Plants that are made in the shade

Dave Robson

The list of garden plants available to Illinois gardeners, including trees, shrubs and perennial, biennial and annual flowers, runs into the thousands. Of course, not all plants are hardy throughout the state. Those residents fortunate to live in the bottom third have a few hundred more plants from which to select.

When landscaping, the vast majority of plants thrive in full sun. Flowering trees and shrubs tend to peak when exposed to at least eight hours of sunlight per day during the growing season.

Growing plants in the shade is more difficult. The number of shade-loving plants is somewhat limited, though maybe not as low as most people think. Many plants will grow in the shade but fail to bloom adequately. Forsythia and lilac are examples; since neither of these plants are attractive without blooms, it doesn't make much sense to try to grow them in the shade.

Similarly, bearded iris won't bloom in the shade. Yet the flat, silvery green, fan-shaped foliage gives a nice contrast to many shade plants. You also won't have to divide the plants as often.

Few garden plants grow in deep shade, with the exception of some ferns and hostas. However, most homeowners do deal with 100 percent shade. Morning, evening, filtered or reflected sunlight provide enough light for so-called shade plants to grow.

Some shade plants won't thrive in the sun; like many fair-skinned people, they'll sunburn if exposed to too much sunlight. In some cases, shade plants prefer the root system to be shaded or kept cool. Redbuds and dogwoods fall into this category as understory, or forest-fringe trees.

Below is a list of shade loving woody ornamentals to provide some height in shady areas, or to underplant beneath large trees. The list isn't all-encompassing. Scientific names are included since common names may vary between locales. Remember when planting to avoid disturbing large masses of the root system.

Small deciduous trees

Acer ginnala (Amur maple)
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam - dense shade)
Cercis canadensis (Redbud)
Chionanthes virginicum(White Fringe Tree)
Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda Dogwood)
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood)
Halesia Carolina (Carolina silverbell)

Deciduous shrubs

Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush buckeye)
Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)
Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)
Calycanthus floridus (Common Sweetshrub)
Clethra ainifolia (Summersweet Clethra)
Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla)
Hamamelis vernalis (Vernal witchhazel)
Hibiscus syriacus (Rose-of-Sharon)
Hydrangea paniculata "Tardiva" (Tardiva hydrangea)
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea vine)
Kerria japonica (Japanese Kerria)
Ilex verticillata (Common Winterberry holly)
Myrica pennsylvanica (Baybeny)
Philadelphus coronarius (Sweet Mockorange)
Potentilla fruticosa (Potentilla, bush cinquefoil)
Rhus aromatica "Grow Low" ("Grow Low" sumac)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood viburnum)
Viburnum lantana (Wayfaringtree)
Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw viburnum)
Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush)

Evergreens

Ilex crenata 'Border Gem' (Border Gem Holly)
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregongrapeholly)
Pierisjaponica (Japanese Pieris)
Pinus mugho mugho (Dwarf mugho pine)
Taxus spp. (Yews)
Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock)

Rhododendrons

"Boule de Neige"
Exbury Hybrids
  "Karen's"
   "Northern Light" series
   "PJM"
  "Yaku Princess"

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: 217-782-6515. E-Mail: robsond@idea. ag. uiuc. edu

16 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • MAY 1996