Get ideas for making your yard more beautiful with tips from a self-taught shade gardener in Minnesota.
The space lives large, even though her lot is only two-thirds of an acre.
Learn how Jane chooses and cares for her shade-friendly perennials in the following slides.
Beds ofhostaand yellowCorydalis lutea,(one of her favorite plants) flank the charming walkway.
Blue hosta varieties stand out against the yellowCorydalisblooms, while chartreuse selections complement the dainty blossoms.
Plant En Masse
Most plants look best when planted in large groups.
For a similar look, opt forsweet woodruff, another fine-textured groundcover that’s ideal for shade.
It has fragrant white flowers that bloom in early May.
Lovelypurple sweet potato vineand grassyspider plantcomplete the ensemble.
To save money, Jane recommends digging the crotons up each fall and bringing them indoors for the winter.
Create Contrast
Use plants with textural foliage to create harmony in the landscape.
However, you’re free to also employ plants for the same effect!
Here, Jane used a swath of burgundy coleus to draw the eye among gold and green foliage.
Jane paired theOxaliswith Japanese painted fern, which has burgundy tones in its fronds.
Spottedlungwortties into the silvery fern fronds, and big-leafPetasitesoffers fun contrast with its large leaves.
Mix and Match Vessels
A grouping of pots is always a sure design bet.
Here, Jane mixes sizes and shapes but kept a blue color theme.
A set of globes adds artistic interest.
Stop Mowing Slopes
Hostas are a topnotch groundcover for shady areas.
Plant them on a tough-to-mow hillside to create a lovely, carefree garden bed.
Jane also mixed in delicate maidenhair fern andCorydalisfor texture.
Grow Groundcovers
Add interest to your landscape by using annuals in interesting ways.
Here, ‘Limon’ jewels of opar creates a lovelygroundcover.
It’s a self-seeder, so Jane can let it reappear on its own year after year.
Or, because it’s an annual, she can mulch over it and plant something else.
Purple and burgundy foliage tie the plantings to her backyard and offers plenty of streetside drama.
