Are there any blooming flower plants that thrive in full shade?
Question:My front yard is almost in total shade during the summer. Does anyone know of plants that will survive in this type of environment? I'd like something that blooms since I really want to add a little color to an otherwise "all green" front yard. Thanks in advance, jolace
Answers:
impatiens, begonias are the main annuals for shade. There are many perennials and ground covers for shade:
chocolate plant (pseuderanthemum) - google an image
Iris (flag, walking, butterfly)
lillies
ardesia
wedilia
chameleon plant (houttuynia)
ajuga (bugleweed)
leopard's bane (ligularia)
bears breeches(acanthus)
coral bells
astilbe
bleeding heart
Impatiens are a really good flowering shade plant also why not grow some hosta? Even though hosta is mainly a large green plant it does bloom through out a large part of the summer.
impatiens
Impatients
I have the same problem with my front yard, and have found that astilbe and toad lillies provide the color that I wanted.
Impatiens are the best-known shade plant, easy to care for, available in lots of colors. They like lots of moisture though, so make sure they get regular watering. In the heat of summer they can get leggy - just cut them back to encourage denser growth.
Begonias, foxglove, Lenten rose (hellebores) and hydrangea also love shade. And hostas, which are grown for their attractive variegated leaves more than the flowers - they look great mixed in with the other flowering plants.
Try hydrangea. It gets big and beautiful in the shade and you can change its flower color from red to white or blue by simply changing the acid content of the soil. The blooms are very showy.
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