* Watch for the animated hummingbird and butterfly with the plants that attract them. *
The deer icon indicates plants that deer are not usually attracted to.

The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.

FERNS

Generally performing best in moist, well-drained soil, ferns will bring wonderful colour and texture to your shade garden with their lovely fronds.

Ferns generally:   also see by individual names

with:  Polygonatum odoratum, Pulmonaria, Hosta, Lilium, Epimedium, Dicentra, Helleborus, Begonia grandis,
Phlox divaricata, Phlox stolonifera
near spring bulbs:  Narcissus
with spring wildflowers:  Mertensia virginica, Arisaema
keep away from aggressive ground-covering spreaders:  Hedera helix, Ajuga reptans, Pachysandra terminalis, Vinca

GALANTHUS

One of the earliest bulbs to bloom in spring, Snowdrops have pendant white flowers with a green streak over lush grassy foliage. Plants these by the hundreds for a lovely effect.

Galanthus nivalis:  Snowdrop, 4-6"x3"

this wonderful spring-blooming bulb can be seen in the border around this page and in the image at the top of the page.
where:  shade under bushes, trees, along woodland paths
with:  small ferns, Trillium, Hepatica, Sanguinaria canadensis, Galium odoratum, Scilla tubergeniana
under:  Philadelphus, Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy', Campanula portenschlagiana
to follow earliest bulbs:  Crocus vernus, Eranthis hyemalis
co-blooming with:  Crocus vernus 'Remembrance'
complementary bloom time:  Chionodoxa luciliae, Eranthis hyemalis

with:  Eranthis hyemalis

GALIUM

A choice plant for foliage interest all summer long, Sweet Woodruff has starry white flowers as a bonus in spring.

Galium odoratum:  Sweet Woodruff, 4-10"x12-18"

formerly:  Asperula odorata
where:  in shade of trees or shrubs;  shady, moist locations
with:  shrubs, esp. shade-loving types; Rhododendron
over:  spring bulbs, wildflowers i.e. Mertensia virginica
with:  Myosotis, Doronicum, Galanthus nivalis, Hosta

GENTIANA

If it is late summer to autumn flowers you need, you can do no better than Gentian to provide a touch of blue to your partly shaded areas.

Gentiana:  Gentian

with:  other lush foliage plants, ferns, woodland Aster, Hosta, Carex spp, Ornamental Grasses

with:  blue Gentiana, Artemisia 'Silver Brocade'

where:  rock garden, scree, trough garden

where:  wild gardens, perennials borders with fall-bloomers
with:  ferns, wildflowers, Aster, Solidago

where:  front of border
with:  other low growers, esp. deep yellow, white and pink

GERANIUM

Cranesbill, or Hardy Geranium, is a versatile genus of plants, most with showy flowers, in a wide range of colours. Cut them back after bloom to encourage fresh foliage that will provide interest for the rest of the gardening season.

Geranium phaeum:  Mourning Widow (Border type), 18-24"x24"

where:  moist, shady areas, even deep dry shade (most geraniums prefer more sun than this species does)

HAKONECHLOA

The long arching leaves of Hakone Grass, on a plant up to a foot tall, will all spill in one direction, creating the appearance of a waterfall. Excellent over a rock edge.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola':  Hakone Grass

for partnership ideas follow the link to Ornamental Grasses & Their Companions

HEDERA

Reputedly for dense shade to part sun, Ivy actually does best in indirect light.

Hedera helix

with:  Vinca minor

HELLEBORUS

Hellebores can provide the earliest blooms in your shade garden. Their leathery foliage will continue the interest to fall.

Helleborus:  Hellebore

where:  moist sites, partial to full shade, shade gardens, woodland plantings
with:  spring bulbs, early-flowering wildflowers, ferns, shade-loving perennials
with:  Primula, Viola, Galanthus nivalis
long-blooming effect with:  Mertensia virginica & Tulipa or Narcissus (for winter to late spring colour)
near Lycoris squamigera & Begonia grandis (for summer and fall colour)
interplanted with:  Dicentra spectabilis (this may not work in northern areas)
contrast with:  Skimmia

where:  under shade of trees, woodland gardens, within view from a window while still partly snow-covered
with:  wildflowers, ferns, early spring bulbs

now called:  Helleborus x hybridus
where:  under trees and shrubs, in well-drained, loamy soil
with early spring bulbs:  Galanthus nivalis, Iris reticulata, Muscari, Narcissus, miniature Tulipa
purple or blue/black hybrids with:  Primula veris or Primula elatior (light yellow forms)

x HEUCHERELLA

A cross between two genera, Heuchera & Tiarella, Foamy Bells provides both attractive foliage and flowers.

x Heucherella:  Hybrid Foamy Bells, 12-24"x12"

what:  a cross between Heuchera and Tiarella
where:  woodland gardens, part shade

with:  flowering shrubs, spring bulbs, woodland wildflowers, ferns
in shade of:  Amelanchier spp, Halesia spp, Cladrastis lutea and other flowering trees

HOSTA

The choice available in this genus today is nearly overwhelming. Whatever your shade intensity, or size requirements, there will be many from which to choose as the perfect shade garden candidate.

Hosta:  all forms

for partnership ideas follow the link to Hostas & Their Companions

KERRIA

It amazes me that more people don't grow the wonderful Japanese Kerria shrub, perfect for even dense shade. The pistachio-green stems make it a bright accent at all times, even in winter. My preference is for the single yellow-flowered form, rather than the double. I grow one with solid green foliage as well as one whose foliage is variegated, both with single yellow blooms. I find the double-flowers heavy and downright unattractive.

Kerria japonica:  Japanese Kerria shrub, 5-8'x6-9'

the variegated foliage form can be seen in the photograph above
note:  for a profile of this plant click here
with:  Lunaria annua
above:  Galanthus nivalis & other early bulbs, Narcissus 'Martha Washington' (white with yellow cups)

LAMIASTRUM

It is interesting to watch Yellow Archangel in the days just before it blooms. The foliage, which normally hugs the ground, begins to shoot up high, then produces lovely hooded yellow flowers in whorls around the leaf axils. After blooming, the variegated foliage flattens out and becomes a wonderful groundcover again.

Lamiastrum galeobdolon: False Lamium, Yellow Archangel, 8-14"x12"

now:  Galeobdolon luteum
for partnership ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

synonym: Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Florentinum'
where:  groundcover in difficult shady areas, including under trees
with:  spring bulbs, early wildflowers, ferns on moist sites

LAMIUM

Dead Nettle, also called Spotted Dead Nettle, is another groundcover for shaded areas. Much prettier than the common names would suggest. The correct pronunciation for this genus is LAY-mee-um.

Lamium maculatum:  Dead Nettle, False Salvia, 6-12"x12-24"

where:  groundcover, edger, over walls, in containers (too vigorous for the rock garden)
with:  Hosta, ferns, spring-flowering bulbs
in moist acidic conditions with:  Gaultheria procumbens
under:  flowering shrubs, evergreens, high-canopied shade trees

with:  Chrysanthemum 'Mei-Kyo'

under:  flowering shrubs, evergreens, high-canopied shade trees
with:  spring-flowering bulbs, Hosta, Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy', ferns

combined with:  Aruncus dioicus 'Kneiffii', Gentiana 'Benichidori' & Gillenia
interplanted with:  Galanthus nivalis followed by white Martagon lilies
interplanted with:  Scilla sibirica
not with:  Eranthis hyemalis, Anemone
with:  Lamium maculatum 'Pink Pewter' or 'Shell Pink'
for contrast with:  Heuchera americana 'Dale's Strain'

LIGULARIA

If you can provide a constantly moist spot in light shade, this large-leaved beauty may be your perfect choice. Tall yellow spires of bloom reach high overhead.

Ligularia dentata:  Big-Leaved Ligularia, 3-4'x2-3'

synonym:  Ligularia clivorum
where:  pondside, in rich, moist to wet soil, on cool sites
with:  ferns, Hosta (esp. large-leaved forms), Iris, Japanese Iris, Ornamental Grasses

synonym:  Ligularia przewalskii
where:  background plant, waterside, for rich, moist soils
note:  does not thrive in shade, but wilts in sun even when moist
preference:  place for filtered shade from hot sun from the west
with:  Iris ensata (Japanese Iris, including plants listed as Iris kaempferi), large-leaved Hosta (especially large-leaved types)
with:  Rodgersia
amid:  tall plants that cast shade for part of the day, i.e. Echinops ritro, Phlox paniculata (try a red type),
pale purple perennials to tie the colours together

LIRIOPE

Many shade-loving plants produce their flowers early in the season. Not so the Lilyturf. Excellent as a ground cover of grass-like leaves, this plant blooms late in the summer. Pronounce the name of this genus lih-RYE-oh-pee.

Liriope:  Lilyturf, 12-18"x12-24"

over:  Narcissus, Crocus (fall-blooming)
with:  Verbena, Helictotrichon sempervirens, Yucca, Aquilegia, Limonium

where:  even dense shade, tolerates drought

for partnership ideas follow the link to White Perennials & Their Companions - 2

where:  takes shade;  more sun = broader, brighter margins

LYSIMACHIA

This Loosestrife is no relation to the Purple Loosestrife we've all eradicated from our gardens. You can grow these plants safely and enjoy the white or yellow blooms without worry. Reference books give the pronunciation as lye-sih-MAW-kee-uh or lye-sih-MAY-kee-uh. I prefer the former.

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea':  Creeping Jenny, bright golden leaves, 2-4"x18"

for partnership ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

MERTENSIA

In April and May, the drooping bell-shaped blue and pink flowers of Virginia Bluebells put in their graceful appearance. Alas, the plant will then go dormant, even the foliage disappearing completely by July.

Mertensia virginica:  Virginia Bluebells

for partnership ideas follow the link to Blue Perennials & Their Companions

MYOSOTIS

This biennial, usually treated as a self-seeding annual, can provide a blue, pink or white haze in the spring garden. They are delightful on their own or amid patches of tulips or daffodils.

Myosotis:  Forget-Me-Not

generally with:  spring-blooming bulbs, perennials
in drifts around or over:  late-flowering bulbs, Primula, Paeonia
interplanted with:  Darwin Tulipa (vibrant pink or red)
with:  Tulipa 'Mariette', Tulipa praestans 'Fusilier', Narcissus, Aurinia saxatilis, Viola tricolor 'King Henry',
Galium odoratum
(pink) echo under/with:  Tulipa ( a similar or brighter pink)
(blue) echo under/with:  Hyacinthus (darker blue)

with:  Tulipa 'Mariette', Narcissus, Aurinia saxatilis, Viola tricolor

where:  under spring bulbs, esp. Tulipa spp.

after:  Primula, Viola

OMPHALODES

This plant does not appear in many of my favourite gardening books. Navelwort will grow in any moisture-retentive soil and makes a wonderful blooming ground cover under trees or shrubs. Dead-head to prolong the blue flower display.

Omphalodes:  Navelwort

where:  groundcover in shade
over:  Crocus, Erythronium, dwarf Narcissus

PHLOX

The woodland species of Phlox will thrive in light to full shade with evenly moist humus-rich soil. Choose any of the ones below for lovely early colour in your shade garden. The one least appetizing to deer is Phlox divaricata.

Phlox:  shade-loving forms

with:  ferns, spring bulbs, shade-loving wildflowers
with:  Pulmonaria, Dicentra, Hosta

where:  lightly shaded woodland but will also take full sun
with:  Convallaria majalis

synonym:  Phlox canadensis
where:  partial shade, wild or woodland gardens, under trees/flowering shrubs, as edger in shady border
with:  spring bulbs, Pulmonaria, Convallaria majalis, Campanula, Doronicum orientale, Dicentra,
Hosta
with:  ferns, wildflowers i.e. Aquilegia canadensis, Mertensia virginica, Asarum canadense, Helleborus,
Tiarella cordifolia
combined with:  white Trillium, Polemonium reptans & Tiarella
combined with:  Sanguinaria canadensis, Tiarella wherryi, purple-leaved form of Heuchera, ferns, Hosta,
Viola, Disporum (Fairy-Bells) sessile 'Variegatum' (spring-blooming 18" woodland bulb)
in front of or between Azalea spp. with:  Trillium, Asarum, Pulmonaria
before:  Papaver orientale

with:  spring bulbs
with wildflowers:  Aquilegia canadensis, Mertensia virginica, Asarum canadense, Tiarella cordifolia
with:  Pulmonaria, Convallaria majalis, Campanula, Hosta, ferns, Doronicum orientale, Dicentra, Polygonatum

with:  Convallaria majalis

where:  groundcover under shrubs, out of full sun, edger, woodland gardens
with:  Stylophorum diphyllum, Primula (soft yellows), Dicentra eximia (soft pinks)

awards:  Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year for 1990
with:  Convallaria majalis

with:  Convallaria majalis

POLEMONIUM

After the flowers of Jacob's Ladder have finished their bloom, the foliage remains tidy and attractive for the rest of the summer.

Polemonium

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to White Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

FOR MORE PERENNIALS THAT PREFER SHADY SPOTS IN YOUR GARDEN, FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW.

• Aegopodium to Erythronium
• Polygonatum to Vinca

All of our own Gardens By The Bay pages can be accessed by clicking on the links below.

HOME

GARDEN POETRY  |  GARDEN POETRY MUSE

GEORGIAN BAY VIEW

BOTANICAL LATIN - BASICS

COLOR THEORY

THE GARDENS

CORNER GARDEN CONSTRUCTION  |  CORNER GARDEN PLANTING  |  LONG GARDEN

EAST GARDEN  |  HOSTA GARDEN  |  NORTH GARDEN  |  WINTER GARDENS

PLANT PARTNERSHIPS

BLUE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Geranium  |  Iris - Vinca

BULBS    Allium - Hyacinthus  |  Narcissus only  |  Tulipa only  |  Minor Bulbs

BUTTERFLY MAGNETS    Anaphalis - Hemerocallis  |  Liatris - Veronicastrum
DAYLILIES      Spider & Unusual Form

EDGERS    Arabis - Iris  |  Nepeta - Veronica

FOLIAGE PERENNIALS     Alchemilla - Tanacetum

HOSTA    Hosta - all

HUMMINGBIRD-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS    Alcea - Salvia

ORANGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Tulipa

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES    Acorus - Imperata |  Miscanthus - Spodiopogon

PINK PERENNIALS    Achillea - Lilium  |  Lychnis - Veronica

PURPLE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Liatris  |  Polemonium - Veronica

RED PERENNIALS    Achillea - Veronica

SHADE PERENNIALS    Aegopodium - Erythronium  |  Ferns - Polemonium  |  Polygonatum - Vinca

SILVER FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Cerastium    |    Cornus - Limonium    |    Lunaria - Veronica

SIMPLY SPECIAL PERENNIALS    Acanthus - Saxifraga

WHITE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Iris  |  Kalimeris - Yucca

YELLOW PERENNIALS    Achillea - Hypericum  |  Inula - Verbascum

VARIEGATED-FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Acorus - Erythronium  |  Hakonechloa - Lysimachia  |  Miscanthus - Yucca

PLANT PROFILES

Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies'  |  Geranium  |  Geum coccineum  |  Kerria japonica  |  Knautia macedonica

Paeonia tenuifolia  |  Papaver somniferum  |  Rudbeckia  |  Salvia 'East Friesland'

Trollius  |  Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

PROPAGATION

DIVISION - SPRING ONLY  |   DIVISION - FALL ONLY  |   DIVISION - SPRING OR FALL  |   DO NOT DIVIDE

FERTILIZATION

BULBS  |   ORNAMENTAL GRASSES  |   PERENNIALS  |   SHRUBS  |   VINES

LINKS

GARDENS  |   LOCAL GARDENS  |   BOTANICAL TERMINOLOGY

GARDENING BOOKS  |   NON-GARDENING

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