shade loving plants for the garden

But first, let’s figure it out, but, in fact, what is a shadow for a gardener.

Types of shade-loving plants with names and photos

She seems to be a shadow. But it is not so. It comes in different degrees of density. And this degree depends on the type of trees and the time of year. For example, the illumination of the area under deciduous trees varies greatly – in winter, when there are no leaves, 80% of the sun’s rays penetrate under the crowns, in spring, when the buds are just waking up – 30 – 50%, and in summer – a maximum of 5%.

Thick shadow. It happens under trees with dense crowns. For example, under spruces and firs – their branches are so thick that light practically does not penetrate to the ground. The same shade is given in summer by fruit plants – apple trees, hawthorn, shadberry.

Under such conditions, forest plants grow well. There are a lot of them, and most species also bloom beautifully, and even at different times, so even in dense shade you can create a garden of continuous flowering:

• in spring – anemones, hellebore, snowdrops, white flowers, blueberries, pushkinias, primroses, corydalis, lilies of the valley;
• at the beginning of summer – kupena, arizema, ozhiki;
• in summer – hostas, astilbes, volzhankas;

autumn – black cohosh.

Of course, ferns are suitable for thick shade (1). As well as hoof, minik, geranium, bruner, periwinkle, goryanka.

Sparse shadow. It falls from trees with a rare crown – plums, cherries, mountain ash, sea buckthorn. Under them, the sun penetrates more and the range of plants for such conditions is much wider.

Here you can plant: daffodils, tulips, crocuses, lilies and daylilies. Lungwort grows well in partial shade. And if there is a gazebo under the trees, you can plant tea herbs nearby – mint and lemon balm.

An excellent option is geyher. They have many varieties that differ in leaf color – they are green, yellow, orange, red, burgundy and even chocolate shades. They are perfectly complemented by cuffs.

And in partial shade, you can create a carpet of ground cover plants if you plant a tenacious, hoof or duchenya.

And, of course, all these plants can be supplemented with a list of species that grow in dense shade – they will be quite comfortable under these conditions.

Penumbra. This definition includes areas where the shadow does not fall all day – in the morning or in the evening there is a sun. This is usually the east or west side of the house or buildings.

Many flowers can grow here, with the exception of the most light-loving ones. It’s easier to say that you can’t plant here. These are roses (2). And with other colors, you can safely experiment.

Planting shade plants

In general, planting shade-loving plants is no different from planting others, but there is a nuance. Since it is always cooler in the shade than in the open sun, you can plant plants under trees throughout the summer, even in hot July, not only with a closed root system, but also with bare roots. Of course, plantings need to be well watered.

Shade plant care

Caring for shady flower beds is different from caring for ordinary ones planted in sunny areas. And here is what is important to consider.

Moisture. There is a double-edged sword here. Trees are known to consume water in large quantities, especially in the heat. And the soil in such weather dries up very quickly. In sunny areas, it also dries instantly, but there is a way out – to mulch the plantings. In the shady flower beds, mulch will not save – the trees will still take all the water from the soil. So in the summer heat, the shady flower garden will have to be watered more often. Especially if it is under birches – they squeeze moisture out of the soil to the last drop, and their roots are located close to the surface of the earth, in the same place as the roots of flowers.

But there is a plus – after rain and watering, moisture will linger longer, because the sun does not dry out the soil.

Decline. Deciduous tree species literally cover the shady flower garden with foliage in autumn. Yes, and conifers do not lag behind – needles periodically fall off them. And then the question arises: should they be removed?

There is no single answer here.

In general, the leaves are good. Gradually rotting, they fill the soil with nutrients, make it loose and fertile. Weeds practically do not grow under a thick layer of litter. And in winter, they protect perennial plants from freezing, so even plants with low frost resistance can be grown under trees.

However, there may be problems. For example, the soil under the leaves takes longer to thaw in spring. And primroses bloom later. Through a thick layer of litter, small-bulbous plants – crocuses, blueberries, pushkinias – make their way with difficulty. The leaves of some trees, such as willows and oaks, when decomposed, release specific substances into the soil that inhibit the development of plants. And litter can be a breeding ground for diseases and pests that can also affect flowers.

But there is a way out. For example, from areas where primroses and small bulbs grow, leaves can be removed early in spring so that the soil warms up faster and the sprouts do not have to break through the litter. And when they fade, the leaves can be returned back.

The leaves of willows and oaks should be removed in autumn. And the soil under the trees can be mulched with the litter of other trees – it can be brought in bags from the nearest forest. The same is true with diseased leaves – we remove them, mulch them with healthy ones.

By the way, the best leaves for a shady flower garden are from apple trees, pears, lindens and maples. They quickly rot and give the most nutrients to the soil.

Snow. Through the dense crowns of some coniferous trees, little snow falls to the ground. And it is needed for the successful wintering of many perennial flowers, especially heat-loving ones. It is important to take this into account and either plant frost-resistant species in such places, or manually throw snow on the site in winter.

But under deciduous trees, snowdrifts are solid, because snow easily overcomes sparse crowns, and trunks delay it in windy weather. And in such areas you can plant more heat-loving plants.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about shadow flowers with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.

Sources of

1. A group of authors, ed. Milovidova I.B. Flowers around us, 2nd ed., add. // Saratov, Privolzhskoe book publishing house, 1986 – 160 p.
2. Dyakova T.N. Decorative trees and shrubs: new in the design of your garden // M .: Kolos, 2001 – 360 p.