Filling container gardens or landscaping with shade-loving plants can be seem daunting, but choosing a mixture of flowering plants and ones with a variety of different foliage can turn the shadiest patches of your garden into charming and beautiful areas that just might become your favorite.
Now, I hate to say it, but I don’t have very many shady spots in my garden or flower beds. But my mom, who I might add has the world’s greenest thumb on the planet, has an abundance of both sunny and shady areas where she can plant just about anything she wants. To show off her talent, I thought I would showcase her dazzling display.
She’s chosen hostas and coleus which are two easy-to-grow plants that provide beautiful foliage. Coleus is an annual that comes in just about any color you desire. You can find it in different combinations of yellow, red, burgundy and green. The leaves come in all different sizes and shapes, so you can choose whichever is right to help dress up you space. It can also be planted in both beds and in containers.
Hostas have striking, wide foliage and, like coleus, come in different sizes and in assorted shades of green. Unlike coleus though, hostas are perennials so they will come back year after year, making it easier to tend to your flower beds in the spring.
It is good to choose a mixture of different plants that complement each other with varying textures. So this year, mom has paired coleus with begonias in a nearby pot.
All annuals and don’t require as much attention as petunias because they don’t need to be pinched. Make sure you plant them when there is not risk of frost…like me, they hate to be cold!
No matter what you decide to plant in the shade, have fun mixing it up! And if you don’t like it, you can always change around next year.
Please leave your comments below, I’d love to hear from you. Until next time, cheers!