To layer up, consider Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), a deciduous shrub that grows 8-12 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide. In summer, this shrub features panicles of small white tubular flowers with pinkish-red anthers on the end of long stamens. Native azaleas and oakleaf hydrangea are also good choices for shady areas. Add perennial interest to your shady areas with ferns, coralbells, Lenten roses and Hosta.
Container plants like caladiums, coleus, impatiens and ferns add bursts of color to a shade garden. These annuals usually tolerate morning sun but need to be shaded during the hot afternoon. They will also need to be protected during the winter or replaced next spring.
My favorite shade plants include the many different types of begonias. Most begonias continually flower throughout the summer. They can be used as bedding plants, in window boxes, hanging baskets and planters. Begonias are deer and rabbit resistant. Bronze-leaved wax begonias grow better with full sun exposure than other types, while green-leaved cultivars like angel-winged begonias prefer morning sun with afternoon shade. Rex begonias have beautiful leaves in a kaleidoscope of colors ranging in hues of green, red, pink, silver, gray, lavender, and maroon. Bridal veil begonia glows white in a green setting and flourishes in bright indirect light. Like impatiens and coleus, begonias are particularly pretty in mass.
Most of us need more cool shade in our hot humid summers. This fall, I plan to add several new shrubs to enhance the shady areas in my garden. If you already have established a good canopy of trees and a productive shade garden, when the autumn leaves cover your beds, leave them. Leaf litter improves soil and provides overwintering habitat for beneficial creatures such as butterflies, moths, frogs, and salamanders.
We have been fortunate in the beginning of August to enjoy a damp and cool respite from the summer heat.
The Aiken Master Gardener Association will hold a Lunchbox lecture at noon Friday, Aug. 15, at Millbrook Baptist Church. Everette Jones, from Shady Characters Nursery, will be the guest speaker. His topic, “The Four Challenges of Shade Gardens” will include pointers for selecting the right shade-loving plants for the right shady spots.
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