Episode 19: Underused Shade Plants

Forget about hostas and coral bells, these options are better-looking and guaranteed conversation-starters

If there were a question on theFamily Feudgameshow , demand the responder to name a shade plant , chance are the vast absolute majority of the public would respond “ hosta . ” But , there is so much more to fill in flora that the genusHosta , like a creeping , evergreen - Aquilegia canadensis and an insanely cool Chinese faggot bell that looks like a black bamboo with chartreuse flush . On this instalment we shine a spark on these , and some other , lesser - know hero of the refinement garden .

Expert Susan Calhoun , landscape painting fashion designer from Bainbridge Island , Washington .

Another bold choice for colored spots is‘October Moon ’ Japanese bush mint(Leucosceptrum stellipilum‘October Moon ’ , Zones 5 - 8) which has large green , fuzzy , oval - shaped leaf with a fortunate edge . This beaut can top out at 3 feet tall , so just seek to ignore it — we dare you !

This is n’t your gran ’s honeysuckle!Creeping honeysuckle(Lonicera crassifolia , Zones 7 - 9 ) is a lowly ground natural covering with evergreen leaf adorning its stringy stems . It also has bantam yellow - pink flowers which open in belated leaping , making it one of landscape painting designer Susan Calhoun ’s favorite shady priming cover .

Why do n’t more folks love shade - liberal oak tree leaf hydrangea ? It has big leaves , exfoliating bark , burgundy crepuscle color , and monolithic , conical blooms in summer . Snowflake ™ oak leaf hydrangea(Hydrangea quercifolia‘Brido ’ , Zones 5 - 9 ) is specially arresting with even bigger blooms that are made up of small , snow bunting - mould florets .

If you ’re looking for something big and bluff for the shade look no further than‘Fireworks ’ rodgersia(Rodgersia pinnata‘Fireworks ’ , Zones 5 - 8) . away from its baseball paw - sized parting , it sports dark pinkish blooms on black stalk in summer .

Let ’s Argue About Plantspublishes every other Friday and is available through Itunes , Stitcher , and , of course , on FineGardening.com

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Episode 28: Best Foundation Plants

Best Fragrant Perennials - Northeast

Best Fragrant Perennials - Southeast

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