Shade Garden Color & Texture Combinations. Planting Shade Perennials.

Creating a lush and inviting shade garden involves selecting plants that thrive in low-light conditions and combining them in aesthetically pleasing ways. Here are some key tips and plant recommendations for a beautiful shade garden:

1. Repeat Colors: Use consistent colors throughout the garden to unify the space. For example, combine pink and white astilbe with pink bigleaf hydrangea for a cohesive look.
2. Creative Color Echo: Pair plants with matching or complementary colors in their flowers and foliage, such as BabyWing® Pink begonia with pink polka dot plant and burgundy leaves of Plum Dandy™ alternanthera.
3. Texture Contrast: Mix plants with different textures to create visual interest, like the strappy foliage of EverColor® ‘Everillo’ sedge with the ruffled edges of ColorBlaze® Wicked Witch™ coleus.
4. Low Maintenance: Choose plants that require minimal care, such as foamflower, painted fern, and heuchera, which offer seasonal interest without much upkeep.
5. Pollinator-Friendly: Incorporate plants that attract pollinators, such as bleeding heart and Brunnera, to support the local ecosystem.
6. Foliage Focus: Use plants with interesting leaves to create a dynamic garden even when flowers are not in bloom. Mix dragon head bamboo, variegated hosta, and Japanese painted fern for a striking display.

• Coleus: Known for its vibrant foliage, it thrives in rich, well-draining soil with some morning sun.
• Japanese Forest Grass: A low-growing grass that lights up dark areas with its golden or variegated leaves.
• Deadnettle: A groundcover with multi-seasonal foliage and spring blooms, perfect for brightening shaded areas.
• Foamflower: A woodland plant with delicate flowers and colorful foliage.
• Astilbe: Offers showy flower plumes in summer, thriving in moist, rich soil.
• Hydrangea: Popular for its large, colorful blooms, prefers more bright shade.
• Foxglove: Grown for its tall spires of bell-shaped flowers, best in rich, moist soil with partial sun.

By combining these plants thoughtfully, you can create a vibrant and diverse shade garden that thrives with minimal sunlight.