Starting a shade garden in 7a (VA)

9 years ago

I want to start a shade garden to the east of my house. And it will be my first one, except for a little bed of astilbes I have. It is not a huge area, and it is heavily shaded. Trees in the area include old (and huge) magnolia, sweet gum, and willow oak. There is also a large shrub of holly that is growing there. Other than that, I divided a hosta and planted there last year. North part of this area get more sun than south.

I was thinking of trying some the following this year:

More hostas, astilbes, ferns, and maybe heucheras?

If I want a groundcover in some areas, would sweet woodruff and lamiums do well here?

Another concern is that this area gets lots of leaves comes fall.

Thanks!

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Comments (2)

sue_b
8 years ago
I live in your zone and have success with all you list except my heuchera and astilbe have not come back. Favorites are maidenhair fern (for height), Japanese painted ferns. Autumn ferns and tassel ferns. Sweet woodruff does come back and looks good . Lamium we were gifted is too invasive.

Nice flowering plants in our shade in your zone

Hydrangea

Hellebore

Bleeding heart

Foam flower

Strawberry begonia

Bloodroot

Epimedium

I am not a pro with the genus names like some really good posts on here today but I have experience in your zone. Have fun! Leaves we pretty much leave and rake up in early spring.
geoforce
8 years ago
As said above:

Helebore

Epimedium

Bloodroot

also:

Brunnera

Stylophorum

Many of the Trilliums

Asiatic and the American Mayapples (Podophyllum)

Exceptionally lovely the many forms of Pulmonaria
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