Shady characters like heuchera, astilbe and Lamium bring the color and pizzazz to landscapes where the sunshine may be shy. With a variety of available colors and styles, there’s no limit on choice when it comes to shade plants for height, color and texture. Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of shade plants for diverse applications in Midwest landscapes. For your projects, consider the following.
Variegated Liriope (Liriopemuscari ‘Variegata’)
Variegated Liriope
Also called variegated lilyturf, this perennial is distinctive for its yellow stripes on the edges of its blades. Late in the summer, Liriope produces spikes of deep purple flowers. It is rabbit, deer and drought resistant. Variegated Liriope prefers well-drained soil and water well until it is established. Plant in partial shade.
A great choice as a border or accent plant, this ornamental grass has an upright habit in the landscape. Due to its compact size, it is perfect in smaller areas and urban gardens. At maturity, Variegated Liriope is just over 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. Plant in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 11.
Yellow River Hosta (Hosta ‘Yellow River’)
Yellow River Hosta
Bright yellow edges contrast with rich green foliage in this shade-loving hosta. Yellow River Hosta is a dense herbaceous perennial with a mounded habit. It produces airy spikes of white tubular flowers in summer. Use it in the landscape as ground cover beneath trees, en masse as foundation plantings and as accents in the front of perennial borders.
Compact, Yellow River Hosta grows to only about 2 feet tall at maturity. Its flower spikes reach 3 feet high. Spread is 4 feet. It tolerates a variety of soil conditions but prefers moist roots. Plant this hosta in USDA Hardiness Zone 3. Loma Vista Nursery also grows Patriot Hosta (Hosta x ‘Patriot’), Guacamole Hosta (Hosta x ‘Guacamole’), Francee Hosta (Hosta x ‘Francee’) and Rainforest Sunrise Hosta (Hosta x ‘Rainforest Sunrise’).
Carnival Watermelon Heuchera (Heuchera x ‘Carnival Watermelon’)
Carnival Watermelon Heuchera
Perfect in shade in summer! Carnival Watermelon Heuchera is the color of watermelon during the growing season, then turns bronze in fall. Low maintenance and easy to grow, this herbaceous perennial has white flower panicles above a mounded form. It prefers filtered sun, partial sun and partial shade.
Carnival Watermelon Heuchera is moderate growing. Foliage reaches about 1 foot tall and wide, making it ideal in containers, as ground cover and in borders and mass plantings. Water regularly and more often when planted in containers and during hot temperatures. Plant in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. Loma Vista Nursery also grows Carnival Rose Granita Heuchera (Heuchera x ‘Carnival Rose Granita’), Carnival Cocomint Heuchera (Heuchera x ‘Carnival Cocomint’) and this blog’s cover photo, Caramel Heuchera (Heuchera x ‘Caramel’).
Vision in Red Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Red’)
Vision in Red Astilbe
Vision in Red Astilbe adds fragrance and vibrant color to partial, dappled and full shade spaces. Foliage is deep green. Seed heads provide winter interest. For a real color wow, plant en masse. Add astilbe to borders and cutting gardens.
Vision in Red Astilbe is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial that tolerates acidic and wet soils, heat and extreme cold. It is drought tolerant. At maturity, astilbe reaches a maximum of 2 feet tall and wide. Plant in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. Loma Vista Nursery also grows creamy Vision in White Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in White’) and bright Vision in Pink Astilbe (Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Pink’).
Purple Dragon Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’)
Purple Dragon Dead Nettle
Silver-white leaves with green edges and deep purple flowers in summer produce a dazzling visual effect in this gorgeous ground cover. Purple Dragon Dead Nettle brings the eye directly to shady areas whether in the garden or in the container.
An herbaceous perennial, Purple Dragon Dead Nettle requires filtered sun or partial to full shade to thrive. It also needs evenly moist soil, so water it regularly and apply all-purpose plant food. Fast growing, this dead nettle reaches 6 inches to 1 foot tall at maturity and spreads 1.5 to 2 feet wide. Use it in the landscape to define borders and provide accent color to water garden plantings. Plant in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 10.
Learn More About Plants from Loma Vista Nursery!
Loma Vista Nursery’s staff members are experts in the field. We love helping people learn and understand more about healthy plants that perform well in Midwest landscapes. For more information, visit our plant catalog. Feel free to email us at sales@lomavistanursery.com or call us at (785) 229-7200 to get answers to your plant-related questions.
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