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Moss' Top Ten Shade Perennials for Spring

Plants that light up shady spots

These are some of the best perennials to plant under deciduous trees and shrubs.

Check MOSS IN THE CITY (http://garden.org/urbangardening/) for more tips and commentary.

 

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Plant

Attribute

Hardiness

rue anemone patch

Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides)

Ephemeral wildflower of the eastern US woodlands. Found in upland woodlands. Good groundcover under white flowered spring trees.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates

wild columbine

Columbine (Aquilegia)

Common wildflower throughout North America. Thrives in sun or shade from woodlands to rocky hillsides. Short lived perennial but prolific reseeder.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates

arisaema sikokkianum

Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema)

Tuberous perennials of moist woodlands throughout North America and Asia. Flower structure composed of a spathe and spadix. Red berries produced in late summer.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates

white bleeding heart

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

Mounding perennials with many flowers arranged in sprays from North America and Asia. Range in size from 4" dutchman's breeches to 4' common bleeding heart.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates

royal ferns in quebec

Ferns (Dryopteris, Onoclea, Osmunda)

Primitive plants found world wide in forests and other moist areas. These non-flowering plants reproduce through spores.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates.

purple hellebores

Hellebore (Helleborus)

Semi-evergreen mounding perennial from Europe and Asia. Petals are actually bracts that last for many weeks. Stem flowering species are more tender than those that flower from the rootstock.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates.

hepatica in bloom

Hepatica (Hepatica)

Small, semi-evergreen, mounding perennial wildflower with little anemone-like flowers in early spring. Decorative patterned leaves follow the flowers.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates.

solomons seal

Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum)

Large rhizomatous perennial with graceful arching structure and lily-like leaves. Native to woodlands of the northern hemisphere. Tolerant of sun and shade.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates.

yellow primrose

Primrose (Primula)

Ephemeral perennial with bright flowers from Europe and Asia. Many Asian species have dramatic flower structures but are very demanding in cultivation.

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates

sweet betsy under weeping hemlock

Sweet Betsy (Trillium)

Elegant, simple, ephemeral wildflowers found in woodlands of North America and Asia. All parts of the plant are in 3s. Flowers either held on stalks above leaves (peduncle) or sitting directly on top (sessile).

Mild to cold winters. Temperate climates.


wemoss.org 2008, Last Updated April 4, 2008