Now that's shady !

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaPlant Health Care

Apr 2

The impossible dream

If you cant keep anything alive (let alone grow) in a dark shady garden then listen up – we have a few choices for you that we have tried in our gardens for many years, and are very happy with the results. They hold up well without much effort - certainly proven winners !

A spectacular shady garden

What does shade mean

Everyone you talk to clearly understands the meaning of shade. Most also have a hard time defining it in terms of plant needs. We draw the line in the sand at 300 foot candles and below - and define shade that way.

Foot candles are a measurement of the number of photons (energy particle) from the sun that strike a leaf. These are responsible for activating the chlorophyll and starting the photosynthesis cycle - the chain of reactions that eventually produces sugar.

A foot candle light meter

When you go below 300 foot candles of light (my definition of a dark garden) there is so little light energy striking any leaf that plants produce too few sugar molecules. The simply use up their stored calories ( sugar and starch) then wither away.

Light rays (photons!) striking a leaf

When a plant has a sugar deficit it gets weak really quickly. Insects and/or a disease may even strike before they have finished using up their stored food. Simple reason – a weakened metabolism.

The hurdle

Having a successful shady garden is all about overcoming 2 things – tolerance to low foot candles, and low susceptibility to pests. There are not a huge amount of plant choices that have both conditions - but I bet more than you thought!

Perhaps the only other consideration is that you will have to give up the day dream of that English cottage look – and instead embrace the beauty and simplicity of these hardy plants. But don't despair ! – there are plenty that have colorful foliage and flowers to brighten up the day !

It is quite important to take into consideration their susceptibility to pests. Otherwise you will be fighting the natural environment. Example : Some shade tolerant Azalea would possibly work in a 300 fc garden - but they get spider mites quickly - and look terrible even quicker ! And god forbid - you only other choice would be spraying them forever!

Proven winners

Choosing a plant that is both super low light tolerant and not prone to insects and diseases is the best way we have found to have a successful shady garden. Here are Plant Specialists suggestions - based on decades of gardening in all different conditions.

Tall up to 8'

Mahonia

An evergreen Shrub to 8'. It is a slow grower with dark green leaves - also bright yellow flowers and blue berries! There are many species and varieties available. My favorites are “M. aquifolium and M japonica.

Mahonia aquifolium in bloom

The long floral spikes of Mahonia japonica

Mahonia blue berries !

Aucuba

Also an evergreen Shrub. Grows to 5' with a slew of varieties available. Some in, green, variegated and yellow leaf varieties - even dwarf ones available.

Solid green leaves - with red berries !

Variegated leaves

Polka dots !

Golden

Kalmia

Mountain laurel is one of my shade favorites - Kalmia latifolia. It's a deep forest plant that grows to 8'. There are many new varieties come with flowers in all sorts of colors – my personal favorite – K. l. “Tinkerbell” - google it !

Mountain laurel

Kalmia l "Tinkerbell" - dwarf habit

Taxus

The core of any shade garden - Taxus densiformis. It a weeping low light tolerant variety that grows to 4'. It is NOT a needled evergreen (like pine) - it just has really thin leaves !

Common yew

Short – up to 2'

Japanese painted fern (Athyrium)

Athyrium - or Japanese painted fern

Pulmonaria (lungwort)

Pulmonaria or lungwort

Helebore (Lenten rose)

The ever beautiful Hellebores - or Lenten rose

Asarum (Wild ginger)

Asarum canadenses

Polygonatum (Solomons' seal)

Solomons' seal – Polygonatum

Dicentra (Bleeding hearts)

My favorite - chartreuse leaves with pink flowers – many other varieties available

Aquilegia (Columbine)

One of many colors available

Hosta (Plantain lily)

Hosta hybrid – giant, mini, variegated - tons of choices

Mix a bit of all of them and make a lovely colorful shade garden !

You may have to plan it out on paper first – or have one of our designers at Plant Specialists do that for you !

For the prettiest shade garden ever - Call Plant Specialists TODAY !

Don't delay – the sooner the better !

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 51 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission from @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

Now that's shady !

The impossible dream

What does shade mean

The hurdle

Proven winners