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Gardening with Shade

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Margaret Manzi
Margaret Manzi

Plant choices for different shade conditions in the home garden. From a free workshop offered by the Burlington County Gardeners Association (NJ).

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“Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade, Trees where you sit, shall crowd into a shade: Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise, And all things flourish where you turn your eyes. “ — Alexander Pope,   Pastorals,'Summer', l736
Sweetbox Sweetbox
Gardening with Shade
Part sun/Light shade 4-6 hours a day of direct sun. Does not have to be continuous. Some plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Dappled/filtered shade Alternating light and shade all day, as under tall deciduous trees or beneath lattice/trellis Partial shade 2-4 hours a day of sun Full shade Little or no direct sunlight. Plants rely on reflected light
Mayapple Mayapple Indian pink (Wikipedia photo) Indian pink (Wikipedia photo)
Trillium (Wikipedia photo) Trillium (Wikipedia photo) Bleeding heart/Japanese painted fern Bleeding heart/Japanese painted fern Twinleaf (Wikipedia photo) Twinleaf (Wikipedia photo) Variegated Solomon’s seal Variegated Solomon’s seal
Variegated liriope Variegated liriope Corydalis Corydalis Fothergilla (Wikipedia photo) Fothergilla (Wikipedia photo)
Allegheny spurge with Impatiens Allegheny spurge with Impatiens Clethra Clethra Oakleaf hydrangea Oakleaf hydrangea Baptisia with Japanese anemone Baptisia with Japanese anemone
Take seasonal differences into consideration.
Plumbago Plumbago Ajuga Ajuga (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) Balloon flower Balloon flower
Kerria japonica Kerria japonica Carolina allspice (calycanthus) Carolina allspice (calycanthus) Wikipedia photo Wikipedia photo Bottlebrush buckeye, Strawbridge Lake Bottlebrush buckeye, Strawbridge Lake
Somewhere between light and medium shade, lawn grass starts to have difficulty. Fescue blends are the best option if grass is preferred to other groundcover. Callicarpa (aka Beautyberry), Grounds for Sculpture Callicarpa (aka Beautyberry), Grounds for Sculpture Spring-blooming bulbs offer color under deciduous trees, as they will get sun in fall after leaves drop, then again in late winter to early spring before trees leaf out. Chelone, aka Turtlehead (Wikipedia photo) Chelone, aka Turtlehead (Wikipedia photo)
Clumping blue fescue Clumping blue fescue Carex siderosticha Carex siderosticha The ornamental sedge (above) also comes in a variegated variety, with attractive white edges. Carex plantaginea Carex plantaginea
Many shrub roses will do well enough in 4-5 hours of sun. Choose once-blooming roses, e.g. English, gallica, damask and alba varieties. — per David Austin Roses Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten Scarlet Meideland Scarlet Meideland
Herbs Purple raspberry Purple raspberry Curly kale Curly kale (Best success in LIGHT shade) Anise hyssop Chervil Chives Cilantro (Coriander) Dill Lemon Balm Lovage Mint Parsley Shiso Tarragon Thyme Lovage Lovage
Torenia (Wikipedia photo) Torenia (Wikipedia photo) Begonia Begonia (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) Blue lobelia Blue lobelia (Lady Bird Johnson (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center photo) Wildflower Center photo) Mimulus Mimulus (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) These flowers offer color in light to medium shade. Alyssum (Photosource.com) Alyssum (Photosource.com)
Wild edibles Ramps — a challenge to cultivate, but can be done. May take more than one year to germinate. Does best in forest environment. Ostrich fern — eaten as fiddleheads in early spring Ramps (Wikipedia photo) Ramps (Wikipedia photo) Ostrich fern/fiddlehead harvest Ostrich fern/fiddlehead harvest (Wikipedia photos) (Wikipedia photos)
Toad lily Toad lily Leucothoe Leucothoe
No direct light, little reflected light — behind walls, north side of rock formations or solid fences, under evergreens or dense shrubs. Soil is usually moisture retentive. Deciduous woods may offer seasonal options — bulbs, etc. Some plants that tolerate or require deeper shade include:
Mosses grow on most soil other than very sandy types, and unless soil is overly alkaline, is not fussy about pH. Numerous varieties fall into two basic types. Acrocarp — upright habit. Form dense clumps, which are more resistant to invasion by weeds. Pleurocarp — spreading habit. Grow faster than acrocarp types. Easy to distribute by breaking off portions. Will adhere easily to rocks. Top: Moss retaining wall Top: Moss retaining wall (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) Left: Bloedel Reserve, WA state Left: Bloedel Reserve, WA state (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo)
To allow more light on plants: Thin overhanging trees — removing entire branches to let in more light. Consult a licensed arborist for this, for safety and plant health. Head back — removing ends of limbs to shorten cast shadows. Will ultimately result in a denser growth of overhanging tree or shrub, meaning denser shadow, but in more limited area.
Reflective and light-colored surfaces nearby will slightly brighten shady areas. Consider choosing plants with pale flowers or foliage to outline path edges. To create more shade: Before planting, observe the progress of shadows over the course of days and preferably, seasons. Add trees and shrubs to the landscape. Choose “understory” as well as large trees for layered interest and varied shade. Pay attention to soil nutrient content and water needs. Use an arbor, pergola or awning to shade plants. Pergola in Turin, Italy Pergola in Turin, Italy (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo)
Grounds for Sculpture Grounds for Sculpture My backyard Salzberg — Mirabellgarten (Wikipedia photo) Salzberg — Mirabellgarten (Wikipedia photo)
Plants directly under trees have to compete for nutrients and water, especially near shallowrooted trees like willow and pine. Concrete walls, walkways and pavers can slightly raise the pH of nearby soil. Tiarella Tiarella Shade-tolerant shrubs do well in slightly to moderately acid soil. Choose nearby plants for compatibility. Mulch with compost and peat moss. Aeration of soil is also essential. Azalea Azalea
Snow is slower to melt, and soil slower to warm up in spring. Adequate drainage is important, to avoid roots drowning or rotting. If shade is due to trees, competition for soil nutrients requires replenishment of compost. Slugs and fungi like moist shade. Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, don’t. Shade plant blooms often are not showy or longlasting, so attractive foliage is important — maybe even more so than the flowers themselves (examples right).
“I have got little feet because nothing grows in the shade.” — Dolly Parton “To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” — Jane Austen Happiness is sharing a bowl of cherries and a book of poetry with a shade tree. He doesn’t eat much and doesn’t read much, but listens well and is a most gracious host. — Astrid Alauda
Gardening with Shade

More Related Content

Gardening with Shade

  • 1. “Where'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade, Trees where you sit, shall crowd into a shade: Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise, And all things flourish where you turn your eyes. “ — Alexander Pope,   Pastorals,'Summer', l736
  • 4. Part sun/Light shade 4-6 hours a day of direct sun. Does not have to be continuous. Some plants prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Dappled/filtered shade Alternating light and shade all day, as under tall deciduous trees or beneath lattice/trellis Partial shade 2-4 hours a day of sun Full shade Little or no direct sunlight. Plants rely on reflected light
  • 5. Mayapple Mayapple Indian pink (Wikipedia photo) Indian pink (Wikipedia photo)
  • 6. Trillium (Wikipedia photo) Trillium (Wikipedia photo) Bleeding heart/Japanese painted fern Bleeding heart/Japanese painted fern Twinleaf (Wikipedia photo) Twinleaf (Wikipedia photo) Variegated Solomon’s seal Variegated Solomon’s seal
  • 7. Variegated liriope Variegated liriope Corydalis Corydalis Fothergilla (Wikipedia photo) Fothergilla (Wikipedia photo)
  • 8. Allegheny spurge with Impatiens Allegheny spurge with Impatiens Clethra Clethra Oakleaf hydrangea Oakleaf hydrangea Baptisia with Japanese anemone Baptisia with Japanese anemone
  • 11. Kerria japonica Kerria japonica Carolina allspice (calycanthus) Carolina allspice (calycanthus) Wikipedia photo Wikipedia photo Bottlebrush buckeye, Strawbridge Lake Bottlebrush buckeye, Strawbridge Lake
  • 12. Somewhere between light and medium shade, lawn grass starts to have difficulty. Fescue blends are the best option if grass is preferred to other groundcover. Callicarpa (aka Beautyberry), Grounds for Sculpture Callicarpa (aka Beautyberry), Grounds for Sculpture Spring-blooming bulbs offer color under deciduous trees, as they will get sun in fall after leaves drop, then again in late winter to early spring before trees leaf out. Chelone, aka Turtlehead (Wikipedia photo) Chelone, aka Turtlehead (Wikipedia photo)
  • 13. Clumping blue fescue Clumping blue fescue Carex siderosticha Carex siderosticha The ornamental sedge (above) also comes in a variegated variety, with attractive white edges. Carex plantaginea Carex plantaginea
  • 14. Many shrub roses will do well enough in 4-5 hours of sun. Choose once-blooming roses, e.g. English, gallica, damask and alba varieties. — per David Austin Roses Benjamin Britten Benjamin Britten Scarlet Meideland Scarlet Meideland
  • 15. Herbs Purple raspberry Purple raspberry Curly kale Curly kale (Best success in LIGHT shade) Anise hyssop Chervil Chives Cilantro (Coriander) Dill Lemon Balm Lovage Mint Parsley Shiso Tarragon Thyme Lovage Lovage
  • 16. Torenia (Wikipedia photo) Torenia (Wikipedia photo) Begonia Begonia (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) Blue lobelia Blue lobelia (Lady Bird Johnson (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center photo) Wildflower Center photo) Mimulus Mimulus (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) These flowers offer color in light to medium shade. Alyssum (Photosource.com) Alyssum (Photosource.com)
  • 17. Wild edibles Ramps — a challenge to cultivate, but can be done. May take more than one year to germinate. Does best in forest environment. Ostrich fern — eaten as fiddleheads in early spring Ramps (Wikipedia photo) Ramps (Wikipedia photo) Ostrich fern/fiddlehead harvest Ostrich fern/fiddlehead harvest (Wikipedia photos) (Wikipedia photos)
  • 19. No direct light, little reflected light — behind walls, north side of rock formations or solid fences, under evergreens or dense shrubs. Soil is usually moisture retentive. Deciduous woods may offer seasonal options — bulbs, etc. Some plants that tolerate or require deeper shade include:
  • 20. Mosses grow on most soil other than very sandy types, and unless soil is overly alkaline, is not fussy about pH. Numerous varieties fall into two basic types. Acrocarp — upright habit. Form dense clumps, which are more resistant to invasion by weeds. Pleurocarp — spreading habit. Grow faster than acrocarp types. Easy to distribute by breaking off portions. Will adhere easily to rocks. Top: Moss retaining wall Top: Moss retaining wall (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo) Left: Bloedel Reserve, WA state Left: Bloedel Reserve, WA state (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo)
  • 21. To allow more light on plants: Thin overhanging trees — removing entire branches to let in more light. Consult a licensed arborist for this, for safety and plant health. Head back — removing ends of limbs to shorten cast shadows. Will ultimately result in a denser growth of overhanging tree or shrub, meaning denser shadow, but in more limited area.
  • 22. Reflective and light-colored surfaces nearby will slightly brighten shady areas. Consider choosing plants with pale flowers or foliage to outline path edges. To create more shade: Before planting, observe the progress of shadows over the course of days and preferably, seasons. Add trees and shrubs to the landscape. Choose “understory” as well as large trees for layered interest and varied shade. Pay attention to soil nutrient content and water needs. Use an arbor, pergola or awning to shade plants. Pergola in Turin, Italy Pergola in Turin, Italy (Wikipedia photo) (Wikipedia photo)
  • 23. Grounds for Sculpture Grounds for Sculpture My backyard Salzberg — Mirabellgarten (Wikipedia photo) Salzberg — Mirabellgarten (Wikipedia photo)
  • 24. Plants directly under trees have to compete for nutrients and water, especially near shallowrooted trees like willow and pine. Concrete walls, walkways and pavers can slightly raise the pH of nearby soil. Tiarella Tiarella Shade-tolerant shrubs do well in slightly to moderately acid soil. Choose nearby plants for compatibility. Mulch with compost and peat moss. Aeration of soil is also essential. Azalea Azalea
  • 25. Snow is slower to melt, and soil slower to warm up in spring. Adequate drainage is important, to avoid roots drowning or rotting. If shade is due to trees, competition for soil nutrients requires replenishment of compost. Slugs and fungi like moist shade. Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, don’t. Shade plant blooms often are not showy or longlasting, so attractive foliage is important — maybe even more so than the flowers themselves (examples right).
  • 26. “I have got little feet because nothing grows in the shade.” — Dolly Parton “To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.” — Jane Austen Happiness is sharing a bowl of cherries and a book of poetry with a shade tree. He doesn’t eat much and doesn’t read much, but listens well and is a most gracious host. — Astrid Alauda

Editor's Notes

  1. Plant pics: fern,