no other choices available for buying plants.
Compared to an independently-owned greenhouse staffed by garden geeks, big box stores have a woefully inadequate selection and uneducated staff. The one I go to (their stores are way more impressive than their website) has acres and acres of plants of all sorts divided by sections: shade, annual, ornamental grass, aquatic, fruiting, etc and etc. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and their prices are excellent. Plus shopping there supports locally-owned businesses, which is something I'm fairly emphatic about.

 

[DeborahJane]

Im

@LilAnn , I agree with Esther - Lowes or other big box stores are only acceptable if you really have no other choices available for buying plants.
Compared to an independently-owned greenhouse staffed by garden geeks, big box stores have a woefully inadequate selection and uneducated staff. The one I go to (their stores are way more impressive than their website) has acres and acres of plants of all sorts divided by sections: shade, annual, ornamental grass, aquatic, fruiting, etc and etc. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and their prices are excellent. Plus shopping there supports locally-owned businesses, which is something I'm fairly emphatic about


I agree! The big stores appear to have not only plants that won't survive in your area but have been artificially enhanced. I check out my local nursery at all times. They are very knowledgable and willing to help. In the early stages of my garden even came to my home to give advice. They are a lovely young couple, Leah and Seb( he is from Argentina with an accent that is sooooo lovely). They have two lovely little boys and a dog which greets you!!!! I must admit sometimes if I'm feeling a bit housebound I go for there for a wander and a chat. After all, I could always do with one more plant.

 

[DeborahJane]

I am trying to plant some flowers in a pretty shaded area. I'm wanting a variety of color, and I would really like them to be perennials. Any suggestions?

Hellebore or Winter Rose are a lovely shade plant and a come In a variety of fairly subtle colors and patterns. Mine should be starting to bloom soon as we half way through our first month of winter, not that I'm counting.......not sure if it's 10 or 11 weeks till Spring!!!!

 

[Everbrown]

I cannot disagree with what others are saying about local more independent places but I also look around the big box places and get things there , more so if I am more or less experimenting and don't want to put a lot of money into something I may not do well with.

 

[DeborahJane]

I cannot disagree with what others are saying about local more independent places but I also look around the big box places and get things there , more so if I am more or less experimenting and don't want to put a lot of money into something I may not do well with.

I do too Everbrown. My local one is sometimes limited but I just check them out first. This one in particular is also competitively priced so it's a win win for me and because I'm a regular they often give me a discount!!!!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Haste makes waste when gardening and selecting plants. If I was planting a new shade area, first I would start with a background basic, and that is hosta's (but) to save money, I would order from White flower farm their hosta collection, which is wonderful. Plant those. Then to add to those, I would add some astilbies, the red variety,---why red, because the leaves are red long after the flower goes, that complements any color hosta the collection sends you. Next. I would throw in some hardy geranium (the blue flower type) again the leaf shape would go well with both prior shapes and the color of the flower would be wonderful. then as a extra sprinkle of delight, throw in some white nancy the white color of that plant would be wonderful, the color of the flower goes well with all above. and now you have a lovely room.

 

[PipGirl]

Well, I agree with Everbrown. Sometimes it depends on your area. When we lived in rural western Pennsylvania, Lowe's was a big deal. There was a local nursery but it was very expensive and we couldn't afford it. We planted gorgeous peony bushes, gladioli, crocus and daffodils from Lowe's. Tis possible . . .

 

[PipGirl]

Oh sorry I got carried away there. I wanted to add my support to Hosta. they are lovely and very low maintenance.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

Lot of my plantings for my gardens I got through mail order. Loved finding the special and unique plant. Forest Farms is a great mail order place. Heronswood is also, although Burpee bought it out a few years ago, have not ordered since then. Bluestone-stay away from. White Flower also good. If the company Shady Oak still is around they are wonderful for hosta's, tons of types and other shade plants. Don't shop at lowes or Home Depo for plants except annuals. I am fortunate to have a wonderful well priced nursery called Groff's about 30 mins from me, the selections he has are unreal. I enjoy the hunt for a special plant also, have a rare tree centered in the front lawn, took me 9 months to find it, most said they never heard about it, but tucked away in a tiny wee nursery down a crazy road there it was and at only $30.00. I had gotten a small book from Longwood Gardens where it lists all their plants and retailers where they buy them, it was in that book that l discovered the unadvertised nurseries.

 

[LilAnn]

Hellebore or Winter Rose are a lovely shade plant and a come In a variety of fairly subtle colors and patterns. Mine should be starting to bloom soon as we half way through our first month of winter, not that I'm counting.......not sure if it's 10 or 11 weeks till Spring!!!!

would you like to trade? I'll give you my sum wish spring and I'll take your winter? Seriously, this heat is killing me...

 

[LilAnn]

Im

There's one nursery that I'm aware of, in the area. I just didnt know there was a really huge difference. It sounds like from now on I'll be driving the extra little ways to go to the nursery. When I do something, it matters to me whether its done right or not.

 

[DeborahJane]

would you like to trade? I'll give you my sum wish spring and I'll take your winter? Seriously, this heat is killing me...

The heat really is exhausting I agree. I do get very hot and bothered and quite flustered in the heat I must admit. Hope you get a bit of a break from it LilAnn

 

[LilAnn]

It wouldn't be so bad if our hvac was still working, lol
We have a wood stove so my only winter issue is my husband getting the house too hot. In the summertime, though, box fans don't really make you feel better lol