Best Ground Covers for Shade
Shade-tolerant ground covers are low maintenance plants that thrive in cool, moist areas. They can grow where lawn grasses often struggle, and are unfazed by difficult terrain. Most are long-lived perennials that become more beautifulRead More
Sun Tolerant Caladiums
The caladium’s showy, often brightly colored foliage provides summer-long beauty in hot and humid climates where many other plants struggle. Their good looks and reliability make them a popular choice for shady yards and gardens. With the arrivalRead More
How to Use Ferns in Your Garden or Landscape
Walk through almost any natural area that is shady and moist, and you are bound to see ferns. These ubiquitous native plants carpet the ground in woodlands and wetlands. They gather aroundRead More
What’s Your Favorite Hosta?
If you grow hostas, you probably have more than one variety in your garden. Mixing and matching foliage colors, leaf sizes and textures is part of what makes them soRead More
12 Best Companion Plants for Hostas
Hostas have no trouble holding their own in a shady garden. Yet there are many other shade loving perennials that make excellent companions. By adding their own contrasting colors, shapes, heightsRead More
How to Make Your Shade Garden Shine
If your yard is shadier than you’d like, you may feel a bit jealous of gardeners with lots of sun. But a shade garden offers some unique design opportunities. Here areRead More
Sun or Shade: How Sunlight Affects Plants
Some plants are not fussy about whether they are planted in sun or shade, but most have a preference. When a plant doesn’t thrive, the problem may be either too much or tooRead More
7 Tips for Growing Hostas
Hostas are the go-to perennial for shady gardens, and for good reason. These rugged plants live for decades and require virtually no attention. Rake away the old leaves in spring andRead More
Tuberous Begonias: How and When to Start Them Indoors
For bold summer color in a shady yard, it’s hard to beat tuberous begonias. These lush, tropical plants ask very little, yet bloom so prolifically. Their elegant, rose-like flowers dress up any outdoorRead More
Best Perennials for Spring Gardens
If you have a perennial garden, you probably know all too well that coordinating bloom times is a tricky business. I’m quite sure I’ll still be working on it in my next life!Read More
