Change is perhaps the only constant as humans mature and age. While this natural process can bring many unwanted or unwelcomed consequences there are also numerous benefits. Developing a healthy routine, creating stability, and reducing life conflicts are often part of the maturation process. With age comes wisdom is an adage that is actively demonstrated time and time again. Mature adults often have more time to explore interests or hobbies than their younger counterparts. The daily activities of a 70-year-old are often very different than a 30-year-old, and that is a good thing!
Just as we mature, our landscaping does as well. Sometimes that has unwanted or unintended consequences but often there are positive outcomes also. As our plants continue to grow, the environmental conditions in our yard change. Mature trees can help slow strong winds and moderate the temperature fluctuations in our yard by providing shade. What once may be have been a sunny area, may now very well be a shady area due to the height and width of the plants nearby.
Environmental factors such as sun light play a key role in plant development. Plants that do best when planted in full sun, may frequently suffer when over time, the area develops into a part to full shade planting situation. Those plants may benefit from being transplanted to a different area and replaced with plants that do better in the current growing conditions. As our community matures, the trees matures and the environmental conditions change resulting in the need to re-evaluate the growing conditions and in some instances, choose plants that are a better match for the existing conditions. These are a few perennial flowers, ornamental grasses and flowering shrubs that typically do well in a part to full shade growing situation.
Burgundy Glow Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’) This groundcover has foliage that is a mix of pink, white and green colors with a blue flower in the spring. It grows about 8” tall and spread to about 12” wide.
Golden Japanese Spikenard (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) The name Sun King refers to the beautiful bright golden leaves on this tall perennial flower. It grows about 3 ½’ tall and wide. The chartreuse leaves are the main attribute of the plant, although it does have a white flower in the summer.
Fanal Astilbe (Astilbe arendsii ‘Fanal’) Deep red flowers appear in late spring to early summer that complement the burgundy foliage. This Astilbe grows about 24” tall and wide and is rabbit resistant.
Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’) The heart shaped silver leaves make this a truly unique perennial flower. The forget-me-not type blue flowers that appear in the spring often have a special meaning to those who plant them.
Ice Dance Sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’) This semi evergreen ornamental grass spreads by rhizomes. While not invasive, it will definitely fill in an area at a height of 10” and a width of 18”. As an added bonus, it is drought tolerant.
Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘SMNCSBD’) The bright yellow stems on the flowering shrub really stand out during the winter. It boasts white flowers in the spring and reaches a height and width between 4-6’. As with most dogwood, it does best when about 1/3 of the oldest stems are pruned each year.
Valentine Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis ‘Hordival’) The red flowers are a new twist on this traditional perennial flower. It works well when planted with summer blooming perennial flowers. It is beautiful in the spring and then tends to die back during the summer.
Red Barrenwort (Epimedium x rubrum) The delicate heart shaped leaves appear to be dancing on this fine textured groundcover. The red flowers appear in the spring. Does best in moist soil and grows about 10” high and 18” wide. This is a rabbit resistant plant.
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia) This fragrant white spring flowering shrub has beautiful deep purple and orange fall color giving it two seasons of interest. It grows about 3’ tall and wide.
Apple Twist Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Apple Twist’) As with all coral bells, the leaves on this perennial plant are the main attraction. They are chartreuse in color with rippled edges. Apple Twist with grow about 18” tall and wide. This plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Nettle (Lamium maculatum ‘Orchid Frost’) This adaptable low growing perennial flower boasts pink flowers over silver leaves in the spring and again mid-summer. It grows about 10” tall and wide. This attracts butterflies and is rabbit resistant.
Black-leaved Ligularia (Ligularia dentata ‘Britt-Marie Crawford’) The black leaves on this 4’ tall perennial flower are truly stunning. The yellow flowers are good for cutting. It is deer resistant.
Blue Moon Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’) The blue flowers are present from early spring to late summer and are complimented by fine foliage. Tiger swallowtail butterflies find the flowers especially attractive.
Annual flowers, in particular, hanging baskets, are a wonderful way to add color to a shady spot. The Sunflower Garden Club’s Annual Spring Basket Sale is coming up on Saturday, May 10. Be sure to head over to the Sun City Pavilion when the sale opens at 9 a.m. There is a limit of 4 hanging baskets per household and the sale will remain open while the supply lasts. Each basket is priced at $23 and you are able to shop knowing that you are supporting a fantastic organization that does so much for the community.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
