adding interest to a shade garden

Whether it's the contrasting foliage color of masses of shade perennials, or colorful flowering perennials, your shade garden can have visual interest that changes throughout the season.

• At woodland edge, masses of deer-resistant native ferns selected for texture and color that contrast with adjacent foliage can add summer interest and allow your garden to visually extend back into forested areas.

• Add masses of perennials with foliage interest and contrasting color, for example planting two varieties of the deer-resistant Coral Bells in adjacent single-variety masses of contrasting color. Or brighten shade gardens with the white leaf margins and lavender blossoms of Patriot Hosta planted in large groupings.

• Brighten shady areas with large areas of low shade-tolerant perennials and bulbs; such as the native Dwarf Crested Iris: and Astilbe which is available in white, pinks, and lavender.

• For partially shaded areas, that receive several hours of sun or filtered sun, perennial and bulb varieties could include masses of deer-resistant Daffodils or Nutt Black Eyed Susan. Adjacent to the drifts of daffodils, masses of deer-resistant Virginia Blue Bells might be added in wooded or wet areas.

• images above from left to right: Iris cristata, Pink Astilbe, Green Hosta, Nutt Black Eyed Susan, Lime Rickey Coral Bells, Peach Melba Coral Bells, Virginia Bluebells, Christmas Fern

Design tips:

• Remember to keep the scale of the design compatible with the scale of your architecture, and to create the most impact by planting perennials in masses or drifts.

• The configuration of the masses of perennials might reflect the geometry of the architecture; or might accentuate locations of existing mature trees and curves of a woodland edge.

• Create a layered look by planting adjoining masses of perennials, selecting varieties that have similar blooming time and contrasting color and height.

• Enjoy your garden as it changes throughout the season!