Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

I have a lot of shade/sun mix area in my yard. I would like an area with flowers.

I am thinking hydrengeas. What else?

Also, are hydrengeas "safe" in our freeze zone?

I would prefer to work with seeds and/or tubercules flowers.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

HaHa....I planted a shade garden this year and I've got about 1/2 the plants left. I tried to do mostly perennials.
The things that did well -
Forget-Me-Nots
Black Eyed Susans
Hydrangea
Heather
Lillies
Yarrow
Hosta - which is iffy, but it's the variegated type which are harder to grow.


The things that died -
Rhododendrons
Bleeding Heart
Clematis
Foxglove
Columbine

I just planted some cranberry bushes to replace the rhododendrons and more lillies, some tulip and iris bulbs. We shall see what next year brings.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

Shade gardens are very tricky.
In my experience hydrangeas need some good sun or they'll die.

My shade garden was doing great until the chickens dug it up
I had columbines, lillies, hostas, ferns, astilbe that I think would have continued to do well.
Next year I'm going to try the same things again & fence the area off so the chickies can't get it.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

My yard is so shady too. I planted hydrangea last year and it completely died.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

I've noticed that the hydrangea in front of my house that gets northern sun all day is easily twice the size and twice as healthy as the 2 on the east side of the house that only get a couple of hours of direct sun.

I wish I had good suggestions. But the more I read about full shade, the more I think that you have to expect to only grow foliage plants with no flowers.

I've heard columbine is nice in shade, but I've yet to try it. It looks a little leggy to me and would need other plants around it to make it look nice like ferns or hosta.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

I actually do get "some" sun in the area for a couple of hours or so. Then partial shade.

I wanted to add "some" colors not just foliage like hostas...

I AM SO TIRED OF HOSTAS...

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

I have the same kind of area.

Bulbs seem to work well. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths did well, and some of them came back 9 some were new) , so I will try then again this year. Of course, they are only for the spring.

I have a bleeding heart surrounded by hostas, so as the bleeding heart dies back for the season, the hostas fill in and disguise it. When the bleeding heart yellows, you can cut it back. It will come back the next spring.

Oriental lilies do well too, but they get very high & the flowers only last a week or so. They are bulbs, you can plant them in the fall, or early spring. (or so I've hear, mine were here.)

This year I tried astilbles, which I love in other people's garden's, but mine haven't filled in yet--my advice is start with bigger ones.

I didn't have great luck with oxalis
I am going to try them somewhere shadier & more hidden next year.

This year I filled in with a lot of impatiens until I get the perrenials more established.

My neighbors have hydrangeas,so they work in this area, but I don't know if I have a sunny enough spot for them. I'd like to get one next year if I can find the right spot for it.

Message edited 8/30/2008 9:43:52 PM.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

Not perrenials, but my impatiens and begonias did really well this year in the shade.

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

Posted by smdl

I AM SO TIRED OF HOSTAS...

Re: Let talk flowers for next year - shade loving flowers

Ive been wanting to redo my shaded front section. Went to Stables this weekend and got Coral bells, japanese ghost ferns, rhod., and some daylilies. 50% off my bill oops forgot the astibilles.

Last week I bought from new hampshire hosta (online) over 11 hostas 40% off.
shopping end of season, its a good thing

Message edited 8/31/2008 11:08:17 AM.