Gardeners with a good deal of shade often wonder what grows there and if there are any special needs. Remember, if the shade is provided by a canopy of trees, the trees compete for the water and can consume the water needed for the other plants. Be certain your shade garden gets plenty of water, about an inch and a half per week is sufficient. Flower producing plants often reduce blooming if they don’t receive sufficient amounts of water. Maintain 2 to 4 inches of mulch to provide nutrients and reduce water loss. Leaves, straw or bark are excellent mulch choices.
You might try some of these plant choices from the Southern Living Plant Collection:New Southgate Rhododendron series offers heat tolerance, grows from 3-6 feet tall and blooms white, pink or purple. Big Daddy Hydrangea with huge blooms from early summer through fall and grows up to 6 feet tall and wide. Makes great privacy screen in the shade. Yewtopia Plum Yew is drought and heat resistant. It’s succulent texture adds interest in the shade garden. Soft Caress Mahonia is low growing with feathery foliage and adds color in the early winter with yellow flowers. If you’re looking for a large shade loving plant, look at the Big Foot Cleyera and Delta Jazz Crapemyrtle. To view the complete Southern Living plant collection visit www.southernlivingplants.com
