Deep shade
Garden Clippings for June 4, 2022
“The front of my house faces North and we have a big tree in the front yard, so there is lots of shade. What kind of evergreens should I plant?”
Yews (Taxus) and Boxwood (Boxus) are the mainstays of a shady garden. Yews come in several varieties from the large growing Hicks Yew, to the medium sized Dense Yew to the small and slow growing Emerald Spreader Yew. Yews are dark green, hardy, easy to prune, and grow in sun or shade. If Yews have a downfall, it would be that they don’t like consistently wet soil.
Boxwoods are a broadleaf evergreen meaning they do not have needles but have true leaves that remain green through winter. Boxwoods are slow growing and have attractive small glossy green leaves. Prune once a year to keep them tidy. Boxwoods are incredibly hardy and will grow in tight spots. Plant in a row at 2 feet apart and you will have a dwarf hedge. Colour is lighter green than Yews.
Holly (Ilex) is another broad-leaved evergreen that grows well in shady spots. Although the same colour as Yews, Holly offers a bold texture that contrasts nicely against adjacent greens. Holly leaves are dark green, with familiar pointed edges. Expect white flowers in spring, followed by green berries in summer turning festive red at Christmas time. Only the female Holly produces berries, provided there is a male Holly nearby to perform its duties. After dark of course.
Rhododendrons grow well in shady locations, although won’t enjoy deep shade. Rhododendrons have a reputation of being finicky, but the popular PJM variety is tougher than most. Strikingly purple/pink flowers appear in May. After flowers fall, we are left with a tidy plant with lush green leaves that remain on the plant all year round.
Those who want colour in the shade garden should plant a few carefully chosen perennials to give the garden pizzazz. Hostas, especially those with white leaf margins, will provide texture and colour to contrast with dark green foliage. One of my favorites, ‘Patriot’ Hosta has bright, milky white leave edges.
Brunnera, often called Siberian Bugloss, is a lesser-known shade loving perennial with green foliage and delicate white veins. The most popular variety is ‘Jack Frost.’ Brunnera’s claim to fame is that it is not a Hosta, a welcome addition to the shady garden.
For a splash of colour in the shady garden, I recommend planting a few Bleeding Hearts. Other perennials that offer a surprise of colour in the shade are Astilble, Lamium, Columbine, Lenten Rose and Barrenwort.
Rather than trying to coax flowers to bloom in the deep shade, I often recommend planting a sea of groundcover perennials, interrupted by boulders, a classic urn, or other piece of fine art. Other focal points to consider are a stone bench, sundial, bird bath, oriental lantern, wagon wheel or metal sculpture.
In the groundcover department there are several deep shade choices. Periwinkle and Pachysandra are old standbys. Designers looking for shade loving groundcovers should consider Ajuga, Barrenwort, Lamium, Sweet Woodruff and Wild Ginger.
