Shades of color

Gardeners often lament their shady landscapes. They believe there is little hope to create gorgeous gardens without the sun's rays assiduously stroking plants. I am fortunate to live on an acre where there are areas in full sun and others in shade; but if forced to choose between the two, I would choose shade.

Shade gardening is a gentler, kinder sort of gardening. Because foliage plays a major role, there is less dead-heading. Weeds are a minor annoyance instead of sworn enemies. You can work in your shade garden in the middle of summer without breaking a sweat. And while gardening of any kind can be therapeutic, the shade garden is a special place for contemplation.

There are many beautiful perennials that flourish in the shade. When asked to choose the top 10 perennials for shade gardens, I turned to some shady characters on staff at The Planter's Palette to help with my selections. Thanks to Maria Dvorak, Shirley Knetter, Pamela Matus, and Barb Richards for their comments.

Hostas

We all agreed there must be hostas in a shade garden, but couldn't concur on exactly which cultivars. Top vote-getters were Blue Angel, Maui Buttercups and Touch of Class. Blue Angel is a classic, large hosta with thick blue leaves. Touch of Class is a distinctive, medium-sized hosta boasting blue leaves with gold centers. Maui Buttercups is a small hosta with bright gold, cupped and corrugated foliage. Plant these three together for a foliage combination as colorful as any blooming perennial grouping basking in the sun.

Ferns

We also agreed that ferns should be included in a shade garden, but once again debated over exactly which variety was best. Dvorak and Richards chose a newer variety, Dres Dagger, because of the unique dagger shape of its fronds. Matus lauded the rigid, upright form and silvery fronds of Ghost.

Knetter recommended any of her three favorites: Christmas fern, Male fern, and Crispa Cristata. My personal favorite: Maidenhair ferns. I love their shiny, black stems and light green leaflets. Although they are slow to establish, they are worth the wait.

Sedges

Don't forget to include sedges in your shade garden. They form low, tufted clumps of grasslike, semi-evergreen foliage that contrasts nicely with many other perennials. Snowline and Blue Sedge won top honors in this category. Snowline is a variegated variety; Blue Sedge has steel blue foliage. Both are ideal partners for large-leaved perennials like hostas or coral bells.

Coral bells

Coral bells were another unanimous pick, and we all love Obsidian. Its sensual, deep purple, silky leaves hold their color well into winter. Pair it with pink-flowered neighbors and the dark foliage will make the pink flowers pop. Partner it with a blue hosta for a cool-color combo, or plant it next to a gold hosta in a sizzling set.

Bugbane

Richards and Matus chose bugbanes. Matus believes Pink Spike is the best choice because it is more vigorous and holds its color better in shade than other purple-leaved bugbanes. Its foliage grows 3 feet tall and pink, fragrant flower clusters appear above the foliage in July through September. Richards' top pick was the more common Atropurpurea. Make this plant happy and it will reach 7 feet tall. Sturdy purple stems hold ivory-colored bottlebrushes of fragrant flowers that light up the shade in September and October.

Lenten rose

Lenten rose is near the top of Knetter's list. She appreciates its nodding blooms in April that remain beautiful as they dry on the plant. She also values its dark green foliage that stays attractive until the harshness of winter finally takes it toll.

Grapeleaf anemone

Richards loves grapeleaf anemone in a shade garden. She loves the late-season color of its pink flowers and thinks it is most beautiful when planted en masse. Grapeleaf anemone grows up to 3 feet tall.

Yellow corydalis

"Corydalis lutea spreads happily through a shade garden," reports Dvorak, "I love how it gives the garden a natural look." Yellow corydalis is one of those rare plants that truly blooms from May to October with small, bright yellow, tubular flowers in clusters above delicate-looking foliage.

False forget-me-not

False forget-me-not is a staple in the shade garden. Its clouds of light blue flowers bloom an incredibly long time -- six weeks or more -- in April through June. The deep green coarse leaves are a good textural contrast to smaller-foliaged or variegated perennials.

European ginger

European ginger is another must-have plant for the shade garden. It has shiny, evergreen leaves that slowly form a luxurious carpet. Although considered a ground cover, it creeps instead of leaps -- use it more like any other perennial.

Design

With these 10 plants alone you can have a beautiful shade garden. Just choose a few hostas and ferns, and decide on your favorite sedge and coral bells for attractive foliage all season long.

There will be something in bloom from April to October. The Lenten rose and false forget-me-not will give you spring bloom, yellow corydalis will bloom all season, and the bugbane and grapeleaf anemone will provide color at the end of the season.

These 10 plants also provide a pleasing contrast to each other. Texturally, some of the plants have fine foliage; some have bold foliage, and sedges have linear leaves. European ginger has smooth shiny leaves; false forget-me-not has coarse foliage. Some of the plants grow stiffly upright; some are mounding.

Think about the layers of a satisfying perennial border. Some plants should reach for the sky -- the bugbane and grapeleaf anemone will perform this job admirably. Some should hug the ground -- the European ginger will happily play this role. Many will form the middle layer.

Don't mourn over the lack of sunshine in your landscape. Choose the right plants and rejoice in all the benefits of a shade garden!