Wilson
Bros Nursery is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Shade
Loving Perennials
Below
is a listing of popular shade-loving perennials
that perform well in Zone 8
Name:
Astilbe
'Visions'
Botanical:
Astilbe
Height
x Width:
14" H x 18"
W
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Dark Pink to Pinkish Purple
Bloom
Time:
June to August
Water:
Moderate - provide adequate
moisture during drought
Features:
Bronze green foliage contrasts
wonderfully with the upright
flowers. A strong performer
in the South and an excellent
cut flower.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Bleeding
Heart 'Luxuriant'
Botanical:
Dicentra eximia
Height
x Width:
18" H x 24"
W
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red
Bloom
Time:
Late Spring through Summer
Water:
Moderate - Provide moisture
during drought
Features:
Masses of vivid-red
blooms cover attractive mounds
of lacy, blue-green delicate
foliage during late spring thru
summer. A wonderful plant that
performs well in the South.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Old
Fashioned Bleeding Heart
Botanical:
Dicentra spectabilis
Height
x Width:
30"-36"
H x 24" W
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Pink or White
Bloom
Time:
Spring into early Summer
Water:
Moderate - provide moisture
during drought
Features:
Pink or white
heart shaped flowers dangle
in arching racemesthat emerge
fromsoft, deeply cut, grey-green
foliage in early Spring. A long-lived
old time favorite that makes
an excellent accent in the shade
garden. Goes dormant in summer.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Columbines
Botanical:
Aquilegia
Height
x Width:
12-24" H
x 12-18" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Assorted
Bloom
Time:
Spring into Summer
Water:
Low
Features:
Very unique
brightly colored flowers rise
above the clove-like clumps
of delicate foliage in spring.
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Helleborus,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Creeping
Jenny
Botanical:
Lysimachia
Height
x Width:
2" H x 18"+
W
Exposure:
Sun or Shade
Foliage
Color:
Bright Chartruese
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low
Features:
Outstanding,
bright golden-green leaves on
this matt-forming, fast growing
evergreen. A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions:
Useful as a groundcover
or between stepping stones.
Name:
Elephant
Ears
Botanical:
Colocasia, Alocasia
Height
x Width:
3-5' H x 3-5'
W
Exposure:
Shade or Partial Shade - some
take Full Sun
Foliage
Color:
Asoorted
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Prefers moisture retentive
soils but tolerates it dry
Features:
Huge tropical
foliage resembling elephant
ears is outstanding in the landscape.
Some prefer moisture retentive
soils and others will tolerate
it dry. A must in every landscape!
Companions:
Yellow
Flag Iris, Horsetail Grass,
Bee Balms, Swamp Hibiscus, Calla
Lilies, Swamp Sunflower, and
other plants that prefer moisture
retentive soils.
Name:
Autumn
Fern
Botanical:
Height
x Width:
18-30" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage
Color:
Dark Green with Orange new
growth
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Most are drought tolerant
Features:
The young fronds
of this evergreen fern are orange-copper
colored and contrast nicely
with the green mature foliage.
Very adaptable and easily grown
in a wide range of weel-drained
soils.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Fern
'Japanese Painted'
Botanical:
Athyrium
Height
x Width:
18-24" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage
Color:
Soft Grey edged in Dark Green
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low
Features:
Soft, light
greyish-white fronds contrast
nicely with plants around it.
Companions:
Combines
exceptionally well with Blue
Hosta, Pink Astilbe, Heuchera
Palace Purple, Oakleaf Hydrangea,
and Vinca Minor as groundcover,
as well as all other shade loving
plants and trees.
Name:
Tassel
Fern
Botanical:
Height
x Width:
24" H x 24"
W
Exposure:
Shade
Foliage
Color:
Dark Green - evergreen
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low to moderate
Features:
Glossy dark
green fronds are evergreen and
form a coarse-textured, rounded
rosette. Prehistoric perennial
Fern that prefers rich loamy
soil.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Heucheras
Botanical:
Heuchera
Height
x Width:
12-18" H
x 12-18" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
More known for its colorful
foliage!
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low once established
Features:
Heucheras are quickly gaining
in popularity as they add outstanding,
unique texture and color to
the shady garden.
Companions:
All other shade
perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Name:
Hosta
Lilies
Botanical:
Hosta
Height
x Width:
2-3' H x 2-3'
W
Exposure:
Shade
Foliage
Color:
Variegated, Blue, and Golden
Bloom:
White or Lavender in Spring
or Summer
Water:
Low
Features:
The bold foliage, textures,
and colors of Hosta Lilies make
them a must in every shade garden
in the South.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Hosta
Lily 'Sum and Substance'
Botanical:
Hosta
Height
x Width:
3' H x 3' W
Exposure:
Tolerates sun or shade well.
Bloom
Color:
Lavender
Bloom
Time:
Summer
Water:
Low
Features:
The most sun
tolerant Hosta we know of. Huge
leaves of lime green light up
the garden. As well as in the
shade garden we use this one
alot under low windows in partially
shaded foundation plantings.
A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions:
Ferns,
Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogowwods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Lamiums
Botanical:
Lamium
Height
x Width:
6-8" H x
8' W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
White, Pink, or Purple
Bloom
Time:
Spring into Summer
Water:
Average
Features:
Outstanding
silver-white foliage edged in
green contrasts beautifully
with the pink flowers and other
plants nearby in the garden.
Companions:
Ferns,
Hosta Lilies, Helleborus, Bleeding
Hearts, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogowwods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Lenton
Rose
Botanical:
Helleborus orientalis
Height
x Width:
12-15" H
x 12" W - spreads by seed
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Assorted
Bloom
Time:
February to May
Water:
Low
Features:
The beautiful nodding flowers
are nestled among the foliage
of this excellent filler in
the shade garden.
Companions:
All other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Lily
of The Valley
Botanical:
Convallaria majalis
Height
x Width:
6'8" H x
12" W - spreading
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
White - fragrant
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Average
Features:
Fragrant, dainty,
white bell-shaped flowers followed
by striking orange berries.
Dark green oval shaped leaves
emerge in spring and spread
under large trees.
Companions:
Ferns,
Hosta Lilies, Helleborus, Bleeding
Hearts, Lamium, Vinca Minor,
Toad Lilies, Peonies, Oakleaf
Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas,
Azaleas, Dogowwods, Redbud Trees,
and other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Peonies
Botanical:
Paeonia
Height
x Width:
24-30" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Afternoon Shade s recommended
in the South
Bloom
Color:
Assorted
Bloom
Time:
May-June
Water:
Average
Features:
The flowers
of Peonies are unrivaled in
beauty! Very large, single to
double flowers, some fragrant,
and some good for cutting, are
produced atop sturdy stems that
rise above dense dark green
clumps of foliage.
Companions:
Ferns,
Hosta Lilies, Lily of The Valley,
Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts,
Lamiastrum, Irish Moss, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Oakleaf
Hydrangeas, Mahonias, Nandinas,
Azaleas, Dogowwods, Redbud Trees,
and other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Toad
Lilies
Botanical:
Tricyrtis
Height
x Width:
18-24" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Assorted
Bloom
Time:
Fall
Water:
Average to moisture retentive
soils
Features:
Curiously spotted,
orchid-like flowers on graceful
plants with arching stems. A
wonderful addition to the shade
garden.
Companions:
Other
plants that prefer shade. Put
this one close to the edge for
easy viewing.
Name:
Vinca
Minor - Periwinkle
Botanical:
Vinca minor
Height
x Width:
2-4" H -
Space 18-24" apart
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Lilac
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low once established
Features:
Ground-hugging,
trailing evergreen vine becomes
covered in Spring with lilac
periwinkle flowers. Useful as
a groundcover in the shade perennial
garden as Hostas will pop right
thru it in Spring, shady foundation
plantings, and under the canopy
of trees.
Companions:
All
shade loving perennials plants,
shrub, and trees.