A few suggestions for plants that love the shade
Q: My yard is mostly shaded. What perennials can I plant to bring my yard to life?
A: Don't let shade deter you from planting a garden. There are plenty of perennials that will flourish in the beauty of your shade.
Hostas are a common shade plant in Illinois. With many varieties from which to choose, you can't go wrong by including hostas in your shade garden. Some hostas like a bit more sun than others so be sure to read the label when picking hostas for a mostly shaded area.
Some larger hostas that grow well in our area include Blue Angel, Sum and Substance, and Halcyon. If you're looking for variegated hostas, check out Cherry Berry or Great Expectations.
Another versatile perennial is the Tiarella cordifolia, commonly called foamflower. You'll find foamflowers that grow in clumps and others that send out runners that tend to spread across your garden. It really depends on what type of garden you're going for, whether you want a more uniformed look or foamflowers that multiply and spread throughout your garden landscape.
Ferns are another great addition to your shade garden. I love the woodland effect that ferns create in the garden. With so many choices and varieties, you can get varying sizes of ferns, some offering more lacy leaves, such as the lady fern or the Japanese fern with its colorful fronds of green and silver along a red stem.
I also just learned about Aralia cordata Sun King, which has been named a 2020 Perennial Plant of the Year. This perennial loves shade but does need its space as it grows 4 to 6 feet tall and is almost as wide as it is tall. This could be a great focal point in your shade garden, as its leaves are a beautiful bold yellow color that will brighten up a shady spot. This plant will wow you through the season with dainty cream flowers in late summer and dark berries as we move into fall.
Other perennials that work well in the shade include bleeding hearts and heuchera. There are many colorful varieties of heuchera, some in bright lime and some that are deep purple, both of which would add some dimension in color to your shade garden.
Don't let the shade scare you away from gardening. With all the options that are available, start dreaming about spring and get inspired to start designing your shade garden.
— Wendy Reiner
• Provided through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays and Saturdays or (708) 725-2400 on Tuesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.