(HOST) A shady corner of the yard can be heaven on a hot day, but commentator Charlie Nardozzi says it can also be a landscaping challenge.
(NARDOZZI) One of the most difficult locations in a yard to landscape is the shade. Everyone wants to brighten shady areas with flowering plants, but the problem is the palette of flowers is limited, and many gardeners have tired of the usual hostas and ferns.
The first thing to know is that not all shade is created equal. There are various types of shade, and the type you have will determine what you grow. Part shade is where the garden receives 3 to 4 hours of direct sun a day. Many flowering plants, such as astilbe and impatiens, do well here. Dappled shade is created under lacy trees such as honey locust. Bright light filters through the canopy all day. Plants such as azaleas and bleeding hearts do well in the dappled light. Medium shade is found under large deciduous trees, such as maples, whose branches are at least 20 feet above the ground. There may be a little dappled light in the morning and afternoon that sneaks in. Hostas and ferns can grow in this shade. Finally, deep shade is found under large evergreens, such as hemlock and spruce, or large deciduous trees with low branches. Moss is about the only plant that will grow well in deep shade.
Now once the shade type is determined, I then encourage gardeners to select plants more for their leaf colors, than for their flowers.
Here are some of my favorites. Coleus has gone through a major revolution in the past 10 years with more colorful leaves with exotic shapes than ever before. While newer varieties have been bred to be more sun tolerant, the colors are still most vivid when plants are grown in dappled or part shade. One of my favorites is the Kong series. Plants grow 2 feet tall. The leaves are the size of your hand and come in a range of vibrant colors – some with 3 to 4 different colors on each leaf.
Heuchera, or coral bells, are known for their airy pink, yellow or white flower stems. However, recent breeding has created an array of colorful leaved coral bells that make the flowers almost an afterthought. The variety "Frosted Violet" features pink-purple foliage with dark red veins. "Creme Brulee" leaves look just like the dessert, with peachy-orange colored foliage. These coral bells grow 2 feet tall and one foot wide and grow well in part of dappled shade.
While green ferns are commonplace in our neck of the woods, the Japanese painted ferns are truly unique. The variety "Silver Falls" features bright silver foliage with a pink mid rib. Unlike other silver colored painted ferns, this one holds its color even in the heat of the summer. "Urusula’s Red" also has silver foliage – and vibrant red mid ribs that make the foliage seem iridescent.
So look to the foliage of your plants this summer to brighten a dark spot. The results will be eye opening.
Charlie Nardozzi is an all-around gardening expert with a special fondness for tomatoes and roses.