New Hardy Shade Plants to Grow Instead of the Usual Suspects
In these socially divisive times, it’s not a good idea to publicly compare the traits of the subsets of life around us. But in this instance, since I’m older and have more insurance, I’ll do it. Grassland plants are amazing. They thrive in full sun and deep, rich soil, deciding when in the calendar year it’s best for them to try to bloom. They have little above them and a rich top soil beneath them (the bottom) to regulate their annual cycle. Desert plants are also amazingly adaptable things, soaking up the rays while hibernating for years or decades until a raindrop wakes them up to begin the breeding process. I find both of these plant subclasses hot, but they’re actually over-seasoned glory hounds.
My heartfelt respect to the forest dwellers. Rather than being gloomy characters, they are an honest, hardworking breed that wakes up annually to rejuvenate, show off their charms, spawn offspring, then fades into a long and deep sleep, and dances again the next spring. You have to love them — or at least give them a good deal of respect. In my home state of Washington, in the historically (though ever-changing) cool and sympathetic climate of the western slope of the Cascades, a particular coincidence of lesser-known hardy shade plants has earned my great admiration. You won’t find hostas or astilbes on this list — and you won’t find any native or strictly Asian species. These shade favorites cross all borders, speak in different accents, and are well-adapted to a variety of climates across North America. Let me tell you a thing — or four.
1. An Unpleasant Name for an Incomparable Cerulean Beauty
Name: Blue Liverleaf
Blue Liverleaf is a great companion to many of the plants featured in this article. It is one of the undeservedly under-cultivated species of Hepatica in North America. Unlike the beautiful but small-clustered species in this genus, blue liverleaf has a stoloniferous growth habit, with lovely blue flowers appearing over a long period in early spring. Blue liverleaf is tolerant of a variety of conditions, but does best in humus-rich soil, and is completely drought-tolerant once established. It offers the same polished refinement of hardy primrose, but without the rambunctious, colonial nature. One of the most commonly offered cultivars, 'Elison Spence,' is a richly colored, royal-blue option with semi-double flowers. If you see it, buy it.
2. Fee-fi-fo-fum—This amazing plant has leaves bigger than a giant’s thumb
Name: Astilboides
The boldness, height variation, and texture of the leaves are essential to a well-established planting, and no other hardy shade perennial does it better than Astilboides. It hails from the brutal climates of northeastern China and Manchuria, which translates to a garden-friendly location from Alaska to Minnesota to Maine. Closely related to the Rodgersia genus, it produces surprisingly large, rounded leaves that are 2½ feet wide on petioles that can reach 3 feet tall with enough soil fertility. In midsummer it adds brief floral interest with the appearance of beautiful, white flower clusters that rise above the foliage. But this species is really all about the leaves, which are derived from a graceful, slow-growing cluster. It’s a ridiculously hardy plant for cooler zones. If you're tired of mollusks keeping your hosta leaves from getting covered in slime, consider repotting or staking this absolutely attractive, but not-so-tasty, plant.
3. Here today, gone tomorrow, but its long-lasting charm makes it worth planting
Name: Rue anemone
Rue anemone is a fickle charmer, much like Brad Pitt's character in Thelma and Louise. It's here one moment, watching over the vulnerable, and the next moment carrying cash. It's native to the vast expanse of the country and has soft, low-growing leaves. Don't confuse it with wood anemone; this midseason flower doesn't have the same overbearing vigor. Sweet, single white-pink flowers rise just above the leaves of rue anemone for a period in early spring.
Fortunately, double flowers ('Oscar Schaaf' and 'Cameo') that prolong the floral display ' etc.) Those rose-like blooms last hours longer than their single-flowered parents. 'Green Hurricane' is, as the name suggests, a flower with green tepals, which in this instance are double. Regardless of the variety, all rue anemones exude sincerity and efficiency - like a winter funeral in northern Michigan. No matter how short their tenure is, I wouldn't be without them in my garden.
4. Don’t let previous lady’s-slipper failures deter you from trying this hearty option
Name: Formosan lady’s slipper
It’s incredibly easy to grow in the landscape. If you’ve tried and failed with any of the beautiful native species in this genus, you’ll be richly rewarded by the vigor of the Formosan lady’s slipper. In terms of wow-power, nothing in the shade garden will knock you over more than this queen of hardy orchids. This species is tough and hearty, quickly forming colonies of folded leaves, which many would consider reason enough to grow it. But wait, there’s more. In mid-spring, each crown offers a pale pink “slipper.”
One of the most visited spots at Heronswood Botanical Gardens, the site of hundreds of blooms sprouting from a single colony each spring. This colony, which thrives in well-drained but especially good soil, started out with just one crown three decades ago. Since then, it has grown considerably, with several divisions being selected for over the years. Formosan Lady's Slipper can be grown throughout much of North America, except in the arid Southeast and Mountain West states, where it is drought-tolerant.
5. Try some tropical style in more temperate zones
Name: 'Heron's Pirouette' Hardy Begonia
This is a representative of a species that I have found to be indispensable in a well-established shade garden. Begonias from temperate regions of Asia have been unfairly stigmatized by their reputation for being tender. Although they should be mulched before the onset of winter for extra protection, I believe that many more should be tested by gardeners across North America to assess their true overall hardiness. One that has shown extreme hardiness over the long term is the late-blooming Begonia grandis, which is native throughout much of Asia. It is a tropical begonia that bears the recognizable triangular leaves of a species of begonia that grows on beautiful ruby stems up to 2 feet tall. In late summer and early fall, terminal racemes of pink flowers are produced over a long period.
'Herons Pirouette' is a selection that I brought from China many years ago in 1998 at Heronswood Botanical Gardens. With long drooping sprays of richly colored flowers up to 8 inches long, it is worth growing, especially in cooler climates where begonias can be a novelty. There is one caveat: bulbils form in the leaf axils of this species, and, if overstocked, can overpopulate a garden. This is not usually a problem, as it can happen to many hardy impatiens. However, if you notice excessive reproduction, you can remove the progeny-filled stems in late summer and place them in bags before they mature and fall off.
6. A Tough and Unique Green Ground Cover
Name: Trifoliate Bittercress
I have been somewhat of a fan of trifoliate bittercress for decades, and I insist that people use it more often as a green ground cover. As for trifoliate bittercress, I still largely ignore it. Like many in our own family, this species has some nasty relatives, including the popular annual shotweed (C. hirsuta), though the amazing properties of trifoliate bittercress put the pair miles apart. With the good relative, you can expect colonies of slow-growing, low, dark green leaves that eventually form a weed-suppressing carpet. This plant tolerates a variety of conditions, including dry shade and drought. In early spring, the pure white flowers rise 5 inches above the mass. Trifoliate bittercress is admirable for cleaning itself up after flowering. Seedlings are rarely seen. This charmer from the mountains of Eastern Europe can withstand the harsh cold of the winter months, and its leaves turn purple in the off-season. Consider it a substitute for sweetwood, although it won't have a distinct aroma.
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