astilbe – Hydrangeas Blue

white astilbe — White Astilbe – Shade Lover

It’s not easy to grow a shade garden. Some hydrangeas will do well in shade, but I am not talking about those here. This post is about the smaller perennials that can fill a shade garden. The flower variety of shade loving plants is limited even more than the plants that are available. Most things that will grow under trees or in gardens that are on the shady side of a house are pretty dull looking in my opinion. I love a garden with variety, so I am always on the lookout for something new to plant in the yard and I’m always thrilled to find a nice looking, shade loving shrub.

Still, I revert back to my favorite three basic choices when buying for the shade.

#1. Bleeding Heart – This is an amazing plant. It is so delicate that it breaks easily, yet sends out long leafy stalks with loads of little, heart-shaped flowers that dangle from the greenery. It seems so fragile, yet each year it survives the icy cold winters underground and grows back in Spring.

#2. Astilbe – I think this is a favorite of many when it comes to planting for shade. I am new to growing this plant, but I plan to have many of them in my garden under the trees. They have tall feathery flowers in white, red and pink and their leaves can vary from color to color.

#3. Hostas – Of course. Who has a shade garden without including hostas? Last year I planted a variety of hostas in my large, front yard garden. It’s too early in the season to see them sprouting yet, but I look forward to watching them get larger and larger. Hostas are mainly grown for the leaf coloring and size, even though they do send up tall shoots with tiny flowers on them.

This little one I found last year at the local nursery is called “Mouse Ear”.

Mother’s Day is The Time to Shop For Hydrangeas (hydrangeasblue.wordpress.com)
Dry Creek Bed Project (playinthegarden.wordpress.com)
Three Amazing Ideas for Your Spring Garden (epicahome.com)

Other Shade-loving Perennials

Hostas are also well known as shade loving plants, but they grow close to the ground with tall shoots that hold their tiny flowers. This is a little “mouse ear” Hosta I planted.

Another favorite for the shade is the bleeding heart.

Of course many hydrangeas can do well in partly shaded locations and I plan to try some in my front yard (New Hampshire). The truth is that most flowering plants need a lot of sun to look good, but arranging the plants I have mentioned here in a grouping beneath trees, or in any shaded area, can be beautiful as well.