A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Looking for suggestions

Hi all.

My friend moved into a new house a few years ago and is now wanting to do something about the yards.

The back yard is mostly shade due to some very large trees and bushes. And I don't think she is going to be able to get rid of them any time soon. It will get a few hours of mid-morning sun.

She likes all colors especially White, Purple, and Yellow. And since she is a new gardener with a new baby we are looking for easy care and drought tolerant.

The last owner was a gardener and the soil is still in amazing shape. I wish my soil was that good.

So far she likes

Iresine
Delphinium
Ballon flower
Veronica

Can you please add to the list some?

These are all in my shade garden

Hosta (Plantation lily)not much for flowers but some amazing foliage
Astilbe (comes in at least 3 or 4 different colors)
Bleeding Heart
Lupine

I have some primroses in a shady area of my garden under huge evergreen trees - they come in all sorts of colors incl yellow.
Also try yellow loosestrife - has small yellow flowers - this is in the same area, only with a bit more sun.
Catmint will grow just about anywhere - and has purple flowers.
Good luck!

How about Jacobs Ladder and Ligularia

Thank you for the suggestions.

hydrangea love shade. also some clematis would do well in the conditions she's got in her yard.

ferns do well in shade. hosta's. there's a viney/ground cover that is has yellow leaves - can't think of the name of it right now tho...

there are a large variety of geranium - some do well in shade, all of them flower (come in reds, whites, pink, purples) and some have variegated leaves - i've got one with yellow/green/white leaves that has a pink flower. i'll get the name of it for you when i go home tonight.

some peony's do okay in shade - they come in bushes as well as trees. colors are pinks, reds purples, whites. i think there might even be yellows too.