Shade foundation plants

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Looking for some replacement ideas for the dwarf Alberta blue spruce. It’s north facing only gets about 1-2 hours of sun a day. In zone 5 colorado

Featured Answer

Jeff Smith

5 years ago

Ok @Katie Wilson, information came through. Post makes more sense now, ha ha. As @houssaon and you notes the Alberta drawfs are hiding the house. One principle of landscaping is lower plants far from house and getting taller as one approaches the house. So this might suggest: remove the spruces and put in a low ground cover closest to grass, like vinca which tolerates shade. Then in direction of house, next tallest plant like hosta, bleeding hearts, columbines, etc. Then closest to the house the tallest ones you'll be planting like hydrangeas, yews, etc. Yews are indeed "blobs" but they're evergreen and that's why some people like them in CO winters. Also, yews can be trimmed to a size or shape if desired.

Here's an image of the concept I was mentioning - low farther out and higher near house...in fact they have a bunch of the plants others have mentioned: hostas, astilbes, hydrangea, ferns.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/gardening/21015382/foundation-planting-basics

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Comments (8)

Jeff Smith
5 years ago
Hostas, coral bells, columbines, hydrangea, yew trees (various sizes).
Katie Wilson thanked Jeff Smith
houssaon
5 years ago
The three tall plants are hiding your house. Can you have them moved to the side?
Katie Wilson thanked houssaon
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BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
5 years ago
If you're not loving the green blobs you have now, skip the yew.

Ferns can be nice, if you pick the right type; pachysandra is simple but makes a nice ground over, but mostly yeah: Hosta, heuchera/heucherella, Columbine. I like Solomon's seal and bleeding hearts, but bleeding hearts die back pretty early. I love astilbe, but it hates me. Hydrangeas - pick your variety carefully: some like lots of shade; some like some sun; and some hate late frost/freezes.
Katie Wilson thanked BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
Katie Wilson
Original Author
5 years ago
My post didnt come across correctly so edited with additional information
kayteyw12
5 years ago
@Jeff Smith that is what I envisioned I just didnt know if it "should" be different due to the garden level windows. Thanks for the help!
housegal200
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If you can have someone move your spruces carefully, position two on the left corner, with one to the right and slightly in front of the other. Move the third to the other corner. Go to a garden center that sells low growing shrubs grown in your area. Ask a knowledgeable person help you pick several in different shades of green--low cypresses in light green, something low in red--a mix of heights and colors such as those shown in the photo below. Those shrubs can be your backdrop foundation plants you can enjoy year around. Supplement, if you have space, with hostas, columbine, and other perennials that go dormant.
Front Yard Landscape Project in Buffalo · More Info
Katie Wilson thanked housegal200
Jerry (Broomfield CO 5)
5 years ago
I would keep the middle spruce, move the left on to the corner and ditch the right one. A hosta garden in between with various colors.textures would be my choice..
Katie Wilson thanked Jerry (Broomfield CO 5)