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Shade Gardening (Plant Facts #48)

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Shady gardens evoke mystery and privacy — they feel peaceful and intimately enclosed because of the coolness and dark colors. Sunny gardens, on the other hand, give a sense of freedom, exuberance and activity.

A garden that offers only shade can be dull, and an entirely sunny garden can have a tiring, draining effect. But when you have a juxtaposition of opposites, the garden becomes dramatic with contrast. Picture yourself standing in a sunny meadow, looking into shady woods dotted with small sunny glades. This beckons you forward, to experience the damp coolness and the rich, earthy smells. The promise of a shady copse will draw a visitor across a sunny, hot lawn to explore the coolness. Once in the shade, sunny spots in the distance lure you back to them.

When planning a shade garden, it is necessary to consider the different types of shade and plan accordingly.

Light shade assumes the garden receives shade for less than four hours each day. This may be dappled shade where the sunlight filters in through a canopy of small-leaved trees and moves around throughout the day. It may also be cast by trees with high canopies or sparsely planted trees, giving a lot of indirect light in addition to some direct sun. Most sun-loving plants will do fine in this situation.

Partial or semi-shade assumes a half day of shade — similar to an open glade in the forest or the woods' edge. This type of shade may also occur on an east- or west-facing slope or wall or in the shadow of a building. Building shadows offer a slightly different situation than shade from trees because even though sun may not reach the plants, the site can be quite bright from reflected light.

Full shade occurs under dense canopies of deciduous or evergreen trees or on the north wall of a building where there is no direct sun. Plant choice is most critical in this situation since only limited plants will perform well in such reduced light.

Soil moisture and pH will determine the final plant choices. Wet shade is much easier to plan for than dry shade, which is a special challenge. Dry shade occurs under trees with shallow, competitive roots such as Norway maple, beech, poplar, willow, sycamore or in building shadows or overhangs where rain doesn't reach. This situation calls for drought-tolerant plants or very careful attention to watering.

The type of shade in a garden will often change with age, becoming more dense as trees grow and shrubs fill in. Careful observation of the plants' health will alert the gardener if the plants begin to languish and need to be moved.

Design principles, garden types

In order to develop a garden that fits your time and energy, start with a small area and increase gradually. Observing light patterns and degrees of shade can help guide design and plant selection. The most effective and easily maintained shade gardens imitate nature. Shade gardens are usually designed to emphasize foliage textures, arrangements and contrasts rather than flower colors since there is not as wide a range of plants that flower in the shade.

Use patterns of shade on the ground and on tree trunks as part of your design. Moving shade is a dynamic element, especially in juxtaposition to a dramatically framed sunny area. Use silhouettes to create different feelings such as the bulky strength of an oak or the thin grace of the willow. Let your bed lines follow the dominant shade patterns.

Water features can emphasize the coolness of a woodland, particularly if the water is trickling or falling gently. You should use caution if planning a still pool, however, since such pools generally need full sun to maintain a healthy balance of flora and fauna.

Architectural features such as pergolas, arbors and trellises can create shade where there is none. Narrow slats or lath can reduce the sun by 50 percent, providing plenty of shade for tender plants. Consider using a flagstone terrace in the middle of a shady glade surrounded by woods and decorated with pots of impatiens and caladiums.

Nature's shade gardens naturally occur as woodlands. Woodlands are stratified into canopy, understory, shrub layer and herbaceous layer. This arrangement can be mimicked to create a naturalistic shade garden, or you can use whichever of these elements you choose to create your favorite style of shade garden. Beyond this concept, use normal design standards for line, form, shape, color, texture contrasts and complements and scale.

Plant culture

Natural woodland soils are rich and mildly acidic with a natural mulch. The soil temperature remains fairly constant throughout the seasons, nutrients are recycled readily and roots are fairly shallow because most of the nutrients are in the top layer of humus. The tree canopy protects plants from temperature extremes and hot dry winds, so the air temperature is also fairly constant.

As a rule, shade gardens take no more care than sunny gardens. Of course, they must be watered during dry spells, but they generally require less weeding because low light levels discourage weed germination. Although they frequently require less water, it is important to realize that they can dry out as easily as sunny gardens. The secret, as with any garden, is to water deeply yet less frequently.

There may be a few more problems with fungal diseases since reduced air movement and lack of direct sun keeps the leaves moist, giving spores a perfect place to take hold. As long as you prune the plants to keep the crowns open and avoid planting too closely, the air will circulate easily and these risks will be reduced. Slugs and snails will need to be controlled to avoid serious damage.

Soil preparation is perhaps the single most important feature in planning. It is crucial to avoid neglecting this step or cutting corners. The ideal soil stays moist during dry periods but is well-drained with plenty of air spaces. This is best achieved by the addition of organic matter. Most ground covers and shrubs perform best with at least 6 inches of rich soil that contains liberal organic matter.

Once in place, the plants must be mulched. Shredding and returning leaves as fine-textured mulch will help the plants considerably.

If the existing shade is too deep, you can prune lower limbs from the larger trees to increase circulation and brightness. Also, removing some trees altogether will open a hole in the canopy, creating a sunny glade for accent. It may be necessary to periodically remove branches to maintain the shade garden as you want it instead of allowing natural succession.

If you have a situation with a lot of mature trees, there is not much you can do to turn the soil under the trees because of the abundance of large roots. In order to plant under a tree, add 2 to 3 inches of organic matter on top, tapering it near the edge of the dripline and the trunk. Make certain to avoid changing the grade or piling soil around the trunk. Some authorities feel that if you are planting shrubs under trees, it is possible to carve out a hole in tree roots, taking out fibrous feeder roots. Use this advice cautiously because of the damage you may do to the trees. If they are healthy and not stressed at all, they will probably recover. If the trees are stressed, they will have a harder time recovering from the root disturbance. Try to plant shrubs a distance away from the main root system of trees. Strategically placing them can give the illusion that they are planted right up to the trunks.

To reduce competition for water and nutrients, water deeply and fertilize more frequently than you normally would, using the plants' appearance as guidelines. Also, smaller shrubs naturally require less root area, and deep-rooted trees such as oak and hickory will compete less.

Plants

An existing shady yard need not be a liability, but rather an opportunity to explore new types of plants and a challenging situation that calls for careful plant choices.

It is possible to plan for four seasons of interest even in the shady garden. Many woodland wildflowers such as spring beauty and trillium bloom in spring and set next year's flower buds before the canopy becomes dense. Summer-blooming plants such as hosta, hydrangea, daylily and clethra add sparkle to the midsummer shade garden. For fall, choose plants with vivid foliage color or that bloom in fall such as anemone, aconite and autumn crocus. Strongly architectural plants such as witchhazel and plants with berries such as deciduous holly and cranberry viburnum add color and texture through the winter.

Variegated foliage will brighten and lighten a shady area. Variegated plants should generally be used as focal points rather than mixing many types of variegation together to create a jumble of colors. Plants with white variegation do well in shade although they will generally be slower-growing than in sun; plants with yellow variegation maintain their yellow color better in sun. The predominant color, of course, is green, but foliage can range from the gray-green of lamium to the deep green of English ivy to the yellow-green of Emerald 'n Gold wintercreeper. Bright foliage often gives the appearance of a floral display. Choose plants that have bold foliage such as rodgersia, ligularia and variegated aralia or variegated hosta.

The following list is by no means complete, but is to start you thinking about planting in the shade.
It is important to read further about any plant you choose to use, in order to understand its
cultural requirements.

P	= Partial shade	Most full sun plants will tolerate light shade although they may be less dense than if grown in full sun. No designation is listed for these plants.
F	= Full shade
W	= Tolerates wet soils	If no designation is given for moisture, assume plant requires regular soil moisture.
D	= Tolerates dry shade

Trees
If possible, choose canopy trees that drop their leaves early and leaf out late to give plants maximum sun when they need and can use it (spring and fall). Small-leaved trees will let in more light throughout the summer. Deep-rooted trees will give less competition for nutrients. Most canopy trees perform best in full sun and are included here to give suggestions for creating shade.

Vegetables
Most vegetables will tolerate two to three hours of shade per day and can be planted next to a white wall to reflect light. These include beets, cabbage, carrots, chives, collards, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, scallions, parsley, radishes, spinach, swiss chard and turnips.

CANOPY TREES
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Betula nigra River Birch	papery, peeling bark; good winter interest
Celtis occidentalis Hackberry	wide-spreading canopy; attractive to birds
Cerdiciphyllum japonicum Katsura	small, regular foliage; nice fall color
Fraxinus americana White Ash	leafs out late; loses leaves early
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash	leafs out late; loses leaves early
Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust	tiny leaves make good mulch

UNDERSTORY TREES
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Amelanchier species Serviceberry	attractive in all seasons	P
Asimina triloba Pawpaw	grows well in dense shade although will have open habit	F
Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud	pink or white spring flowers	P
Cornus alternifolia Pagoda Dogwood	attractive horizontal branching	P
Thuja plicata Western Arborvitae	pyramidal evergreen; tolerates pruning well; deer do not seem to bother
Tsuga canadensis Canadian Hemlock	softly drooping branches; graceful, airy habit; evergreen	P

SHRUBS
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Acanthopanax sieboldianus Fiveleaf Aralia	fast-growing; holds leaves very late; tolerates deep shade	F, D
Aesculus parviflora Bottlebrush Buckeye	bold texture; flowers even in deep shade	P
Aronia arbutifolia Red Chokeberry	nice berries in fall; good fall color	P, W, D
Aronia melanocarpa Black Chokeberry	attractive berries; good fall color	P, W, D
Buxus microphylla Littleleaf Boxwood	evergreen; fine-textured	P
Calycanthus floridus Sweetshrub	scented leaves and wood; unusual brown-purple flowers that smell like pineapple	P, W, D
Clethra alnifolia Summersweet	flowers in shade in midsummer; sweetly scented	F, W
Cornus alba 'Argenteo-marginata' Red-stemmed Tatarian Dogwood	red bark in winter; white-edged leaves	P
Cornus mas Corneliancherry Dogwood	large shrub; tasty berries attract wildlife	P
Cornus racemosa Gray Dogwood	suckers to form thicket; attractive white berries	F, W, D
Cornus sericea Redtwig Dogwood	attractive red bark in winter; grows well in wet areas	P, W
Corylopsis glabrescens Fragrant Winterhazel	early yellow fragrant flowers; no pests or diseases	P
Cotoneaster lucidus Hedge Cotoneaster	beautiful fall color; tolerant of pruning; glossy leaves	P, D
Euonymus alata Burning Bush	brilliant fall color even in shade	F
Euonymus fortunei Wintercreeper	evergreen; many variegated cultivars available; shrubby or vining	F
Fothergilla gardenii Dwarf Fothergilla	beautiful fall color; showy white fragrant flowers; 2-3 feet high	P
Hamamelis vernalis Vernal Witchhazel	fragrant red or yellow flowers in January and February	F, W
Hamamelis virginiana Common Witchhazel	fragrant flowers in November; architectural, asymmetrical form	F, W
Hydrangea arborescens Snowhill Hydrangea	large white flowers on new stems; flowers dry on plant	P
Hydrangea paniculata Panicle Hydrangea	flowers well in partial shade; coarse texture, big flowers	P
Hypericum species St. Johnswort	attractive gold-yellow flowers in summer; blue-green foliage	P, D
Ilex glabra Inkberry	dark, shiny evergreen leaves; attractive fruits held over winter	F, W
Ilex verticillata Winterberry	deciduous holly; extremely attractive fruits; many cultivars available	P, W
Itea virginica Virginia Sweetspire	beautiful fall color; white flowers in summer	F, W, D
Kerria japonica 'Picta' Japanese Kerria	white-edged leaves; profuse yellow flowers	F
Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum Regelís Border Privet	attractive persistent berries; unique horizontal branching pattern	P, D
Lindera benzoin Spicebush	good naturalizing plant; does well in deep shade and moist areas; stems aromatic	P, D
Mahonia aquifolium Oregon Grapeholly	glossy evergreen foliage; clusters of yellow flowers followed by blue berries; does well in dry shade	P, D
Myrica pensylvanica Bayberry	fragrant leaves and stems; suckers to form colony; does well on poor soil	P, D
Rhododendron Rhododendron or Azalea	beautiful flowers in spring; evergreen foliage is nice foil for rest of summer	P
Rhus aromatica Fragrant Sumac	glossy leaves, suckering habitómakes dense mass; roots easily where stems touch soil	F
Ribes alpinum Alpine Currant	dense foliage plant; tolerates pruning well; excellent foil for plants with colored foliage	F
Rubus odoratus Flowering Raspberry	attractive red fruits (inedible); spreads as groundcover	P, D
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Indiancurrant Coralberry	small blue-green leaves; attractive abundant red fruits even in shade	F, D, W
Taxus Yew	good background plant with rich green evergreen foliage	F
Viburnum carlesii Koreanspice Viburnum	fragrant flowers in partial shade; attractive fall color	P
Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood Viburnum	brilliant fall color in partial shade; attractive blue fruits birds love	P
Viburnum prunifolium Blackhaw Viburnum	blue-black fruits; horizontal habit; attractive fall color	P
Viburnum trilobum American Cranberry Viburnum	attractive lacecap flowers and red translucent fruits that persist through winter	P

PERENNIALS (many of these can be used as groundcover)
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Actaea pachypoda White Baneberry	attractive white flowers followed by white berries in deep shade (berries poisonous)	F
Actaea rubra Red Baneberry	same as White Baneberry except red berries (also poisonous)	F
Aruncus dioicus Goat's Beard	attractive plumes of white flowers	P, W
Astilbe species False Goat's Beard	many cultivars, many colors; finely dissected foliage; excellent border plant; only A. chinensis will tolerate dry shade	P, W
Bergenia species Bergenia	bold, evergreen foliage; flower best in partial shade; drought tolerant; stalks of rose flowers in late winter	P, D
Brunnera macrophylla Siberian bugloss	large, heart-shaped leaves, forget-me-not type of flowers	F, D
Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold	bright gold flowers in early spring	P, W
Carex morrowii var. expallida Japanese Sedge Grass	6-12 inch striped green and cream arching leaves; forms clumps	P
Chasmanthium latifolium Northern Sea Oats	flowers dangle on thread-like pedicels, resemble oats; only grass that does well in deep shade	P, D
Chelidonium majus Greater Celandine	nice in naturalistic type of garden; self-sows readily	P
Cimicifuga racemosa Black Snakeroot	dissected leaves; 2-3 foot wands of white flowers; no maintenance	P
Convallaria majalis Lily-of-the-Valley	spreads readily (to the point of being a nuisance); sweetly scented white flowers tucked into rich green leaves (does not flower well in deep shade)	F, D
Dicentra eximia Fringed Bleeding Heart	flowers all summer; foliage does not die back as with D. spectabilis	P
Dicentra spectabilis Bleeding Heart	pink or white attractive flowers; dies to ground in midsummer	P
Epimedium species Barrenwort	tolerates dry shade; unusual flowers; dense ground cover; emerging foliage bronze; competes well with tree roots	H, D
Eupatorium rugosum White Snakeroot	attractive, bold white flowers; flowers in deep shade	P, W
Ferns Ostrich Fern, Cinnamon Fern	add a lush, soft look to the shade garden; dramatic vase shape	F
Helleborus niger Christmas Rose	evergreen foliage with white to pink flowers in late winter	P
Helleborus orientalis Lenten Rose	low-maintenance ground cover; flowers range from white to pink to maroon	P
Hosta species Funkia	endless cultivars of many colors and variegations; maintenance-free; spikes of white or purple flowers, some fragrant	F
Ligularia species Ligularia	bold foliage on most species; strong stems of bright flowers; will not tolerate western exposure	P, W
Liriope muscari Big Blue Lilyturf	tolerant of dry shade; spikes of purple flowers; excellent groundcover; variegated forms available	F, D
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower	clear red flowers on tall spikes; tolerant of deep shade; needs moist soil	P, W
Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells	blue to pink flowers in early spring; plants fade away entirely by midsummer	P, W
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta Ribbon Grass	green and white variegation; spreads by rhizomes; does well in moist partial shade; can be aggressive	P, W
Polygonatun odoratum 'Variegatum' Solomon's Seal	woodland plants with arching stems that hold pendulous flowers; leaves have cream edges and tips	F
Primula species Primrose	many colors available; spring-blooming; attractive rugose leaves	P
Pulmonaria saccharata Bethlehem Sage	leaves dappled silver and gray; pink, purple, blue, white flowers; many cultivars available; flowers in deep shade	F
Rodgersia species Rodgersia	distinct, bold foliage; panicles of flowers resembling Astilbe; does well in moist soil	P, W
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot	beautiful showy white flowers in early spring; unusually shaped leaves that remain through the summer; name comes from red sap given off by roots when bruised	P, W
Smilacina racemosa False Solomon's Seal	leaves resemble Solomon's Seal; flowers are held at ends of branches; attractive red berries	F, W
Tiarella cordifolia Foamflower	makes compact mat with spreading underground stems; flowers resemble Astilbe	F
Trillium species Wake-Robin	showy woodland plant; does well in partial shade and moist soil; will naturalize easily	P, W
Tricyrtis hirta Hairy Toad Lily	arching stems with unusual flowers; plant where flowers can be observed	P
Uvularia grandiflora Bellwort	nodding yellow flowers; drooping leaves	P

GROUND COVERS
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Ajuga reptans Bugleweed	spreads quickly; spikes of purple flowers; many cultivars available with varying leaf textures	F
Asarum europaeum European Ginger	shiny, evergreen carpet-like groundcover; thrives in deep to partial shade; tolerates dryness	F, D
Chrysogonum virginianum Goldenstar	attractive yellow flowers cover the mat-like plants; blooms from spring to late summer	P
Euonymus fortunei Wintercreeper Euonymus	many cultivars available; evergreen; covers quickly	F, D
Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff	delicate white flowers held above palmate leaves	F
Hedera helix English Ivy	dark, glossy evergreen leaves; thrives in deep shade	F, D
Iris cristata Crested Iris	early blooming; spreads by rhizomes to form a 6-inch-tall ground cover; grows best in poor soils	P
Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Variegatum' Yellow Archangel	bright silver variegated foliage with yellow flowers	P
Lamium maculatum Spotted Nead Nettle	white variegated foliage with purple or white flowers in early spring; tolerates dry shade	P, D
Lysimachia nummularia Moneywort	tiny bright green leaves with abundant yellow flowers in spring; only 2 inches tall	P, W
Pachysandra terminalis Japanese Spurge	bright evergreen leaves; inconspicuous but fragrant flowers	F
Phlox divaricata Woodland Phlox	twelve to fifteen inches tall; blue fragrant flowers	F
Phlox stolonifera Creeping Phlox	forms heavy mat under very shady conditions; violet to lavender flowers	F
Ranunculus septentrionalis Swamp Buttercup	spreads readily; attractive yellow flowers	P, W
Sedum ternatum Whorled Stonecrop	only sedum that tolerates shade well; white flowers in late spring; 2-6 inches tall	P, D
Veronica prostrata Prostrate Speedwell	bright blue flowers; 8-10 inches high	P
Vinca minor Periwinkle	blue, purple or white flowers; glossy evergreen leaves	F

ANNUALS
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Anchusa capensis Summer Forget-Me-Not	bright blue flowers on tall stems; cut back after first flush to have rebloom	F
Begonia semperflorens-cultorum Wax Begonia	many colors available; will tolerate dry shade; blooms all summer; no maintenance	F, D
Begonia x tuberhybrida Tuberous Begonia	bold, bright flowers; must be kept moist	P
Caladium x hortulanum Caladium	grown for foliage in all shades of greens, pinks, white and silver; bold addition to any planting	P
Catharanthus roseus Periwinkle	shiny green foliage sets off distinct pink or white flowers; tolerates dry conditions	P, D
Coleus x hybridus Coleus	grown for foliage of all colors; particularly bright in shade	P
Impatiens wallerana Dizzy Lizzy	many colors available; flowers continuously; only maintenance required is fertilization	F
Lobelia erinus Garden Lobelia	tiny, intense blue or white flowers on slender stems; excellent for hanging basket or window box	P
Mimulus x hybridus Monkeyflower	flowers in red, yellow, maroon, brown; flowers very well in shade	P, W
Myosotis sylvatica Forget-Me-Not	tiny abundant blue flowers with yellow centers; make solid carpet under trees	P
Nierembergia hippomanica Cup Flower	violet to blue cup-shaped flowers; bloom all summer but peak in fall	P
Torenia fournieri Wishbone Flower	resemble Johnny Jump-ups; flowers purple and yellow; bloom all summer in shade	F, W
Viola species Pansy, Johnny Jump-up, Violet	many old favorites in all colors; usually spring blooming but pansies can be pushed to bloom all summer if well watered	P

VINES
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Actinidia arguta Bower Actinidia	glossy leaves; holds leaves late; requires support; edible fruits	P
Actinidia kolomikta Kolomikta Actinidia	leaves have pink to white blotch as if dipped in paint; twining stems	P
Akebia quinata Five-leaved Akebia	palmate blue-green leaves; unique purple flowers	F, W, D
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Porcelain Vine	finely toothed leaves; bright aqua and purple berries; 'Elegans' has fine silver variegation on leaves	P
Aristolochia duror Dutchman's Pipe	large, bold leaves; good screen; unique flowers	P
Celastrus scandens American Bittersweet	will not fruit heavily in shade; clear green leaves; quick cover; need male and female for fruit	P, D
Clematis species Clematis	will not flower heavily in shade; twining petioles; tough vine with beautiful flowers; lovely when scrambling up trees	P
Hydrangea anomala subsp. Petiolaris Climbing Hydrangea	clings to tree bark or masonry; peeling stems; lacecap type flowers	F
*Ipomoea alba Moonflower Vine	beautiful white flowers that bloom in the evening	P
*Ipomoea purpurea Morning Glory	twining vine with blue to purple to pink flowers	P
Lathyrus latifolius Perennial Sweetpea	twining vines, sweetly scented flowers	P
Lonicera heckrottii Goldflame Honeysuckle	flowers red and yellow; sturdy vine; flowers all summer	P
Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle	white to yellow fragrant flowers throughout summer; spreads quickly, can become rampant in warm climates	P
Menispermum canadense Moonseed	twining vine; large leaves effective for screening; flowers not spectacular	P
Parthenocissus quinquifolia Virginia Creeper	excellent fall color; quick covering; climbs with sticky holdfasts	F, D
Parthenocissus tricuspidata Boston Ivy	companion to P. quinquifolia; excellent fall color; blue fruits	F, D
*Annual vine

BULBS
NAME	DESCRIPTION	LIGHT, MOISTURE
Cyclamen species	many types available; most are early spring-blooming	P, D
Erythronium species Trout Lily or Dog-Tooth Violet	yellow or pink flowers; some foliage has pale dappling	P
Fritillaria meleagris Checkered Lily	tall stalks bear purple bells in spring	P
Leucojum species Spring or Summer Snowflake	tall nodding white bells; best in partial shade	P
Scilla species Bluebells	spread readily to make a carpet of blue; use where something else will cover foliage in summer	P

References

Allen, Oliver E. Shade Gardens. Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1979.

Brown, George E. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland. London: Faber and Faber, 1980.

Druse, Ken. The Natural Shade Garden. N.Y.: Clarkson Potter, 1991.

Fish, Margery. Gardening in the Shade. London: Faber and Faber, 1964.

la Croix, I.F. Gardening in the Shade. Brighton, England: Angus & Robertson, 1978.

Morse, Harriet K. Gardening in the Shade. N.Y.: Scribner & Sons, 1962.

Schenk, George. The Complete Shade Gardener. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984.

Sinnes, A. Cort. Shade Gardening. San Francisco: Ortho Books, 1982.