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Tips &Tricks
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If your garden is located in the shadow of nearby buildings, trees, an overhead canopy, or your house, you might think there's no way you could get flowers to grow. After all, many flowers prefer the sun. There are, however, a number of hardy plants with beautiful flowers that can brighten up your garden, even if it's shady!
1. Bleeding heart - Well-known for its distinctive row of arched, drooping flowers that resemble bleeding hearts lined up along the branch, this flower is a perennial and doesn't mind being in a shady spot. It grows native in woods, and various species will bloom either in the spring and early summer or all season. It looks wonderful in a bed, border, or corner, and some may need support or something to climb on.
2. Calla lilies - For an elegant perennial that will pop against a shady background, try planting calla lilies. They are often found in white, pink, or yellow, and will bloom from spring to autumn. It doesn't need much attention or care, though will need to be watered along with your other plants and won't tolerate dryness.
3. Primrose - The colorful and whimsical-looking primrose loves the shade, and can be found in many bright tones to match any garden: red, pink, purple, yellow, and white! They are among the first plants to bloom in the spring, and do well when planted under a taller, all-season plant or a bright jewel-tone plant. You can also try filling a corner with one or tucking them under shrubs.
4. Lily-of-the-valley - Known for their fragrance and elegance, lily-of-the-valley flowers provide tiny dots of color to draw the eye anywhere you wish in your garden design. They don't need much maintenance and thrive in the shade, enough so that they can spread if you don't carefully monitor them. Some people like this effect and deliberately introduce it to a natural-style garden.
5. Foxglove - If you have enough low-growing plants and want something tall for a change, foxglove draws the eye up and provides clusters of fascinating cup-shaped flowers. They come in many bright colors and need as much shade as possible, especially in the heat of the summer. You'll need to be careful to keep the soil moist. Don't deadhead the plants if you want them to regrow from dropped seeds next year.
These are just a few of the possibilities for bright contrasts to the green foliage-based gardens most people think shady spots require. While different shades of green can look certainly elegant, there's nothing like a white or bright flower to make you smile as you enjoy your shady spot.
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