By AMY IVY, Cornell Co-op Extension
When I first planted my main perennial garden 27 years ago, there wasn't a single tree in the yard.
We had just bought our house the year before, and I couldn't wait to start gardening. I planted a few shade tree saplings and dug up a small perennial garden.
Where have those 27 years gone?
That small garden has expanded into a long, wide border, and those little saplings are now tall shade trees.
At least half of what used to be a full sun garden is now in dense shade at least half the day.
The sun-loving perennials lean far to the west, reaching for the little bit of sunlight that reaches them in the late afternoon.
I'm not complaining; I love shade. But I really need to move the remaining sun-loving plants left at the shady end into a sunnier location. And I need to find some interesting shade-loving plants to replace them.
CONSIDER FOLIAGE
Sun-loving perennials are wonderful. The ones I chose are big and full of brilliant-colored blooms that really make a show.
Phlox, heliopsis, daisies, rudbeckias, Echinacea, sedum and aster are just some of them.
But the shady section of my garden needs some work.
The beauty of this type of garden is more subtle, but it can be very pleasing as well.
Since any perennial is in bloom for only a few weeks at best, its always a good idea to consider the look of a plant's foliage, since that's what you'll be seeing the most.
Even in sunny garden, I like to mix spikey leaved iris with broader leaved peonies. Consider also the leaf colors since many varieties come in a wide range of colors and variegations now.
If your shady garden is looking a little dull right now, too, here are some plants that I've used or am looking to add to my garden that you might want to consider for yours.
Coral bells (or Heuchera) has been one of my favorite perennials for a long time. They don't have pest or disease problems; their dainty flowers are on long, wiry stems, making them good for arrangements; and the leaves of the newer cultivars come in all sorts of colors and patterns.
Our Master Gardener volunteers planted Heuchera Raspberry Ice by our front door, and it's just beautiful. The flowers are a shade of raspberry, and the leaves have a striking pattern of light and dark shades of purple.
LACY TEXTURE
The leaves of Amber Wavescoral bells are a beautiful shade that's hard to describe, sort of a rusty pink. I don't even care about the flowers on this plant; the foliage provides interest all summer long at the front of my garden.
Astilbes have long been the traditional shade garden plant, and it's easy to see why. They don't have any pest or disease problems that I know of; their leaves have a beautiful lacy texture all season; their flowers are gorgeous plumes of white, pink or red; and even the seed heads are showy in the garden. There are many, many varieties of astilbe, in all different heights, so a few would fit in any part of your shade or semi-shade garden.
This is just a start. Other perennials to consider include Lamium White Nancy, giant Solomans seal, and, of course, any of the many types of hosta.
Amy Ivy is executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Clinton County. Office phone numbers: Clinton County 561-7450, Essex County 962-4810, Franklin County 483-7403. Web site: www.cce.cornell.edu/ecgardening. E-mail questions to askMG@cornell.edu
