This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun are not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun. Some want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:

AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras, an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:

Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

"animaux" wrote in message
Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to
the
north!

Purple Palace is not that easy to please here in the north, either. I've
moved my purple leafed ones around a good bit, trying to find a spot they
like. They like shade, especially from the afternoon sun, but if it's too
shady they don't color up well. They are also fussy about moisture.

I've had a good experience with "Eco improved", green leaves, sort of, with
cool colors in the veining. It makes itself at home, and even looks pretty
good throughout the winter. It has a presence.

Lady's mantle is another winner, for me. I love the way the leaves hold
raindrops. It does aestivate in a hot, dry summer; I trim it back and wait
for fresh new foliage.

cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA

In article . net,
"SugarChile" wrote:

"animaux" wrote in message
Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to
the
north!

Purple Palace is not that easy to please here in the north, either. I've
moved my purple leafed ones around a good bit, trying to find a spot they
like. They like shade, especially from the afternoon sun, but if it's too
shady they don't color up well. They are also fussy about moisture.

I experimentally planted one Purple Palace in fairly deep shade with only
indirect morning sun, another was in a somewhat dryer spot with afternoon
sunlight. For the first full year they were not the best looking plants
in their areas by a long shot, & I often considered moving them away from
path edges so they wouldn't be quite so visible, but I didn't move them.
Second year they were reasonably nice plants, but not exceptional, the one
in more sunlight slightly more interesting. But the third year, both
became amazing plants, huge & bushy with fabulous coloration & presence;
the one in deeper shade "caught up" & surprassed the one that gets more
sun. Even their wussy little sprays of inconsequential flowers became
gorgeous, quite bright & long-lasting. Both now achieve equally excellent
colors, whether bit of sun or hardly any they look just stunning, with the
one in shade being more fully evergreen through winter, getting scruffy
only near spring, the one in more light is scruffy earlier in winter
though not a bad presence.

By just being patient with them, I ended up with a couple of great
specimens, even though they came close to being banished to unimportant
areas. I've the sense that they are adaptable to a broad range of
conditions & will EVENTUALLY be good plants but only after their root
system get big, & that could take up to two full seasons of comparative
mediocrity. I later planted "Dale's Strain" heuchera which has fabulous
late-winter bright-orange coloration, is the rest of the year green with
silver motteling. They've only been in the ground one year so like the
"Purple Palace" are not specimen-worthy at this young age, though adequate
& interesting groundcovers; I'm expecting that at the end of their second
year, they'll likewise begin to look exceptional. Though I've not much
experience with a lot of heuchera cultivars, my sense is that the fancier
ones are just slow to reach their ideal appearance & they take their time
becoming awesome.

I last year added tiarellas, which were delightful spring through autumn.
They're supposed to be evergreen but compared to the heucheras their
winter appearance is crappy, for their first winter at least. I'll be
patient with them, they too may be finer plants with each year of growth,
but if they continue always to be beaten-up-looking in winter, I'll
probably never add others but would prefer additional heucheras. There
seem to be about 40 or 50 new cultivars of tiarellas flooded onto the
market, but if truth be told, only three or four strikingy different ones,
the majority all look pretty much the same.

I also looked at some "heucherella" hybrids last year, which were
definitely more to the tiarella side & not much like heucheras in
appearance & I wasn't attracted to them enough to try even one. But they
were young plants & I've never seen a mature specimen of heucherella to
compare. I wonder if anyone here has experience with them & can compare
their performance to heucheras & tiarellas per se when well-established in
a garden.

-paghat the ratgirl

I've had a good experience with "Eco improved", green leaves, sort of, with
cool colors in the veining. It makes itself at home, and even looks pretty
good throughout the winter. It has a presence.

Lady's mantle is another winner, for me. I love the way the leaves hold
raindrops. It does aestivate in a hot, dry summer; I trim it back and wait
for fresh new foliage.

cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

Tony Avent remarked in one of his lectures that he observed a native
heuchera growing in full sun on the side of a rock in the mountains. I
think this is the clue to heucheras - drainage. If they are happy
growing on a rock they must need excellent drainage. Certainly I lose
them to rot more than to anything else.

animaux wrote:

This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun are not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun. Some want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:


AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras, an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:


Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 03:09:50 GMT, Pam wrote:


IMO, the iris looks more like a grass than it does a lot of other irises. It is
grown primarily for its valuable trait of being evergreen and readily adaptable
to dry shade and the brightly colored and long lasting fruit - the flowers are
quite insignifcant as irises go. I grow two different cultivars, too - the
straight species and a variegated one, both produce bright, red orange,
berry-like seeds. Mondo grass - regardless of color - is a great shade
grass-looking plant. The black is just such a striking contrast against anything
in the gold or chartreuse tones. Other than certain species of Carex, there are
really no evergreen grasses for shade. Some really nice deciduous ones, though -
Hakone grass, golden wood rush (Milium). Molinea. They'd add a lot of color
during the growing season.

pam

You sent me some of those irises and from a slip, they now cover about 10 square
feet in very dry shade. Everyone asks me what they are. Their foliage is much
strappier than most irises and yes, they are indeed evergreen. The hakone,
well, we'll see if it returns. It had one sprig last year all year! Maybe it
doesn't like the heat?

V

I don't lose mine, they simply don't look all that well. Could be the
calciferous soils we have in that shade bed. It is very dry under a live oak
with a trunk diameter of 5 feet. They estimate that tree to be 400 years old,
though there's no true way of telling with live oaks based on trunk diameter.


On Fri, 31 Jan 2003 21:01:40 -0500, Pat Brothers
wrote:

Tony Avent remarked in one of his lectures that he observed a native
heuchera growing in full sun on the side of a rock in the mountains. I
think this is the clue to heucheras - drainage. If they are happy
growing on a rock they must need excellent drainage. Certainly I lose
them to rot more than to anything else.

animaux wrote:

This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun are not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun. Some want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:


AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras, an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:


Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

I've got one inherited from my mother that takes full sun here really well,
it probably would take the Texas heat with a bit of afternoon shade. If
you'd like a piece, remind me in the spring - it multiplies really well and
I'll send you a chunk.

Purple palace needs the closest thing I have to full shade in my yard.

Carlotta
Iowa
(we actually made 45 degrees today, and the ground hog didn't see his shadow
!)

"animaux" wrote in message
...
This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun are
not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun. Some
want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to
the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:

AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have
found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to
provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras, an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:

Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with
morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm
planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

I have to replant mine every two or three years. They end up pushing their
crowns above the soil. If I don't dig and divide and replant they die out.
I've got about 6 types - definitely the ones I inherited from my mom are the
most hardy.

Carlotta

"animaux" wrote in message
...
I don't lose mine, they simply don't look all that well. Could be the
calciferous soils we have in that shade bed. It is very dry under a live
oak
with a trunk diameter of 5 feet. They estimate that tree to be 400 years
old,
though there's no true way of telling with live oaks based on trunk
diameter.


On Fri, 31 Jan 2003 21:01:40 -0500, Pat Brothers
wrote:

Tony Avent remarked in one of his lectures that he observed a native
heuchera growing in full sun on the side of a rock in the mountains. I
think this is the clue to heucheras - drainage. If they are happy
growing on a rock they must need excellent drainage. Certainly I lose
them to rot more than to anything else.

animaux wrote:

This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun
are not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun.
Some want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe
try Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported
to the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:


AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have
found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to
provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras,
an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:


Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I
need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with
morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm
planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

Sure, I'd like a piece of your garden in my garden! Is there anything I can
trade for? Do you like or need any canna's? I have 'Tropicana' 'Pretoria' aka
'Phaison' and common green with yellow flowers.


On Sun, 2 Feb 2003 21:04:42 -0600, "CWilde" wrote:

I've got one inherited from my mother that takes full sun here really well,
it probably would take the Texas heat with a bit of afternoon shade. If
you'd like a piece, remind me in the spring - it multiplies really well and
I'll send you a chunk.

Purple palace needs the closest thing I have to full shade in my yard.

Carlotta
Iowa
(we actually made 45 degrees today, and the ground hog didn't see his shadow
!)

"animaux" wrote in message
.. .
This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun are
not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun. Some
want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported to
the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:

AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have
found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!) are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to
provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras, an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:

Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with
morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm
planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden (no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

I've only tried cannas once with such poor success, I was disappointed. But
they were given in the fall as tubers, and I think my basement was way too
warm, and they were pretty shriveled roots by spring, I was not successful.
I'd love too trade with you, I'd like to try a healthy canna in a pot next
spring. I know very little about cannas, the most common around here are
dark green with red flowers, what does the Pretoria look like? I'm redoing
my back yard, remodeling last spring added a deck, and I'd like to do a
different somewhat junglely look.

Carlotta

"animaux" wrote in message
...
Sure, I'd like a piece of your garden in my garden! Is there anything I
can
trade for? Do you like or need any canna's? I have 'Tropicana'
'Pretoria' aka
'Phaison' and common green with yellow flowers.


On Sun, 2 Feb 2003 21:04:42 -0600, "CWilde" wrote:

I've got one inherited from my mother that takes full sun here really
well,
it probably would take the Texas heat with a bit of afternoon shade. If
you'd like a piece, remind me in the spring - it multiplies really well
and
I'll send you a chunk.

Purple palace needs the closest thing I have to full shade in my yard.

Carlotta
Iowa
(we actually made 45 degrees today, and the ground hog didn't see his
shadow
!)

"animaux" wrote in message
.. .
This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun
are
not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun.
Some
want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe
try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported
to
the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:

AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have
found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period
if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!)
are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to
provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras,
an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:

Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I
need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I
am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with
morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm
planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern
VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden
(no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja

Here is a photo:

http://www.cannas.net/pages/pretorspec.htm

I made an error in my post. 'Tropicana' and 'Phaison' are the same plant.



On Wed, 5 Feb 2003 19:12:04 -0600, "CWilde" wrote:

I've only tried cannas once with such poor success, I was disappointed. But
they were given in the fall as tubers, and I think my basement was way too
warm, and they were pretty shriveled roots by spring, I was not successful.
I'd love too trade with you, I'd like to try a healthy canna in a pot next
spring. I know very little about cannas, the most common around here are
dark green with red flowers, what does the Pretoria look like? I'm redoing
my back yard, remodeling last spring added a deck, and I'd like to do a
different somewhat junglely look.

Carlotta

"animaux" wrote in message
.. .
Sure, I'd like a piece of your garden in my garden! Is there anything I
can
trade for? Do you like or need any canna's? I have 'Tropicana'
'Pretoria' aka
'Phaison' and common green with yellow flowers.


On Sun, 2 Feb 2003 21:04:42 -0600, "CWilde" wrote:

I've got one inherited from my mother that takes full sun here really
well,
it probably would take the Texas heat with a bit of afternoon shade. If
you'd like a piece, remind me in the spring - it multiplies really well
and
I'll send you a chunk.

Purple palace needs the closest thing I have to full shade in my yard.

Carlotta
Iowa
(we actually made 45 degrees today, and the ground hog didn't see his
shadow
!)

"animaux" wrote in message
.. .
This house we bought has plenty of shade and sun! It's a very delicate
balancing act I must do. I find even some plants said to be full sun
are
not
full sun in Texas heat. Plants which need shade, want morning sun.
Some
want
none. I have not been able to get that balance together, yet.

Heuchera is a plant I can't keep looking good. Maybe if I went back to
the
species instead of the more burgundy foliage, newer varieties. Maybe
try
Lady's
Mantle this year. 'Purple Palace' sits there begging to be transported
to
the
north!


On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 15:33:35 GMT, Pam wrote:

AFAIC, every shade plant is a must!! For some practical info, I have
found
that astrantias will bloom much more heavily and for a longer period
if
placed in more sun - all of mine (9 varieties - I like these guys!)
are
located in only partial shade, perhaps 4 hours of sun.

Since the planting you describe is pretty much entirely herbaceous
perennials, I'd consider adding something a little more evergreen to
provide
winter interest. Perhaps some Iris foetidissima, additional heucheras,
an
evergreen shade grass and some EG ferns and maybe a hellebore or two?

pam - gardengal



Suja wrote:

Before I actually order these plants and put them in the ground, I
need
a reality check from those who have actual experience with them. I
am
putting in a shade bed in front of the house (North facing, with
morning
sun in the summer), and this is my short list of the plants I'm
planning
on getting. The soil is clay (but amended), zone 6b/7a, Northern
VA.
If I have left out anything that is a MUST HAVE for a shade garden
(no
hostas please, deer problem; much as I'd love to have Brunnera 'Jack
Frost', I can't afford it right now), please let me know.

Short
Epimedium Sulphureum
Heuchera 'Persian Carpet'
Dicentra Exima 'Snowdrift'
Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Medium
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
Anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
Thelypteris Kunthii
Tricyrtis hirta

Tall
Fallopia Japonica 'variegata'
Thalictrum Aquil. Purpureum
Lobelia Cardinalis 'Ruby Slipper'
Cimicifuga racemosa

Thanks much,
Suja