Anchor plant ideas for shady cape cod bed

8 years ago

I have many ideas for perennials for the blank shady bed in front of our upper Cape Cod house, but need help with some anchor plants first. I May be totally off base, but my thinking so far is:

City lights hydrangea on right next to porch - for interest near door.

Climbing hydrangea on trellis on the left - would add interest over there and is the only climber that I have found will do well in shade around here and isn’t invasive.

Japanese holly Hoogendorn under Bay window- compact, won’t get too tall.

2 green velvet boxwoods staggered on either side and a bit in front of holly, with slightly different texture and lighter coloring than holly

Something taller??? (Help!!) in front of left corner of house to hide ugly drain spout and lengthen look of small house. Local nursery suggested a compact Pieris japonica but I don’t want something that poisonous w small kids. I don’t love rhododendrons or yews either. Would green mountain boxwood be too boring?

I’ve done my homework on mature sizes I think. Bed is a half circle, 6 feet deep in front of the window, but can be expanded if we want. I don’t want anything over 3-4 feet tall with the small house except perhaps the left corner. The entire bed gets some morning sun but is otherwise shaded by nature oaks by late morning (dappled) and then by the house by mid afternoon (full). We’re in zone 6-7, inland on upper cape cod, with acidic soil that I think drains fairly well.

Thoughts? I’m open to suggestion! Thanks for looking!!

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Dig Doug's Designs

8 years ago

Try a camellia to hide the drain pipe.

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Comments (8)

Cape Sailor
Original Author
8 years ago
A closer look at the space. Those pavers through the garden bed can be moved - ones on right are temporarily marking a small garage power line and irrigation pipe. The walkway at the back is a slightly raised composite platform and I’d like to keep it behind the new bed for now. The front edge of the walkway is 3’ from house, so good distance to have shrubs in front I think?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
is the boardwalk just laying on the soil??? ...

i would pull the soil down.. so the wood can dry .. instead of being buried year round ...

you dont have much foot space at the base of the downspout... so a vine of some kind pops to my mind ... a clematis or some such .... with some sort of trellis ...

ken
Cape Sailor thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The climbing hydrangea grows to be an enormous, heavy vine and there isn’t a chance that your trellis will be able to support it over time. I would rethink that area. What is the purpose of the lattice? Would something else such as a shrub with or without the trellis serve that function, or would it be useful to think of alternative uses/functions for that spot?
Cape Sailor thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
Cape Sailor
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Ken and NHBabs.

I’ve been corrected. The walkway is actually plastic made to look like wood so it won’t rot. Whew!

I like the looks of clematis, but would it survive in a more shady spot like this?

I wasn’t sure if the climbing hydrangea would take over too much, so thanks for confirming my doubts. The lattice is hiding an outdoor shower area, but you’re right - a larger shrub could do the trick instead. It would take a while to fill in though. Hmm.

There is another small vine on the lattice right now. I need to take a piece to the garden center for an ID, perhaps honeysuckle? I wonder if I could just encourage that vine a bit more, although I’m not sure if honeysuckle is an invasive issue here...

Thanks, I appreciate the input! Curious to hear if othere’s have more ideas!
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
You could post a photo of the current vine on the Name that Plant forum.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/name-that-plant-dsbr0-bd~t_29966[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/name-that-plant-dsbr0-bd~t_29966-dsbr0-bd~t_29966)

If it is a honeysuckle, many aren’t a problem at all, and some are native, but Japanese honeysuckle is a problem over much of the eastern half of the US.
Cape Sailor thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
barrett001
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Camellias are a prettier idea to hide the drainpipe, and could grow nice and tall to hide all of it, if that's your aim. I've planted a couple of swamp milkweed by one of my downspouts. I think they may only reach 3-4 feet in height at most, but they seem to be enjoying that spot so far.

Swamp milkweed is a variety that supports monarch butterflies. (I've tried planting the common milkweed that I see growing 'wild' in my area, which is supposed to be drought-loving, but those never survive on my property for some reason.)
Cape Sailor thanked barrett001
bill_ri_z6b
8 years ago
Camellias would be nice for that side where you want something a little taller. For the trellis, what about a jasmine or Gelsemium "Margarita"? I have several of the Margaritas, and your trellis will support it. It's got fine, wiry stems, easy to trim, evergreen (which is rare in zone 6) and loaded with butter yellow blooms in May.