Selecting Shade Plants to Help Your Garden Shine
Discover several shade-loving plants that will add beauty and interest to your home landscape.
When it comes to managing a garden, one of the first things that likely springs to mind is sunshine. But let’s face it, there’s always a part of the yard that doesn’t receive direct sunlight throughout the day.
Thankfully, the Plantae kingdom includes more than 250,000 species, providing a bountiful variety of mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants and others. Among them, thousands can thrive in low-light locations, offering attractive options for bringing those shade-covered corners to life. And besides, working in the shade can be a refreshing reprieve during the hot, humid summers in North Carolina and the South.
The Plantae kingdom includes over 250,000 species, including an abundance of plants that love life in the shadows.
In this edition of Homegrown, we welcome NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ Program Coordinator Charlotte Glen. Charlotte discusses key first steps to consider before putting plants in the ground, while highlighting a selection of shade plants that will survive and thrive in dimly lit landscapes throughout the year.
Shade-Loving Starter Plants
In a shade garden, the emphasis is on the foliage. Combining different shades of green, along with unique textures and variegation, can help bring beauty and interest to these oft overlooked areas of your home landscape. Select areas that receive less than 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily for a shade garden.
Among the most versatile and rewarding options to get you started, Charlotte recommends considering the oak leaf hydrangea, dwarf palmetto, cast iron plants (Aspidistra) and gold dust plant (Aucuba), as pictured below.
Discover more ideas and inspiration among these samples of shade gardens from across North Carolina, courtesy of the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
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