Plants for Shady Areas

Q. I would like to know what kind of flower plants that grow well in the shade but little sun?

A. I speak with much experience here! I started out gardening as a kid with a shady backyard and had to do the best with it. Throw in clay soil construction debris tons of woodsy weeds and a black walnut tree and it is amazing how well I did.

Here is what I grew and what I have learned since then in school and general practice. Some are foliage but when we cannot get flowers let's get some color somehow:

Impatiens [great new shades and some have variegated
    foliage so give those more light. Can also use in hanging baskets]
Sultana [roses and reds very nice]
Balsam [huge rose-like flowers do not overwater]
Alyssum [purple lavender white and a new golden]
Coleus [hybridizers have brought out many new colorations that are gorgeous]
Hosta [August lily and others come in white and purple]
Myrtle [vinca minor ground cover which thrives has periwinkle flowers]
Pachystachys [green nice foliage wonderful ground cover for shade]
Twinleaf Jeffersonia [and many other woods wildflowers worth getting a catalog for]
Spring bulbs [tulips crocus daffodil narcissus when the leaves are off the trees]
Daylilies and other lilies [lots of color great blade foliage
    keep wilted flowers off lemon and tiger lilies are my favorites]
Forsythia [yellow spring bloomer nice shrub for summer]
Geraniums [yes some can be grown fairly in shade with a couple hours sun per day]
Trumpet vine Jack-in-the-pulpit [bright orange comes up every year]