Ferns For Shade

Utumn fern a rich, highly organic, moist but well drained, acid soil. After it is well established, it becomes more drought tolerant and performs satisfactorily in the dry shade beneath large trees.

It demands little in the way of fertilization. Although there's no guarantee that it will remain untouched by hungry scavengers, Japanese painted fern is not a top menu choice for rabbits or deer.Breeders have created a number of Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum'...

Hosta Albomarginata has soft green leaves with white bands, making it very striking. Hosta Albomarginata is a widely popular shade perennial with soft green leaves striped with white bands, making it very striking.

We suggest when planting your newly purchased Astilbe Fanal plants that you dig a hole twice as wide as the root system but not deeper. They can be cut and brought into the house and used in arrangements.

That is why we do not recommend planting in a hole any deeper than the soil line of the plant in the pot. For example a one gallon pot would be watered until you count to 5 a three gallon pot would be 15 and so on.

Performs well in full sun in the north, but prefers some shade (particularly in the heat of the afternoon) in the south. Sporadic repeat blooms until frost, particularly in autumn.

Any all purpose, foliage fertilizer will work for Sum and Substance. Unlike other hostas, Sum and Substance is very large, 2 to 3 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide. As a result, they make large, bold additions to any garden.

Starter fertilizer is the best product to use at the time of planting. Check the plant daily for the first week or so and then every other day there after. Gorgeous in mass plantings but will not tolerate long periods of drought.

Green leaves edged in white and contrast to the shade garden! Hosta Patriot boasts strong white margin on dark green heart-shaped leaves. They can be used as an edging plant or en mass for a showy ground cover.

Lustrous, very large dark emerald fronds arch gracefully from the base of the fern. This native gives the tropical feel of a palm but handles cold weather much better (up to zone 3!) Ostrich fern is happiest in a site that is moist, cool and shady.

Hellebore Ivory Prince is a complex hybrid whose parents are unknown. It is noted for its burgundy-pink flower buds, its late winter bloom of creamy white flowers and its glossy, leathery, evergreen, medium green leaves.

Flower colors range from pure white to red to near black. It is a collection of hybrids with a wide variety of flower colors including tones and combinations of purples, reds, near-blacks, whites, greens and pinks.

Hybrid hellebores are often grown from seed (some come true and some don't), but plants will take two years to bloom when grown from seed. Established plants that become congested may be divided in late summer to early fall.

A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is sufficient but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem of the plant with mulch. Slow-release fertilizer can help prevent rapid soft growth that is vulnerable to diseases and insects.

They prefer moist, humusy soil. With such showy flowers, they deserve to be in the front of the shade garden. One of the oldest perennials in cultivation, Bleeding Hearts produce graceful arches of heart-shaped flowers that “bleed” white.

The chartreuse foliage will stand out in any shady garden, be it in a pot, garden bed, or as a mass planting. Useful in rock gardens, borders and open woodland gardens. Heuchera Citronelle is a vigorous, clump-forming, compact coral bells cultivar.

Looks great in containers or as an edging. This heuchera shade perennial is a robust grower with fuzzy leaves that range in color from apricot to amber with purple-red undersides. This shade perennial is a great addition to your yard or landscape.

The purple iris like flowers are striking against the gold foliage. Use this native shade lover in open woodland gardens or along streams or ponds. Sweet Kate has brilliant gold foliage that will brighten any shady spot.

Intolerant of wet soils in winter. Bloom begins in late spring. Are commonly called bleeding heart because protruding inner petals, more obvious in some species than others, purportedly appear to form a drop of blood at the bottom of each heart-shaped...

Remove stems of faded flower panicles to encourage continued bloom (bloom is more apt to repeat in cool summer climates than hot ones). Attractive foliage and airy flower panicles provide color and contrast to the rock garden, perennial border, open woodland...

Flowers usually appear in clusters of 1-4 on thick stems rising above the foliage. Clumps establish fairly quickly. Leaves, stems and roots are poisonous. Locate plants in areas protected from cold winter winds.

Cool season plant. Clusters of purple flowers appear and spring and continue off and on through fall. Makes a great ground cover for shade. It makes a great woodland ground cover and “spiller” for containers.

On the other hand, some hybrids perform well in shady locations, particularly if is a parent. Divide clumps in spring every 3-4 years. Obsidian is a dark colored to black volcanic glass that is often used as a gemstone.

The volcano is now a part of the National Park Service, which strictly enforces the rules.It has four other related species, occurring only in Hawaii, but none with such a striking appearance.

Prefers full to partial shade. One of the most exciting garden fern introductions in years! Dazzling burgundy red stems (by the second year) differentiate Lady in Red from all other ferns and makes it a must for your shade garden.

Thrives in summer humidity in moist, well-drained soils and is partial to full shade. The pinnules on Regal Red Japanese Fern twist a little giving the frond a fluffed up look. Handsome and ruffled this high color painted fern has a dark interior on its...

New growth of golden-yellow matures to a dark green. Remove hard clay and replace with a mixture of topsoil, peat moss and sand, heavy on the peat moss. Add a breath of cool color to the summer garden! Ferns are the perfect perennial for planting in deep...