milos-garden:

wildestdreamsgardens:

SHADE GARDEN TEXTURES:

Many shapes, colors, sizes, textures and leaf patterns can be combined to great effect in the shade garden.

Rodgersia pinnata (bronze spring foliage and green summer leaves)

Filipendula ulmaria aurea

Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair fern)

Heuchera a.  Amethyst Myst

Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’

Hosta ‘Gold Standard’

Geranium ‘Brookside’

Hosta ‘Blue Cadet’

Athyrium niponicum ‘Silver Falls’ (Japanese painted fern)

Asarum canadensis (Canadian wild ginger)

Polygonatum odoratum var. Variegatum

‘Herman’s Pride’ was something I almost bought this spring but then decided to research more because obviously anything in the mint family can be crazy/invasive. Reviews said it was OK. Went back and it was gone. That’s what I get for being Hamlet … or not having a smart phone with me at the nursery.

Filipendula – I’m trying something new called ‘Red Umbrellas’ this spring. Bold red veining on all the growth and then the usual airy pink flowers later on. Promises not to be as invasive as F. rubra. Can’t stand those running roots.

Ligularia is probably the most exciting area of texture/colour development these days. ‘Café Noir’, ‘Osiris Fantaisie’ and ‘Dragon Wing’s are all worth checking out.