Plants & Shrubs for a Shaded Bed

Forget-Me-Not

• The Latin name for this spring-blooming plant is myosotis. Forget-me-nots grow in small clusters that do not reach more than 12 inches, making them an ideal plant for ground cover. The plant produces several small blue, white or pink flowers with five petals. While they can survive in partial sunlight, they do best when they are grown in full shade. The forget-me-not plant is a perennial plant and will give your shade garden attractive color year after year.

Rhododendron

• Rhododendron is from the Ericaceae family of plants and does well in shaded areas that receive filtered sunlight---preferably morning sun and afternoon shade. These evergreen shrubs have deep-green leathery leaves and produce eye-catching blooms in the spring that grow in an array of colors, including white, light pink, deep pink, purple and red. They grow best in a mild, humid environment. While they require moisture, they also need to be planted in well-drained soil, as excessive moisture can destroy their delicate root system. Be sure to plant rhododendron in an area where they have room to grow, as they range in height from 3 feet all the way to 50 feet.

Red Flowering Currant

• Red flowering currant is from the Grossulariaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub that tolerates shade. It can grow to heights in excess of 10 feet and can spread or stand erect. The upper leaves of this shrub are bright green, while the lower leaves are a duller green and appear in midsummer; they may change to red or yellow. During the spring months, pink to deep-red clusters of five to 25 small flowers bloom on the red flowering currant. Dark-blue to black berries are also produced on the red flowering currant shrub and reach maturity during the summer. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil.

Fuchsia

• This genus of perennial flowering plants and shrubs will provide your shade garden with brilliant colors and requires minimal care. Depending on the species, the leaves may be evergreen or deciduous and alternate on the stems. The teardrop-shaped flowers are highly ornamental, with brilliantly colored sepals and petals that range from purple and bright red to white and orange. Small deep-red, deep-purple or reddish-green berries also grow on the shrub. They enjoy damp soil and can grow anywhere from half a foot to more than 13 feet tall.