Three great plants for your shade garden.
When designing a garden that can cope with the lack of sun plant choice is critical. Here is my list of favorites that are shade tolerant and rated for zone 5.
1. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) – This plant gets its name from the reddish-pink heart shape flowers that are produced. Perfectly at home in full to partial shade this plant will reach about 3’ tall and wide. Althought the growth rate isn’t extremely fast it is considered a moderate grower. They are easy to care for but do require regular watering. Blooms can be expected from early through late spring.
2. Periwinkle (Vinca minor – Bowles) – A staple of shade ground covers with small glossy green leaves and spring violet blooms they are sure not to disappoint. They have a fast growth rate and are known to be deer resistant. They can be planted anywhere from full sun to full shade, but do require moisture in the soil. With vine like growth they spread like a carpet only a few inches tall. It also has a cousin Green Carpet Vinca (Vinca minor – ‘Green Carpet’) which has several of the same attributes save one – no blooms.
3. Giant Lilyturf (Liriope gigantean) – These make an excellent boarder and resemble a tuft of ornamental grass. Maxing out at 2-3 ‘ tall they do best in dappled sun. Weekly watering should be fine for these guys. And better yet, deer don’t like these plants either.
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