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I am planting a meditation garden, that has moderate to deep shade. I already have Kentucky Bluegrass and Hostas installed, but am looking for some other ideas for color. Suggestions, anybody? Coleus-has lots of different foliage colors You will want to double check with a good local nursery to see if these are good in your area. You can also add a few mixed containers on different height levels to add instant color and pop. I change mine up about every 3 months so that they are fresh and providing the bulk of "color" in the shady areas. These can be assorted shade annuals if you want. You can also add some specimen plants in pots and if they are elevated will create a nice focal point. Good luck!
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9 Comments posted on "What are some good plants for a shade garden?"
Lawnboy & Luna on November 16th, 2013 at 7:18 am #
Astilbe is a pretty plant, and looks eerily pretty in low-light conditions. Mine are starting to flower now in Massachusetts. Varied colors from pink, white, perhaps blue.
Snow on November 16th, 2013 at 7:53 am #
Bleeding hearts love the shade. They have a lovely green leaf with various shades of pink or red hearts that drip from the stem structure. They can get to a good size and add the little splash of color you like. Hydrangeas do well in the shade too. At least mine do. They have lovely blossoms with nice leafy green backgrounds too.
Amy R on November 16th, 2013 at 8:15 am #
I am afraid your Kentucky bluegrass will not survive if the shade is truly deep.
Spam on November 16th, 2013 at 8:20 am #
For color these two plants
Tigger on November 16th, 2013 at 8:30 am #
Impatiens. And you might try wood violets. Good luck!
KJean on November 16th, 2013 at 8:35 am #
My shade garden includes bleeding hearts, astilbe, hosta, monkshood, jacobs ladder, lenton rose, campanula, columbine in the slightly sunnier section, foamflower; and impatients as an annual. If you want something that spreads, look at snow on the mountain or lily of the valley. Asilbe comes in pink, red, white, and purple. I think foxglove will also do well in shade, they are very showy spikes in all sorts of color. Good luck!
Mark M on November 16th, 2013 at 9:20 am #
The soil moisture is the determining factor when deciding between these ideas I and others are presenting you. Wet shade and dry shade produce very very different palettes. Your state’s native plant society will have some awesome suggestions too. For perennials, I like coral bells, barrenwort (there’s even a variety that’s evergreen), columbine, wood poppy, tiarella, black cohosh (also known as bugbane), Virginia bluebells, dutchman’s breeches, spring beauty, bloodroot, & bunchberry (and ferns, of course) For shrubs, I like bottlebrush buckeye, hydrangeas, leucothoe (aka dog hobble or sweet bells), & wintergreen For meditation, I like a very subdued place, with very subtle color shifts and not a lot of varigation and other bells & whistles. The red japanese maples turn some lovely shades of bronze and green in the shade, and there are some green ones that near chartreuse. These, and other trees, are often short enough to ride the line between small tree and large shrub. You may also find a fun source of color by setting up logs and impregnanting them with mushroom spore. There are lots of options (once you find a source- that’s a separate question), just be sure to have a good system for separating logs which grow edibles vs logs that grow poisonous mushrooms.
booboo on November 16th, 2013 at 10:06 am #
Here are just a few suggestions: Coleus-has lots of different foliage colors You will want to double check with a good local nursery to see if these are good in your area. You can also add a few mixed containers on different height levels to add instant color and pop. I change mine up about every 3 months so that they are fresh and providing the bulk of "color" in the shady areas. These can be assorted shade annuals if you want. You can also add some specimen plants in pots and if they are elevated will create a nice focal point. Good luck!
jt c on November 16th, 2013 at 10:20 am #
Try impatiens, coleus, vinca Post a comment
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