White lightens the deepest shade

Areas of deep shade can be the most problematic spots to infuse life. Under trees or on the north side of a building is usually considered a “no-plant’s land” of the garden, where you’re happy just to have anything grow at all. But these spots are ideal opportunities to site plants with white variegation. Because the plants that live in these black holes of the garden are usually dark green, dashes of white not only offer a nice color contrast but also highlight the form and texture of the surrounding selections.

1. ‘Autumn Bride’ heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, USDA Hardiness Zones 5–9)
2. ‘Hadspen Cream’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Hadspen Cream’, Zones 3–7)
3. ‘Silver Sceptre’ sedge (Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’, Zones 5–9)
4. ‘Silver Tassel’ sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Silver Tassel’, Zones 5–9)
5. ‘Milky Way’ epimedium (Epimedium × youngianum ‘Milky Way’, Zones 5–9)

1. ‘High Society’ hosta (Hosta ‘High Society’, Zones 3–9)
2. Arborvitae fern (Selaginella braunii, Zones 7–11)
3. ‘Silver Sceptre’ sedge (Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’, Zones 5–9)
4. ‘Great Expectations’ hosta (Hosta ‘Great Expectations’, Zones 3–9)
5. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)

Red breaks up the green in light shade

Soft colors don’t usually work in shade because they aren’t dynamic enough to shine in the darkness. Use, instead, plants that have blossoms or foliage with vibrant, hot colors. These hues need more sunlight, so areas of light shade are best. Because of their vibrancy, these colors act like beacons, attracting attention not only to themselves but also to their neighbors. Red and most other hot colors are also opposite to green on the color wheel, so they naturally complement the customary hue of the shade garden.

1. Tiger eyes™ cutleaf staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’, Zones 4–8)
2. ‘Shaina’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shaina’, Zones 5–9)
3. ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’ fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt’, Zones 9–10)
4. ‘Alabama Sunset’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Alabama Sunset’, Zone 11)
5. ‘Pee Dee Ingot’ liriope (Liriope muscari ‘Pee Dee Ingot’, Zones 6–10)
6. ‘Filigree Lace’ weeping birch (Betula pendula ‘Filigree Lace’, Zones 2–7)

1. Threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii, Zones 5–8)
2. Purple perilla (Perilla frutescens ‘Atropurpurea’, annual)
3. Chinese indigo (Indigofera decora, Zones 7–9)

Gold makes partial shade glow

I use golden (and sometimes chartreuse) plants in medium-shade areas to help enhance the glow of what little sunlight touches the garden. Gold magnifies sunlight, casting a glow onto plants nearby. It’s a bad idea to put gold-variegated plants in deep shade because they like to revert back to all-green. In areas with too much sun (with only light shade), they turn an unsightly electric yellow and burn out. The illuminating quality of gold brings out the rough or puckered texture of plants. So if you have a hosta with deeply ridged leaves, place a golden or chartreuse companion with a smooth texture nearby.

1. ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ boxleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’, Zones 6–9)
2. ‘Painter’s Palette’ knotweed (Persicaria virginiana ‘Painter’s Palette’, Zones 5–9)
3. ‘Globosa Nana’ Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Globosa Nana’, Zones 6–9)

1. ‘On Stage’ hosta (Hosta ‘On Stage’, Zones 3–9)
2. Purple perilla (Perilla frutescens ‘Atropurpurea’, annual)
3. ‘All Gold’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’, Zones 5–9)
4. ‘Painter’s Palette’ knotweed (Persicaria virginiana ‘Painter’s Palette’, Zones 5–9)
5. ‘Hi Ho Silver’ hosta (Hosta ‘Hi Ho Silver’, Zones 3–9)

Inta Krombolz gardens deep in the woods of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and likes to create welded garden statuary in her spare time.

Photos: Danielle Sherry

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon

Scotts Cordless Grass-Shear/Shrub-Trimmer Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily.
- 13.5 x 3 x 5 inches
- Uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger

Buy at Amazon