Hostas, ferns, and Lenten roses are the usual choices for a shade garden. Why not change things up and add a few early spring bloomers that add texture and color to your landscape?
Asian bleeding heart (Lamprocanpnos spectabilis) is a part to full shade-loving spring flowering perennial. It is native to China, Korea, and Japan. Asian bleeding hearts have delicate, heart shaped pink flowers with inner petals that give it their common name. They bloom from April to May and grow best in moist humus-rich soil. Their foliage will die back in mid-summer. Mix in ferns, hostas, and other summer perennials to prolong the season. Asian bleeding hearts can range in heights of 2-3 feet tall and 1?-2? feet wide.
Fairy wings, also known as barrenwort, (Epimedium species) have several different species and hybrids. These plants prefer dry shade. The delicate flowers appear in April and range in color from yellow, white, red, pink, orange, and purple. Fairy wings are clump spreaders that do great planted under trees. These China native plants have high resistance to rabbits and deer. Depending on the cultivar or species, fairy wings can range in heights of 10 inches to 2 feet tall and spread up to 2 feet wide. The foliage will need to be cut back in late winter before the new leaves begin to emerge.
Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum ordatum var. pluriforum ‘Variegatum’) has bright green leaves with white edges.
The greenish-white, bell-shaped flowers bloom from April to May, are very fragrant, and hang down below the stem from the leaf axils (where the leaves attach to the stem). In the fall, Solomon’s seal has blue-black berries and the foliage turns an attractive yellow color. Variegated Solomon’s seal is native to Europe and Asia and will slowly spread to form colonies in your shade garden that will be 2-3 feet tall and wide.
Most perennials should be planted in the fall or early spring. Planting in the fall gives the plant more time to become established before the start of active growth in the spring.
Fall planted perennials are well-established before hot weather. Fall planting should occur at least 6 weeks before hard-freezing weather begins. If you are planting in the spring, plant early after killing frosts have passed It is better to plant in early spring than late spring.
When planting, make the hole twice as wide as deep. This will encourage side root growth. Refill the hole, firming the soil in around the plant to avoid air pockets. Make sure the crown of the plant (the point where roots and top join) is even with the soil surface. Mulch with a 2-inch deep layer of pine straw, bark, or compost to keep down weeds and conserve moisture. Water the plant to settle the soil. Most perennials require at least 1 to 1? inches of water per week from irrigation or rain.
For more information on perennials or shade gardens, please visit the Home and Garden Information Center website at hgic.clemson.edu. Tune in on Tuesday nights to watch “Making it Grow” at 7 p.m. on SCETV or mig.org. Email Outen at callenb@clemson.edu
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