If you’re looking for instant color in the shade garden, New Guinea Impatiens are an excellent choice. I suggest planting Brunnera along the edge of a shade garden, so it doesn’t get lost among other shade plants. The best news is that Brunnera is deer resistant. Brunnera stays compact in a mounding habit and is somewhat drought tolerant. The shade of blue can be hard to come by in the garden however this shade-loving perennial provides beautiful light blue blooms among gray/silver heart-shaped foliage. My assortment of evergreen ferns has also done well in container gardens tactfully placed throughout the shade garden. If you have an area of the garden that stays soggy after a hard rain, plant ferns and enjoy moist soil. Other evergreen varieties include Japanese holly ferns and soft shield ferns. This evergreen fern variety provides new fronds auburn in a color that turns a bright traditional fern green. I really enjoy my evergreen ferns and my all-time favorite perennial fern for our area is the ‘Autumn’ Fern. No shade garden is complete without them. Partner these shade-loving plants with hostas for contrast and texture in the woodland garden. From bright reds to deep purples, coral bells are a beautiful low-maintenance shade plant that not only has unique foliage but also provides dainty bell-shaped flowers. Hosta varieties that are considered more “slug-resistant” have thicker leaves and are more textured.Īlso known as ‘Coral Bells’ are my go-to plant for anyone that says shade gardens can’t have bright colors – queue Heuchera ‘fire alarm’ or ‘carnival watermelon’. Just a heads up, slugs and deer love to snack on the hosta plant’s lush foliage. Keep a lookout for hosta scorch (browning, paper-thin leaves due to too much sun). My hostas do best in the morning sun and afternoon shade although there are some varieties that will do just fine with more sunshine. I enjoy hostas that have unique color variations like ‘Guacamole’, ’Blue Mouse Ears’, or ‘Blue Angel’. If you’re looking for a statement hosta, try one like ‘Empress Wu’ that gets up to a mature height of 4-5 feet tall. Hostas are a staple among the shade garden and come in many color variations and sizes. Whether under the canopy of mature trees or alongside a north-facing deck, there are many plant options for vibrant shade gardens.īelow are just a few options to help shade gardens become a tranquil escape that I’ve been successful with. What better way to escape those blistering summer temps than in the tranquility of a shade garden.
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