Hanging plant shade

Made in the shade

Rudyard Kipling once said that "gardens are not created ... sitting in the shade." The author's words meant that gardeners have to work in the sun - where most plants grow - in order to get a bountiful harvest. Kipling simply did not know that beautiful gardens can also be found in the shade. At the same time, they do not require special care. Decorating a shady spot on your yard (and by "shady" we mean an area that gets less than 6 hours of sunlight per day) with pots full of flowers and greenery is easy if you understand which plants bloom even when out of direct sunlight. rays.

We recommend that you create your own shady pot garden with annuals as they are the easiest to grow. And you will most likely find flowers in any garden center. Once you've filled your hanging baskets and pots with annuals, you may want to add a few perennials to your garden. Those who want to bring a bit of a flowering garden inside the house can consider creating a garden with houseplants that is "done by sitting in the shade." Here are some of our favorite shade plants that are also very easy to grow in containers.

Begonia (Begonia spp.)

Many species of the Begonia family are suitable for container growing, including Rex begonias, which are loved for their striking regal foliage. Tuberous begonias produce huge, frilly "downy" flowers, while waxy begonias produce many smaller flowers within a few months. Begonias like rich soil, high humidity and shade.

Caladium bicolor

With spattered leaves, shaped like arrowheads and not more than half a meter high. Caladiums are a great solution when it comes to decorating dark corners of the garden. Also called angel wings, most Caladiums prefer partial or full shade. Since they grow well at temperatures above 15 ° C, they are best grown in warm climates.

Pet owners beware: Caladium is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

Coleus cultivars, popular for their colorful coloration, vary in height from 20 cm to 80 cm. Although they produce beautiful blue to lavender leaves, they should be pinched to prevent stretching. Most coleus prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, but some varieties of coleus (such as Wizard Velvet Red and Wizard golden) are more tolerant of heat and sunlight.

Often sold as "fill" for containers. The loosestrife cascades beautifully around the edges of pots, but it is best to keep this perennial restricted to pot life due to its invasive nature. Its yellow-green foliage brightens partial shade areas, as do the 2. 5 cm yellow flowers that appear in summer.

Fern (Dryopteris, Polypodium, etc.)

Just as small, carved, green leaves in bouquets create a lacy backdrop for flowers, ferns in containers can do the same for flowering plants. After all, woodlands are the natural environment for ferns, so most species can grow in both partial and full shade. Potted ferns look amazing and are also great to have at home. Some types of ferns, such as Boston ferns (Nephrolepis), remove toxins from the air.

Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp)

Fuchsias come in many sizes and shapes, with single or double, often bicolor flowers that dangle like dangling earrings. The genus Fuchsia has more than 100 species! While many gardeners grow these plants as annuals, they are actually tender perennials that can survive in warm climates and, if properly cared for, can overwinter in colder areas.

Fuchsias do not like wet weather and will wither in direct sunlight or at too high a temperature. They bloom best in moist soil and little morning sun.

Waller's balsam (Impatiens walleriana)

Balsam flowers beautifully in shady places. (The Waller's balsam species do well in partial or full shade, but should not be confused with Hawker's balsams, which require more sun than their colorful cousins. Impatiens tend to wilt dramatically if moisture is scarce, but usually recover quickly from fainting. when they make up for the lack of water

Ivy (Hedera spp)

Common in the landscape, ivy is known for climbing the walls of centuries-old buildings. However, ivy vines can add sparkle to container gardens when shaped into balls or left to cascade down the edges of pots. When growing ivy, provide it with sufficient moisture - in drier conditions, it is susceptible to spider mites.

Although this genus is known for its showy, shamrock-like foliage, Oxalis will keep your containers in bloom, producing many white, yellow, pink, or red blooms. Oxalis is usually grown from tubers rather than seeds, and it flowers successfully in partial shade.

Widely loved for their cute faces, pansies prefer cool weather and will thrive in spring or fall gardens. A partially shaded spot will provide them with the cooler conditions they prefer and should keep them blooming from spring to summer. With flowers 5 to 10 cm in diameter and a total height of only 25 cm or so, pansies produce many flowers from their compact size.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Although related to bindweeds, ornamental vines of Ipomoea yam rarely bloom. But their wide variety of cultivars will let you choose heart-shaped or lobed leaves in just about any color you prefer, including black, red, greenish yellow, and variegated. These colors are most intense in full sun but can be gorgeous in partial shade. Although the roots of the ornamental morning glory sweet potato are edible, they are not very tasty.

What shade-loving flowers do you grow in pots on your terrace? Share names and experiences in the comments! If you liked the article, share it with your friends on social networks!

Andreeva Tatiana. Freelance writer

Shade-loving garden plants, perennial, hardy

Tree gardens, spaces between bushes, flower beds behind a house or a north facing terrace are places where many plants do not want to grow because of the lack of light. What shade-loving plants for the garden can be planted under such conditions, perennial, unpretentious? How to choose ground cover perennials to cover the space between the bushes? Find out what plants are best suited for shady corners of the garden so that the whole area looks attractive and interesting.

Gardeners often have the problem of how to arrange shady corners, under trees or between bushes, or in places behind the house where shade falls. A similar problem occurs in areas behind buildings where there is little light. For such places, it is worth choosing perennial shade-tolerant garden plants. Perennials are plants that can grow for many years in one place.

Contents

1. Shade resistant flowers
2. Hydrangea arborescens

   This shade-loving flowering shrub grows up to 1. 5 m in round to slightly bushy form. Tree-like hydrangea begins to bloom in June, retaining inflorescences until autumn. The inflorescences are round, first greenish, then white, then yellow-green. The shrub is resistant to frost, adverse conditions, blooms profusely.

   Flowers appear on the shoots of the current year, the buds do not freeze, so it blooms profusely. Prefers fertile, acidic soils, shady, secluded, sheltered places. It can grow in a sunny position, but then it blooms worse. In shady, semi-shady areas of the garden, hydrangea leaves turn dark green, emphasizing the snow-whiteness of the inflorescences.

   Likes plenty of water, constant watering. Inflorescence varieties "Anabel" 20-30 cm in diameter. For spectacular flowering, heavy spring pruning is recommended. It is best to cut all shoots about 20 cm above the ground. Hydrangea 'Annabelle' looks beautiful in flower beds, recommended for low hedges. Dried inflorescences are suitable for bouquets.

   Photo. Hydrangea arborescens

   Hydrangea largeleaf

   Most Hydrangea largeleaf flowers are sterile and do not produce seeds, but produce extremely impressive, colorful, rounded buds. This is one of the most hardy plants - after watering, it easily restores strength.

   Hydrangea flowers come in different colors, depending on the variety:

   • pink,
   • blue,
   • white,
   • greenish,
   • yellow.

   Hydrangeas like a lot of light, the leaves turn yellow when there is little. However, the plant should not be under the burning rays of the sun, as the soil dries out quickly. Optimal conditions are partial shade.

   Photo. Hydrangea large-leaved

   Buzulnik toothed

   Shade-loving buzulnik belongs to the Asteraceae family, comes from Asia. It is a perennial plant up to 100 cm high (in favorable conditions 150 cm). The buzulnik has large, round leaves, dark in color above and brown-purple below. Blooms from August to September. Rigid, branched flower stalks rise above tufts of leaves. They form large yellow-orange inflorescences.

   Buzulnik requires constantly moist, fertile, loamy soil with a neutral pH. Prefers shaded positions, does not tolerate full exposure to the sun - quickly fades in hot weather. This is an excellent plant for perennial flower beds, grows next to trees, ponds.

   Photo. Buzulnik toothed

   Muscari liriope

   Shade-tolerant flowering plants for the garden Muscari liriope are low (30-45 cm), form rosettes of shiny, dark green leaves. In different varieties, the leaves have different shades of green, there are striped varieties. For the winter, most of the above-ground part remains evergreen, only at the end of winter the leaves turn brown and die off. The plant grows slowly.

   In summer, straight bare peduncles appear in the central part of the rosette of leaves, at the ends of which small single bell-shaped purple-pink flowers develop, collected in pointed inflorescences. In mild weather, flowers can grow on the plant until late autumn. After being pollinated by insects, the flowers turn into blackening berries that can survive mild winters.

   Liriope grows best in quiet, warm, wind-sheltered, semi-shady or sunny places. Grows in the shade of trees, tall shrubs, but may bloom less. Requires medium, slightly moist, well-drained soil. Liriope muscari is quite frost-resistant, but in harsh, snowless winters it can freeze, so in colder parts of the country it is worth sheltering.

   Photo. Liriope muscari

   Astilbe japonica

   Shade-loving perennial Astilbe of Japanese origin. Reaches 0.5-1 m in height. The stems are stiff, straight, reddish, covered with short hairs (leaf petioles are also covered with hairs).

   Plants are adorned with rich green, glossy, complex, toothed leaves and decorative inflorescences that appear in May and remain on the plant until June. Inflorescences (thick panicles) consist of small flowers: white, pink (different shades) or purple - the color depends on the variety. Flowering is phenomenal and very abundant.

   Astilbes like fertile, constantly moist soil, protected from direct sunlight. Plants are unpretentious, completely resistant to frost, do not require special care, except for the spring cleaning of the bush from last year's leaves.

   Astilba is planted in flowerbeds, in shaded places under the crowns of trees. Thanks to the abundant, lush flowering in summer, plants can perfectly enliven gloomy, shady corners of the garden where there is little light. This is a great option for planting along the banks of ponds, other garden ponds. Also suitable for cut flowers.

   Japanese schizophragma

   Shade-loving garden flowers schizophragma (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) belong to the Hydrangeaceae family. In the wild, it is found in the mountainous regions of Japan. This is a shade-loving vine, reaching a height of 6 meters. The leaves are oval and toothed. Flowering occurs in June-July. The flowers are small, hanging, creamy, with a pleasant honey aroma.

   Schizophragma prefers shade or partial shade, does not tolerate direct sunlight. Likes moderately moist, humus, fertile soil. Does not tolerate drought. Frost-resistant, but in cold regions it can freeze, requires shelter. In the garden, it is suitable for decorating arbors, terraces, walls. These shade-loving climbing flowers grow successfully unsupported as a groundcover.

   Japanese Spiraea

   These shade-tolerant garden plants are relentlessly popular, decorating gardens with attractive leaves and charming buds. They look very interesting, taking the form of a leafy ball, which in summer is decorated with numerous multi-colored inflorescences. Spirea is planted in sunny areas, in partial shade the plant also feels good. Japanese spirea changes leaf color depending on the season:

   • yellow and green in spring;
   • In summer the color becomes intense, accentuated by lush buds;
   • In autumn, the leaves are full of all sorts of colors and shades, shining under the weak rays of the sun.

   Spiraea are an essential element of many flowerbeds, wastelands, rockeries. The shoots are strongly branched, the leaves are elliptical, pointed. One of the first shrubs to produce leaves in spring, the Japanese spirea becomes a garden ornament very early when everyone is craving flowers after the long gray winter months. The plant is unpretentious: resistant to unfavorable soil, harsh conditions, drought, pests and diseases, frost-resistant.

   Fragrant Violet

   Ideal unpretentious, shade-tolerant flowers for the garden - fragrant violets. They grow well in the shade, partial shade, among shrubs, deciduous trees.

   Violets grow reluctantly next to coniferous trees.

   Violet flowers appear in April-May, when trees and shrubs do not yet have fully developed leaves. Flowering repeats in August. They don't bloom well in full shade. Violets like fertile soil, quite moist.

   Red Lungwort

   An amazing semi-evergreen Red Lungwort (Pulmonaria pulmonaria rubra) delights with abundant, spectacular flowering. The elongated, elliptical, slightly hairy leaves of a beautiful light green color provide a fantastic backdrop for the charming flowers in contrasting coral red. Perennial grows up to 30-40 cm.

   Lungwort looks most attractive during flowering (March-May). Bell-shaped, bright red flowers, reminiscent of primrose flowers, are collected in loose inflorescences of umbrellas that develop on the tops of the shoots. Flowers produce a lot of nectar, they are loved by butterflies, bees. Light green bushes, decorated with expressive red flowers, will perfectly enliven and decorate the dark corners of the garden. The plant looks spectacular planted in flower beds, between shrubs, under the crowns of trees.

   Shade-loving flower red lungwort is unpretentious, planted in shady, semi-shady places. Prefers fertile, moist, humus, well-drained soil with a neutral reaction. Fully frost resistant. Bright green leaves and expressive coral-red flowers are sure to cheer you up in gloomy places in the garden.

   Noble liverwort

   Shade-loving perennial from the Ranunculaceae family, low (15-20 cm). The leaves are evergreen, three-lobed, heart-shaped, collected in a rosette, dark green above, slightly purple below. Young leaves are pubescent, then become leathery, smooth. The flowers of the liverwort appear before the development of the leaves on the pedicels. Color of flowers:

   • blue,
   • purple,
   • pink,
   • white.

   Flowers close in rainy weather and at night. Flowering period: March-May. The fruits attract ants, which disperse the seeds of the plant.

   Liverwort can grow in shady places, under trees, bushes. The soil should be humus, constantly wet, calcareous. The plant does not tolerate transplanting well.

   Lily of the Valley

   The long-lived flowering plant, May lily of the valley, produces numerous thin rhizomes that spread shallowly below the ground. Flowers appear in the spring of the third year after planting. Lily of the valley inflorescences 15-25 cm long grow in May, ending in a bunch of 10-18 flowers. The flowers are small, white, bell-shaped, fragrant.

   Lily of the valley requires soil:

   • humus;
   • well-drained;
   • wet;
   • grows naturally on slightly acidic soils; for cultivated varieties, the soil should have a pH of 7.0-7.1.

   Lily-of-the-valley is a shade-loving flower that grows best in a semi-shaded position where the shade lasts at least half a day. Used for flower beds, planting against the background of ornamental shrubs, under trees, for cut flowers.

   Hellebore

   Flowering unpretentious plant from the Ranunculaceae hellebore family - low (30-50 cm). The stem tends to bend. Green leaves of a rich dark shade can turn blue. The leaves are leathery, shiny, three-leaved, elliptical in shape, with a sharp serrated edge.

   Flowering period: February-April. Green-yellow flowers are collected in inflorescences. The shape of the flower is cup-shaped, consists of 5 petals.

   Hellebore thrives in a semi-shaded position in the garden, although the flower will grow in full sun. It is better to plant it in a quiet place.

   The substrate must be:

   • fertile,
   • loose,
   • sufficiently moist,
   • alkaline.

   It is recommended to cover hellebore with spruce branches or agrofibre for the winter. After flowering, you can make a light pruning of the plant.

   Attention! The plant is poisonous, contains helleborine, so it is better to refuse it if there are animals. The juice can cause skin irritation, so all care procedures are carried out with gloves.

   Oriental Doronicum

   Doronicum orientale comes from southeastern Europe. If you plant several seedlings nearby, they will eventually grow into a compact bush. Fully frost resistant. The stem is 30-50 cm long. The leaves are large, serrated, heart-shaped, intensely green. Most of the leaves are collected in rosettes.

   Doronicum blooms from April to June. Basket inflorescences, 30-50 cm tall, consist of yellow flowers. The fruits appear in summer, small, ovoid. Doronicum is an unpretentious plant that grows in a sunny or slightly shaded place. A large amount of sun makes the plant bloom more abundantly.

   The soil should be fertile, airy, sufficiently moist:

   • if the soil is dry it is better to plant doronicum in a semi-shady place;
   • If the substrate is damp, it is better to plant in a sunny area.

   It can grow in one place for several years. Plant care involves regular watering, removal of wilted flowers, fertilizer in the spring.

   Primrose finely serrated

   Primrose serrated ovoid, leathery, wrinkled, serrated, light green, 7-10 cm long, collected in a rosette. Flowering time: March-April. Inflorescences are spherical, 20-30 cm high. Flowers are pink, purple, white.

   Serrated primrose prefers partial shade. The soil must be:

   • fertile;
   • loamy, with the addition of soddy soil;
   • constantly wet.

   Old plants must be protected from frost by covering them. Primrose is a great option for perennial flower beds, rockeries. It is better to plant primrose in small groups of 3-10 pieces.

   Common Volzhanka

   Impressive, up to 2 meters high, Common Volzhanka creates large bushes that grow larger every year. The leaves are pinnate, large, wrinkled. Flowering time: June-July. The flowers are small, white, collected in branched, long (up to 50 cm) decorative panicle inflorescences.

   Volzhanka is planted in groups on beds, lawns, under trees in shady places. Shoots are suitable for cut flowers. Undemanding plant. The soil should be moderately moist, rich in humus, fertile. It grows best in a semi-shady position. Propagated by seeds or division in autumn (possibly spring). Plants are planted at a distance of 60 × 50 cm.

   Black cohosh (black cohosh) racemose

   An unpretentious perennial native to North America, belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. Voronets - a plant with an upright, generously leafy stem, reaches 1-2 meters. The leaves are dark green. Black cohosh blooms in early autumn (September-October). The flowers are small, creamy white, collected in a dense inflorescence, they smell pleasant. Flowers do not develop at the same time, but form a cascading effect.

   Voronet prefers shady places. Full sun will quickly cause the plant to wilt and die. The soil should be fertile, airy, with constant moisture. Black cohosh hates overdrying. It tolerates winter well in our climate. Does not require special care. Black cohosh is ideal for shaded beds, provides a good backdrop for low plants, and adds a wild character to the garden.

   Japanese anemone

   Perennial from the Ranunculaceae family, from 40 to 150 cm high. Vigorous plants. Three-pointed, pinnate, pubescent leaves grow on hard, branched shoots at the bottom.

   Japanese anemone blooms from August to October. Flowers grow from leaf axils on branched, pubescent peduncles. Depending on the variety, the flowers are white, pink, red, light purple, simple and double.

   Anemones should be planted in fertile, fairly moist soil, preferably in a slightly shaded area, but not under trees. Winters well, but young plants (in the first 2 years after planting) should be covered for the winter.

   Lady's slipper

   The real or lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) from the orchid family blooms from mid-May to mid-July depending on local conditions, the fruit ripens in August, the seeds are sown in September-October. It spreads vegetatively by division of rhizomes. Leaves ovate or broadly lanceolate, pointed (6-17 cm long). The number of leaves per shoot is 2-5.

   The flowers are magnificent, fragrant, grow singly at the top of the shoots (rarely 2-3). The flowers are two-colored: lemon-yellow, rarely white, the petals are reddish-brown.

   Lady's slipper loves partial shade. Preferred soil:

   • humidity - moderate;
   • calcium rich soil.

   Ideal for planting close to trees, in the shade of shrubs.

   Plants with ornamental leaves

   For shady areas, it is not necessary to choose those that can bloom in the shade. A beautiful green corner will be created by plants with decorative foliage.

   Ferns

   Fan-shaped ferns, often with numerous feathery leaves, are an attractive and calming accent in gardens, creating an aura of mystery among shade-loving herbaceous plants. These typical inhabitants of the forest often live in the shade of quiet corners of the garden, surprising with decorativeness, variety, and sometimes an amazing range of colors. For example:

   • Male thorn bush has golden-brown, hairy leaves in the light.
   • Stately Cleartongue betrays its presence with rusty brown leaves resembling ears of corn.

   Beautiful ferns combined with bamboo, mullein, geyhera will make the most boring garden interesting. Ferns need to be provided with a shady position and high humidity in winter. For irrigation, use distilled or boiled water at room temperature.

   Khosta

   These are valuable shade-loving perennials, whose magnificent leaves adorn shady gardens. Hostas are prized for their graceful form and tolerance for even very shady spots in the garden. The plant will grow where other species fail. Hosta forms a magnificent rosette of fleshy leaves, which, depending on the variety, have different colors and shapes.

   Hosta should preferably be planted under trees. Thanks to this, empty, unaesthetic places shaded by the crowns of large trees are avoided. It is especially good to place it between bushes of impressive rhododendrons and other ornamental shrubs. Soil moisture is taken into account during their cultivation. It is important that the soil does not dry out quickly. Hostas grow well near ponds. The plant needs fertile soils that hold water well. Therefore, before planting, it is worth enriching the soil with rotted compost. Hostas can grow for several decades in one place.

   Some hostas bloom beautifully. For example, the variety "Blue Angel" in July is additionally decorated with charming, bell-shaped, light purple flowers placed on the tops of vertical peduncles.

   Photo. Blue Angel Hosta

   Heuchera

   Heuchera grow quite slowly. The leaves are oval, located on long petioles. These plants have a straight main shoot, and the lateral ones are very short, so the leaves, growing in several pieces on each branch, form a compact bush. Petioles and leaf margins are pubescent.

   From the tips of short shoots grow on long, leafless peduncles inflorescences consisting of small fiery red, carmine, coral or white flowers. Heuchera flowers are located on thin, springy stems and tremble under the influence of even a weak wind. Geyhery bloom in June - July. In gardens, they are planted on flower beds, they are ideal for borders, rock gardens. The best spacing is 30 x 30 cm.

   Heuchera grow best in fertile, slightly moist soil, in a semi-shady position. Requires shelter in winter. Left for many years in one place, they begin to dry out from the inside, so every few years it is worth transplanting them, dividing the plant into several copies.

   Ground cover perennials

   There is usually little sun in places between trees and shrubs. The grass in these places does not want to grow. Bare soil does not look aesthetically pleasing. A good option is to mulch the soil, for example, with decorative gravel or colored bark. You can also do heavy thinning pruning of trees and shrubs. A more attractive solution is shade-loving perennial turf plants, which will cover these areas with a dense carpet of leaves and flowers.

   Periwinkle

   It is a creeping evergreen shrub from the Apocynaceae family. Reaches a height of 10-20 cm, the shoots are strongly branched. The flowers are delicate lilac-blue, (appear until August). The evergreen leaves of the periwinkle are shiny, oblong, elliptical or ovate.

   Common Periwinkle requires peat or humus, slightly moist soil, shady or semi-shady position. Propagated by division of plants or cuttings obtained from apical shoots.

   Forms compact green carpets, Periwinkle is shade tolerant, ideal for shady areas, can grow in partial shade. In gardens, it is used to cover hard-to-reach places under ornamental trees, shrubs, and planted in perennial flower beds. Hanging periwinkle shoots look spectacular in containers.

   Common Ivy

   Ivy can be used as a groundcover for shade. It is an evergreen, perennial liana, belongs to the Araliaceae family. The stalk of ivy lies or climbs up to a height of 20 m. The leaves are dark green above, shiny, lighter underneath, blushing at low temperatures, leathery, heart-shaped at the base, evergreen. The leaves growing on flowering shoots have a different shape - ovate, ovate-lanceolate, rounded, sharp.

   Ivy flowers are small, collected in hemispherical inflorescences of umbrellas, petals of green-yellow, white-green shades. Ivy blooms from September to October. Flowering begins for the first time in 8-10 years.

   Ivy grows well in humus, well-drained, moist soil. Requires partial shade or shady position, grows worse in full sun. It is used as a ground cover or ornamental plant, in shady places under the tops of trees dense carpets are formed. Shoots can reach 20 meters, the annual growth is about 1 meter.

   Pachysandra terminalis

   Pachysandra terminalis is an evergreen shrub belonging to the boxwood family (Buxaceae). Pakhizandra has green shiny leaves, with rough serrated edges, collected in rosettes at the ends of the shoots. It grows up to 30 cm. Small white flowers appear in May.

   The plant spreads through underground cuttings, creating dense, extensive carpets. Under favorable conditions quickly covers the available surface. It is worth limiting its distribution, for example, with a wide plastic tape dug into the ground.

   Pachysandra requires partial shade or shady position. It grows best on fertile, humus, moist soils. Planting in the sun, the plant should be watered regularly. In the spring, the shoots can be cut back to make them thick. This is one of the best ground cover plants for places under tall bushes, trees. Ideal for strengthening small slopes.

   Creeping tenacious

   Creeping tenacious (Ajuga reptans) is a low, heavily branched perennial. The stem is straight, single, depending on the variety reaches a length of 10-20 cm.

   Flowers blue-violet, pink or white, in inflorescences at the top of the stem. The leaves are arranged in a rosette, dark green or red-violet in garden varieties.

   The tenacious is not very demanding, it grows well on neutral soils rich in humus and minerals. Prefers semi-shady positions, grows in the shade. On moist soil tolerates more sunlight. Tolerant of low temperatures, partly evergreen, during snowy winters above ground parts may freeze.

   Hardy works well as a border or water plant. Suitable for rockeries. Thanks to the red-purple leaves, it goes well with other plants. Can quickly drown out other species. To avoid this, you need to systematically remove the excess of constantly appearing new bushes. Works great as a groundcover. It fills hard-to-reach places and slopes, protecting the soil from landslides and erosion.

   Brunnera macrophylla

   Perennial with forget-me-not flowers. Brunner prefers loamy and moist soils. When it's hot, you need to water it. Belongs to the Borage family (Boraginaceae). Other names of the plant are Caucasian forget-me-not, forget-me-not.

   Lumpy, rather compact perennial, low (30-50 cm). Large, heart-shaped leaves, silvery with a green border, are very decorative. The underside of the leaf blade is covered with a thin pile.

   Brunner blooms from May to June. Blue flowers, reminiscent of forget-me-not flowers, are collected in branched inflorescences of umbrellas. They contrast well with the green-silver leaves. The fruit is small, brownish-gray.

   Large-leaved Brunner loves semi-shady, shady and warm places. The soil should be fertile, rich in humus, well ventilated, and sufficiently moist. Ideally, the pH of the medium should be slightly alkaline. The plant will cope with weaker soils. Brunner is completely hardy. Unfortunately, she is often attacked by snails.

   Epimedium grandiflora

   Valuable perennial for shady places, epimedium has a very complex shape, original flowers, evergreen leaves. It grows in the form of dense bushes with evenly spaced ovate leaves. The edge of the leaf blade of the epimedum is slightly wavy, it can take on shades of brown, purple. In spring, in April-May, tall peduncles grow above the leaves with flowers of delightful shape in pink with white accents - because of their original shape they are called elf flowers.

   Epimedium grows best in a shady spot in relatively moist, fertile soil. This hardy plant is easy to grow.

   Epimedium should be used for planting under tree canopies, in other shady places. The beauty of its flowers will be revealed at the edge of the composition.

   Fragrant bedstraw

   Bedstraw (lat. Galium odoratum) is a shade-loving perennial from the Rubiaceae family. Bedstraw consists of several green shoots rising up, reaching 30 cm. Every few centimeters on the stem there are characteristic palm-shaped complex leaves of fresh green color. At the tops of the stems are small, four-petalled flowers of small size in small clusters.

   Flowers appear in April, bloom until June. The seeds are spread by the wind. In gardens, the bedstraw is used because of the interesting shape of the leaves and beautiful flowers, and also because 1-2 specimens can occupy all the empty space near the wall of the house.

   Bedstraw grows on humus soil. It does not need to be watered except during the summer months if the drought continues for a long time. He loves shady positions, planted in the corners of the garden, near walls, fences, in thickets. Large ornamental leaves make this plant an interesting addition to bouquets. Bedstraw is widely used in culinary arts. In Germany, tinctures and juices are produced, recipes for spices for cakes or pastries are known.

   Shadow saxifrage

   Shadow saxifrage hybrid (Saxifraga umbrosa) short (10-30 cm), forms rosettes of leaves with serrated edges. The flowers are small, star-shaped, with five petals, planted on long reddish shoots, collected in panicles. The color of the inflorescences is white, pale pink. Flowering period: May-July.

   Shady saxifrage prefers slightly shaded places, protected from direct sunlight. Preferred soils:

   • fertile,
   • well drained,
   • moderately moist,
   • slightly acidic,
   • plant does not like too much water.

   Regular weeding and sporadic watering required. On dry soils, it is worth laying a layer of mulch, limiting the evaporation of water. It is worth removing wilted inflorescences. The shady saxifrage can be used to develop space under the canopy of trees. It is a good ground cover used to cover small areas. Suitable for decorating rockeries - where the plant needs to be watered more often.

   Spleengrass

   Chrysosplenium alternifolium is a tiny perennial plant (several centimeters high) with a creeping rhizome, long shoots, which owes its name to ... the spleen. In the past, the plants were used to treat the spleen. The botanical name also refers to this organ:

   • chrysos - from Greek means gold,
   • plenos - spleen.

   Spleenwort likes shady, damp places. In spring it produces yellow flowers which are pollinated by snails. Frost-resistant plant, withstands temperatures down to -34 ° C.

   Shade-tolerant shrubs

   When choosing plants for shady areas, for backyard locations - from the north or east, it is worth considering perennial shade-loving shrubs for the garden.

   Boxwood

   Evergreen boxwood is a slow-growing ornamental shrub with an oval, compact form. The leaves are ovate, small, shiny, leathery, dark green or yellow. Grows to a height of 4 meters. From April to May, the plant produces inconspicuous yellowish-white honey-bearing flowers, grouped in short, dense clusters. Boxwood fruits are small horned baskets with small black seeds.

   Boxwood is often planted in gardens, parks, green areas. The evergreen shrub is great for hedges, creating green borders. It tolerates pruning well and can be shaped into various shapes. It can be grown in containers, protected from frost.

   Boxwood grows in a shady and sunny location (unless exposed to direct strong sunlight). Likes quiet, damp places. It should be watered regularly, but not plentifully, not forgetting about watering also in winter and early spring after the soil has thawed. Boxwood is soil tolerant and grows best in humus-rich, clayey soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. Evergreen boxwood can freeze in very cold, snowless winters, so it is worth protecting it with agrotextiles.

   Japanese aucuba

   Japanese laurel or aucuba grows wild in Asia (mainly in Japan, China, Korea). The shrub grows up to 2 meters. It has elliptical, leathery, shiny, evergreen leaves. Aucuba blooms in early spring from March to April. The flowers are small, purple, have little decorative value. Later, the bush creates attractive red elongated drupes.

   Aucuba loves bright places, but without direct sunlight (otherwise the leaves may burn). It should be planted in secluded places protected from the wind. The species is not completely frost-resistant - in severe winters it can freeze.

   Japanese Aucuba likes fertile, humus, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. The plant should be watered during a drought. Once every few weeks, it is worth feeding it with complex fertilizers. Responds well to soil mulching. No pruning required. Aucuba can propagate by rooting apical cuttings.

   Rhododendron

   The Rhododendron genus includes more than 1000 species and is found on almost all continents. His name is a combination of two Greek words:

   1. rhodon means rose,
   2. dendron means tree.

   Rhododendron bloom lasts 2-3 weeks.

   Among the rhododendrons there are dwarf varieties and large, medium-sized trees reaching the height. The leaves of most species are evergreen. Large rhododendrons can withstand heavy pruning, after which they may not bloom for a long time.

   The shrub has very specific environmental requirements, especially soil. Rhododendron likes:

   • sheltered areas in partial shade,
   • loose, humus, moist, acidic soil (pH 4/5).

   The higher the pH, the slower the flowering and growth rate of the rhododendron.

   Rhododendrons can be propagated by sowing, seedlings, layering. It is worth regularly feeding the bushes with organic fertilizer or mineral compounds (preferably for rhododendrons). After flowering, wilted flowers are cut off.

   Azalea

   Shade-loving perennial azalea, depending on the variety, grows up to 50 cm and 2 m. The decoration of the bush is large flowers of yellow, apricot-pink, orange, light coral. Flowering season: April-May, blooms not for long, but spectacularly. Azalea flowers are intensely scented.

   Azalea leaves are more delicate than those of rhododendron and develop only after the flowers have fallen. Before falling off in autumn, the foliage turns yellow, red, orange, purple.

   Azaleas are sensitive to frost and require high humidity. Acidic soils are best for them. It is worth enriching the soil with acidifying fertilizers. Position: quiet, partial shade. Better azaleas grow in large groups, in the garden they should grow in prominent places, preferably against the background of coniferous trees and shrubs.

   Fortune's Euonymus

   It is an evergreen deciduous shrub with stiff lateral or upright shoots. It can form a low form, reaching approximately 40 cm in height, 80-100 cm in width. Shoots of older specimens growing near supports (tree trunks, walls) can rise with aerial roots up to a height of 3 meters.

   'Emerald Gold' is an effective element of garden compositions. Its decoration is multi-colored leaves (green in the central part, with a yellow border). By winter, the leaves turn purple and pink, decorating the autumn garden. 'Emerald Gold' is ideal as a cover plant, becomes a strong color accent in the flower bed, suitable for containers. Since it does well in partial shade, it can grow under the canopy of large trees. Euonymus tolerates pruning well, so it can be cut to create a compact shrub, low hedge, border.

   Photo. Variety "Emerald Gold"

   Fortune's euonymus can grow in sunny or semi-shady places, tolerates shade. It is tolerant of soil, although it prefers fertile soil. Grows poorly on swampy soils. It tolerates air pollution well, suitable for the city. Low forms winter well (especially under snow), but seedlings can freeze, especially in cold regions of the country.

   Holly holly

   Holly holly grows in its natural state in the forests of Siberia, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor. Low erect shrub, grows up to 0. 8-1 m. It is characterized by convex, rather rigid, shiny shoots.

   There are different varieties:

   • "Alba" - with light green leaves, white flowers, yellow fruits;
   • "Alba Plena" - with white double flowers;
   • "Rubrum" - flowers of various shades of pink, rose-red, lilac, light purple.

   Holly holly usually blooms in March-April, sometimes in February. The flowers are strongly fragrant - the smell resembles the smell of hyacinths, it is felt from a distance of several tens of meters. Honey plant pollinated by insects. The leaves are narrow, thin, grayish-green. In June-July, bright red or yellow, spherical fruits the size of a pea ripen.

   Holly holly grows best in semi-shady places. Prefers humus, calcareous, constantly moist soils. Does not grow well in dry, warm soils. Sensitive to drought, resistant to frost. Once a year, the plant should be fed with complex fertilizers. The bush grows very slowly.

   Shade-tolerant herbs

   Snow broom

   Interesting perennial plant Luzula nivea resembles grass. Forms loose bunches of light green leaves. The edges of the leaf blade are covered with tiny white hairs. The thin leaves grow vertically and hang softly at the ends, adding amazing charm to the plant. Height - 30-60 cm.

   Flowering plant from June to August. Fine white panicles appear above the foliage. The flowers are delicate, small, in dense groups they look extremely impressive. Snow-white fluffy umbrellas contrast beautifully with intense green leaves. Inflorescences can be dried and used to create decorative compositions.

   Ozhiks prefer shady, semi-shady places. The soil should be moderately moist, preferably loamy-humus. The plant does not tolerate drought very well. The substrate must be constantly slightly damp, so it is recommended to plant ogica around ponds. Grows under trees, shrubs, where access to sunlight is limited. The plant can be used as a groundcover. Looks great on the flower beds, giving them charisma, lightness.

   Panicled fescue

   Very hardy grass Festuca scoparia - Panicled fescue, undemanding to grow.

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