In article , Christine
O'Meally wrote:

I have a window box that's in virtual darkness that I have not been very
successful with.... I hate planting that many annuals every year, it
seems like a waste. And then in the winter, it just looks awful to have
nothing in it, but to tell you the truth, I do nothing outside after the
temperature drops below 40 degrees (and I'm in zone 5, so that means
pretty much from late October on). So I thought it might be nice to put
in some dwarf or midget conifers as the primary plant and then fill in
with annuals or something else. BUT the garden center had some lovely
midget mugho pines, Alberta spruce and arborvitae, but they all said
"full sun." I've had some other "full sun" plants that have done well
in other parts of my property that are part-shade (sedum, for one) and
was wondering if these would die if I put them in there....

If this is a really bad idea, does anyone have any ideas (pictures would
be nice) for creating a shady window box? The space is huge - about 7'
long.

Chris O'Meally

Hellebores can be grown down to zone 5, they like bright shade, & can
tolerate a little bit of droughtiness which container plants all too often
experience. In my area (zone 8) the umbrella-leaves are evergreen through
winter, though I cut them off about the time it is starting to bloom. Your
area's so much colder I don't know if they'd be so evergreen though.

A windowbox of shade-lovin' wintergreen mini-shrubs would be lovely & they
would definitely be fully evergreen in your zone, & take very little care
to flourish. Flowers are small but very pretty, & bright red berries
numerous, long lasting, & showy.

-paghat the ratgirl
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