Many times, we are faced with hard to design area. Many find a shady area hard to design. Shade doesn’t have to be our enemy! Let’s break it down and define the differences in shade areas.
Light
Light shade is an area with shadows of trees, hedges, walls or a building. Plants that will bloom in full sun areas will usually do well in a light shade area. Most of these areas will have sun for a portion of the day.
Dappled or Filtered
Dappled shade is filtered sunlight through the canopy of trees. It allows sunrays to shine through and shifts as the sun shifts. Dappled light is the most common light in the suburban yards and the wood edges.
Partial Shade
Part shade is a garden area that receives up to 6 hours of direct sunlight. The majority of sunlight hours need to be in the morning, and the heat of the afternoon shadows will shade and cool the garden. It is one of the most common forms of a shade garden. If the area receives direct sunlight in the afternoon, it would be considered a full sun garden. The light is harsher and drying.
Full or Deep Shade
Deep shade in a garden can be found under evergreens or shrub and trees that are spaced very closely. Direct sunlight can not penetrate the canopy. It is a cool shade and difficult to have plants bloom in these conditions. Plants that can survive this type of shade have very strong leaf structures.
Gardening can be fun in shady areas with a little insight! The beauty of different fauna and foliage plants is endless. Understanding the type of shade will give you the best success needed! Below is a list of shade-loving plants for you to research for your next project! Happy planting.
SHRUBS | PERENNIALS | |
Aronia | Acanthus mollis | |
Berberis | Ajuga reptans | |
Calycanthus | Alchemilla mollis | |
Clethra | Aquilegia canadensis | |
Comptonia | Arisemea triphyllum | |
Cornus racemosa | Aruncus species | |
Cornus sericea | Asarum canadense | |
Euonymus | Astilbe | |
Hamaelis | Brunnera macrophylla | |
Hydrangea paniculata | Convallaria majalis | |
Hydrangea quercifolia | Corydalis | |
Itea spp | Dicentra species | |
Kamia spp | Digitalis purpurea | |
Leucothoe spp | Ferns | |
Ligustrum spp | Galium odoratum | |
Lindera | Gaultheria procumbens | |
Mahonia | Heuchera species | |
Microbiota | Heucherella | |
Pieris spp | Hosta | |
Rhamnus spp | Lamium maculatum | |
Rhododendron | Ligularia species | |
Ribes | Lobelia species | |
Symphoricarpos spp | Mertensia virginica | |
Taxus spp | Pholox divaricata | |
Thuja occidentalis | Podophyllum peltatum | |
Tsuga spp | Polemonium caeruleum | |
Viburnum, most | Pologonatum | |
Primula japonica | ||
TREES | Pulmonaria | |
Acer campestre | Pulsatilla vulgaris | |
Amelanchier spp. | Solidago sphacelata | |
Cercis canadensis | Tradescantia andersoniana | |
Chionanthus virginicus | Tricyrtis | |
Cornus Florida | Trillium species | |
Cornus Kousa | ||
Magnolia virginiana |