Starting a new garden from scratch can be daunting, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to create exactly what you want. The vision I had for my new garden (two decades ago) was based on the many small English gardens that I was lucky enough to visit—not the gardens with impeccably maintained lawns and neatly clipped hedges, but those that had plants spilling out of every nook and cranny. Since its inception, the landscape has been slowly undergoing a transformation over the past decade, from a traditional shade garden to a more naturalistic one that embraces an ecology-first mindset. This evolution, however, hasn’t sacrificed the original intention of my dream garden—that it be a visually appealing space with plenty of activity.

Structural plants were the first focus, after the hardscape was complete. Several trees were added to provide height and beauty and to eventually create the shade that would make the backyard more enjoyable for people. Shrubs and herbaceous plants were next on the list. At first the garden exposure was full sun, so I designed mixed borders that were chock-full of sun-loving perennials. As the structural trees grew larger and produced more shade, these initial plantings needed to change. Beautiful native, shade-tolerant species form the foundation of my garden now and are infused with 25 to 30 percent nonnatives. Select exotic species bridge floral gaps when the native species aren’t blooming. I have heard many a gardener lament that they are “forced” to garden in shade, but I am not one of those; I love my little shade garden and all the plants and animals it supports. The following are just a few of my favorite shade-loving, eco-friendly species.

1. Common blue violet (Viola sororia, Zones 3–7)
2. Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum, Zones 4–8)
3. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–8)
4. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)
5. Hick’s Japanese yew (Taxus × media ‘Hicksii’, Zones 4–7)
6. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides, Zones 1–6)
7. ‘White Tigress’ maple (Acer ‘White Tigress’, Zones 4–9)
8. Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina, Zones 3–6)

1. Mountain sedge (Carex montana, Zones 4–9)
2. Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides, Zones 3–9)
3. Langsdorff’s flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorfii, annual)
4. ‘Claire Grace’ wild bee balm (Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’, Zones 3–8)
5. Yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea, Zones 5–7)
6. Giant meadow rue (Thalictrum rochebrunianum, Zones 3–8)
7. ‘Alice’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’, Zones 5–9)
8. Black bugbane (Actaea racemosa ‘Atropurpurea’, Zones 3–8)
9. ‘Autumn Bride’ hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, Zones 3–8)
10. White oak (Quercus alba, Zones 3–9)
11. ‘Whitespire’ gray birch (Betula populifolia ‘Whitespire’, Zones 3–6)
12. Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis, Zones 3–7)

1. 1. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Zones 3–9)
   2. Yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea, Zones 5–7)
   3. White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima, Zones 3–8)
   4. ‘June’ hosta (Hosta ‘June’, Zones 3–9)
   5. Night flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris, annual)
   6. White baneberry (Actaea pachypoda, Zones 3–8)
   7. Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus, Zones 4–8)
   8. ‘Green Gem’ boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’, Zones 4–9)
   9. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)
   10. ‘Branford Beauty’ painted fern (Athyrium ‘Branford Beauty’, Zones 4–8)

1. ‘Lemon Zest’ Japanese woodland sedge (Carex siderosticha ‘Lemon Zest’, Zones 5–8)
2. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia, Zones 4–9)
3. ‘Autumn Bride’ hairy alumroot (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’, Zones 3–8)
4. Wood gray sedge (Carex grisea, Zones 3–8)
5. ‘Branford Beauty’ painted fern (Athyrium ‘Branford Beauty’, Zones 4–8)
6. Maidenhair fern (Adiatum pedatum, Zones 3–8)
7. Blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia, Zones 4–8)
8. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5–9)
9. ‘Twilight’ aster (Eurybia macrophylla ‘Twilight’, Zones 3–9)
10. Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica, Zones 3–8)

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

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

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.

Buy at Amazon

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