Lush, cool and lovely. Shade gardens have a tranquil beauty which can be a welcome relief in the heat of summer. Many shade perennials carry blooms, however, their foliage is just as striking offering a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Hairy, dark green foliage with irregular silver spots. Requires moist, well-drained soil. Early-season bloom. Deer resistant!
Monkshood (Aconitum)
Native to mountainous areas in Europe and Asia, monkshood is a tall herbaceous perennial flower that blooms late in the summer and handles partial shade very well. It gets its common name from its resemblance to the cowl on monk’s habits. A moderately slow-growing flower, monkshood features smooth palmate leaves with deep lobes and racemes of blue or white flowers on sturdy, unbranched stems.
Mukdenia
Fanned, maple-like leaves emerge bright green in spring, age to bronze-green, and by summer mature to green with bright red streaks. In early spring, white bell-shaped flowers dance above the foliage. Excellent for use as a groundcover for woodland gardens, an accent for borders, or to tuck into containers.
Rodgersia
With its bold, divided leaves this forms an exotic-looking clump that adds a unique foliage accent to any moist border. Large airy plumes of white to soft-pink flowers appear in early to mid-summer.
Moss (Sagina subulata)
Lush moss-like carpet of foliage 1″ tall. Tiny translucent star-shaped white flowers add to its beauty in spring. Moss is just the ground cover you need for rock gardens and planting between stepping stones or pavers.
Bugbane (Cimicifuga)
Cimicifuga are grown for their dramatic stature and impressive blooms. Finely cut fern-like foliage makes a perfect backdrop for late summer spires of fragrant flowers. Prefers a consistently moist site for best habit. Deer resistant. Extremely hardy.
St. Johnswort (Hypericum)
This low-maintenance ground cover blooms with showy yellow flowers — five petals with a bottlebrush-style stamin – that complement the medium-green, semi-glossy leaves. St. John’s Wort thrives in partial shade and spreads vigorously. Often used on embankments and hillsides.
Sweet Woodruff (Gallium)
An excellent naturalizing groundcover for shaded areas. Prefers moist, well-drained area. Early to mid-season bloom. Tiny, fragrant white flowers bloom above whorled green leaves.
Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)
Toad lilies are one of the latest blooming perennials. Great for the part shade garden that has moist, rich soil. These plants should be placed near the front of the border so the unusual flowers can be showcased.
Vinca
A lush, trailing ground cover that thrives in the deepest of shade. Blossoms appear above lustrous green foliage. This evergreen perennial is perfect for planting beneath tree canopies, or cascading over a low wall or container.
Veronica repens
An evergreen carpeting plant, this ground-hugger is studded by tiny white flowers during late spring. Ideal for growing between flagstones or massing as a groundcover over a small area. Dislikes extreme drought, but otherwise tough and versatile. A good cover for early spring-blooming bulbs. Tolerates moderate foot traffic.
