SHADE LOVING CORYDALIS

I have grown many varieties of Corydalis in my shade gardens – some I like more than others. Corydalis lutea is probably the most commonly available. It has ferny blue-green or green leaves that are covered by yellow flowers in spring. Flowering will continue into summer (but not as heavily as the spring flush). It…

Read More

Hellebores That Go the Extra Mile

As many of you know, I’m always looking for striking plants that provide month after month of color – not just from lovely flowers, but also as a result of captivating leaves, seed heads, bark, or form. Spring blooming Hellebores have risen to incredible popularity due to their lovely flowers, deer and rabbit resistance, and…

Read More

Awesome Astilbes

Astilbes are the drama queens of the shade garden.  You cannot help but admire these ‘no-fuss’ divas for their beauty and grace. Flowers can be delicate and frothy or stiff and compact.  Blooms range in color from red, burgundy, white, purple, rosy-purple, peach and various shades of pink. The handsome, fern-like foliage is a delightful…

Read More

Remarkable perennials, annuals, flowering vines and bulbs

Actaea pachypoda ‘Misty Blue’ This Northeast native perennial creates waves in shade gardens. It has always been one that folks ask about in my display gardens. The steely blue, lacey leaves provide an impressive backdrop to white fuzzy flowers that appear in late Spring. These flowers develop into panicles of showy white fruits (“doll’s eyes”)…

Read More

Webinar showed great shade perennials

I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation (Webinar Radical Perennials). I have a very shady garden and am struggling with plants. You provided several options for this type of garden that are quite beautiful and I am looking forward to obtaining them and adding them to my sparse garden. I am especially interested in your Garden Care…

Read More

Heucherella FUN AND GAMES Leapfrog

Heucherella FUN AND GAMES ‘Leapfrog’ I had the opportunity to trial this new Heucherella a few years back and I went hopping wild over it! The dazzling leaves light up my shade bed. The small white flowers in spring are not the main attraction (unless you are a pollinator!). But the leaves are ooh-la-la. They…

Read More

Perennial Doronicum brings Cheer to Shady Beds

Doronicum (Leopard’s Bane) Leopard Bane’s cheerful yellow daisy-shaped flowers shatter the winter blues as they brighten the shade garden in early spring.   This perennial is always one of the first to bloom in my Zone 5a garden. Sone cultivars like ‘Little Leo’ can tolerate full sun or shade in colder zones (6 or cooler).  ‘Little…

Read More