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Shade Garden Designs
 

Shade Garden Under Tree

 
 

Rectangular Shade Garden

 

Plant descriptions for designs on this page.
 

Name:
Blue Star Creeper
Botanical:
Laurentia / Isotoma
Height x Width: 1/2" H - Space 15-18" apart
Exposure: Full Sun or Partial Shade
Bloom Color: Blue
Bloom Time: April to Frost!
Water: Low once established
Features: Fast spreading, matt-forming groundcover is excellent for use betw.
Companions: One of the best steppables
 

Name:
Mahonia 'Grapeberry' or 'Leatherleaf'
Botanical:
Mahonia beali
Height x Width: 4-5' H x 4-5' W
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color: Yellow flowers followed by purple-blue berries!
Bloom Time: Spring
Water: Low
Features: The lustrous, bold, leathery foliage is outstanding in the landscape. Tassels of yellow flowers are produced atop the stems in Spring and are followed by clusters of berries resembling grapes. Very low maintanence. Useful as a foundation plant or in shady isalnds or perennial gardens.
Companions: Azaleas, Nandinas, Aucubas, Dogwoods, Red Bud Trees, Hosta Lilies, Perennial Ferns, Lecouthoe, and many other shade loving plants or trees.
 
Name:
Hydrangea (French varieties)
Botanical:
Hydrangea
Size: 4' h x 4' W
Exposure: Shade
Bloom Color: Blue, Red, Pink, or White
Bloom Time: Summer
Water Needs: Low to moderate
Features: Masses of huge, long-lasting, snowball-like flower clusters are produced through Summer.
Companions: Other shade-loving shrubs and perennials.
 

 

Name:
Astilbe 'Visions'
Botanical:
Astilbe
Height x Width: 14" H x 18" W
Exposure: Shade
Bloom Color: Dark Pink to Pinkish Purple
Bloom Time: June to August
Water: Moderate - provide adequate moisture during drought
Features: Bronze green foliage contrasts wonderfully with the upright flowers. A strong performer in the South and an excellent cut flower.
Companions: Hosta Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus, Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and other shade plants and trees.
 

Name:
Creeping Jenny
Botanical:
Lysimachia
Height x Width: 2"H x 18"+W / SPace 18-24" apart
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Bloom Color:  
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once esablished
Features: Outstanding, bright golden leaves on this matt-forming, fast growing evergreen. Useful as a groundcover or between stepping stones. A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions: Use as a groundcover in shady or sunny garden or between stepping stones.
 

Name:
Autumn Fern
Botanical:
 
Height x Width: 18-30" H x 18-24" W
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage Color: Dark Green with Orange new growth
Bloom Time:  
Water: Most are drought tolerant
Features: The young fronds of this evergreen fern are orange-copper colored and contrast nicely with the green mature foliage. Very adaptable and easily grown in a wide range of weel-drained soils.
Companions: Hosta Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and other shade plants and trees.
 

Name:
Fern 'Japanese Painted'
Botanical:
Athyrium
Height x Width: 18-24" H x 18-24" W
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage Color: Soft Grey edged in Dark Green
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low
Features: Soft, light greyish-white fronds contrast nicely with plants around it.
Companions: Combines exceptionally well with Blue Hosta, Pink Astilbe, Heuchera Palace Purple, Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Vinca Minor as groundcover, as well as all other shade loving plants and trees.
 

Name:
Southern Wood Fern
Botanical:
 
Height x Width: 24" H x 24" W
Exposure: Shade
Foliage Color: Bright green
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low to moderate
Features: A beautiful, soft-textured native fern with bright green fronds.
Companions: Hosta Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and other shade plants and trees.
 
Name:
Heucheras
Botanical:
Heuchera
Height x Width: 12-18" H x 12-18" W
Exposure: Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color: More known for its colorful foliage!
Bloom Time:  
Water: Low once established
Features: Heucheras are quickly gaining in popularity as they add outstanding, unique texture and color to the shady garden.
Companions: All other shade perennials, shrubs, and trees.
 

Name:
Hosta Lilies
Botanical:
Hosta
Height x Width: 2-3' H x 2-3' W
Exposure: Shade
Foliage Color: Variegated, Blue, and Golden
Bloom: White or Lavender in Spring or Summer
Water: Low
Features: The bold foliage, textures, and colors of Hosta Lilies make them a must in every shade garden in the South.
Companions: Hosta Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and other shade plants and trees.
 

Name:
Hosta Lily 'Sum and Substance'
Botanical:
Hosta
Height x Width: 3' H x 3' W
Exposure: Tolerates sun or shade well.
Bloom Color: Lavender
Bloom Time: Summer
Water: Low
Features: The most sun tolerant Hosta we know of. Huge leaves of lime green light up the garden. As well as in the shade garden we use this one alot under low windows in partially shaded foundation plantings. A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions: Ferns, Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogowwods, Redbud Trees, and other shade plants and trees.
 

Name:
Magnolia 'Little Gem'
Botanical:
Magnolia grandiflora -
Height x Width: 23' H x 10-12' W
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color: White - Fragrant
Bloom Time: July to November
Water: Dry to Damp
Features: A dwarf Magnolia excellent for use as a screen, specimen, or as espalier against a wall. The highly fragrant white flowers of 6" in diameter are produced from June thru November. Begins blooming at 2' height!
Companions: Abelias, Hollies, Junipers, Spireas, Ornamental Grasses, Indian Hawthorne, Lantanas, and many nmore. Combine in screens with Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Wax Myrtle, Crytpomeria Yoshino, Weeping Yaupon, Pyramidal Hollies, Hetzi Column Juniper, Hollywood Juniper, and others.
 
Name:
Camellia Japonicas - Spring Flowering
Botanical:
Camellia
Size: 5'+ H x 4'+W
Exposure: Sun or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color: Red's, Pink's, White's, and Bi-Colors
Bloom Time: Late January to early April
Water Needs: Low
Features: Outstanding large flowers are produced in abundance from late January thru March. Very handsome dark green glossy foliage is evergreen. Can be used in foundation plantings or in islands. A must in every southern garden.
Companions: Azaleas and other plants that prefer afternoon shade.
 
Name:
Camelia Sasanquas - Fall Blooming
Botanical:
Camellia
Size: 5'+ H x 5'+ W
Exposure: Sun or Afternoon Shade
Bloom Color: Red's, Pink's, White's, Bi-colors
Bloom Time: Fall
Water Needs: Low
Features: Double or single flowers are produced in abundance in fall. Handsome dark green evergreen foliage. Useful as espalier (against a wall), in islands, or as a specimen. Excellent for tree-forming. A must in southern gardens.
Companions: Many varieties of Camelias are available at the nursery - too many to name!
 

 

Name:
Elephant Ears
Botanical:
Colocasia, Alocasia
Height x Width: 3-5' H x 3-5' W
Exposure: Shade or Partial Shade - some take Full Sun
Foliage Color: Asoorted
Bloom Time:  
Water: Prefers moisture retentive soils but tolerates it dry
Features: Huge tropical foliage resembling elephant ears is outstanding in the landscape. Some prefer moisture retentive soils and others will tolerate it dry. A must in every landscape!
Companions: Yellow Flag Iris, Horsetail Grass, Bee Balms, Swamp Hibiscus, Calla Lilies, Swamp Sunflower, and other plants that prefer moisture retentive soils.
 

Name:
Vinca Minor - Periwinkle
Botanical:
Vinca minor
Height x Width: 2-4" H - Space 18-24" apart
Exposure: Shade
Bloom Color: Lilac
Bloom Time: Spring
Water: Low once established
Features: Ground-hugging, trailing evergreen vine becomes covered in Spring with lilac periwinkle flowers. Useful as a groundcover in the shade perennial garden as Hostas will pop right thru it in Spring, shady foundation plantings, and under the canopy of trees.
Companions: All shade loving perennials plants, shrub, and trees.
 

Other Design Categories

Butterfly Gardens

Cutflower Garden

Shade Gardens

Rock Garden

Hummingbird Garden

Moisture Retentive/Bog Garden

Fragrant Garden

Deer Resistant

 

 

 

 
 
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