They are in most people's gardens here, as they are a common landscaping plant for shade. I brought mine with me to this house in pots 15 years ago, they were already some years old but with no trunk yet. One died, the other is now double trunked and about a metre tall. Slow but rewarding! I also have some elkhorn ferns which are another Australian native that is lovely for shade, they are epiphytic, but usually mounted on a board and hung on the wall. I'll try and get some photos.

Top 5: ferns, ligularia, darmera, dicentra, brunera

I cannot show you my pictures right now, but maybe soon as I get my laptop to a "hot spot".
I have a new shady garden and I would love to show you the pictures. But for now, are you still looking for 5 top shade plants?

Well, like many of you I have a variety of things all growing together, especially as I am sure that I have overcrowded them since my beds were so small and I wanted to plant so many things.

1. fern assortment (painted ferns, different maidenhair hybrids, sword ferns)
2. Pulmonaria 'Moonshine'
3. Foxglove (white, unspotted)
4. Monkshood (various varieties)
5. Lamium 'White Nancy' and 'Beacon Silver'

Well, I guess I can't really stick with just 5 plants.

I have several hydrangeas, White Violas (scattered themselves about), Epimedium, Azara microphylla 'variegata', a couple of variegated hostas and one variegated (to match) Pachysandra, Schropholaria variegata, 2 different white Astilbe, several heucheras, several brunnera, white bleeding heart, variegated sedges, variegated liriopes, several hellebores, the sweet woodruff is dueling with the lamium to see who will take over. I will probably cut the lamium back and pull out some of the woodruff, if it gets too crowded.

Away from the prime area - lily-of-the-valley, lady's mantle, various campanulas...oh there are more...I will have to check them again.

1: Arisaema
2: Ferns including tree ferns
3: Polygonatum multiflorum
4: Box balls (always nice to have some green during winter and good structure)
5: Hosta's ofcourse
(6: Cornus canadensis)

Lilies of the valley, trillium. ferns, hosta & Jack in the Pulpit is I can find one.

Hostas - because of the unbelievable variety of cultivars
Bleeding Heart - beautiful flowers, and then the foliage (mine have never gone dormant)
European Ginger - beautiful shiny leaves and not invasive like the Canadian ginger
Virginia Bluebells
Columbines


Three I wish I didn't have! Not only are they invasive next to where they were planted, but they spread so far and so fast!
Lily of the Valley
Solomon's seal
Violets (the yellow are the worst)

My variegated Solomon's Seal is getting out of hand, too. I have to get rid of some of it.

Karen

Lily of the valley (I don't care if they spread)
hosta (I prefer medium & smaller leaved)
Trillium
Polyanthaus primrose ( ours is red)
Ginger

One of two shade gardens has changed. We took three trees down where most of the ferns and giant hostas grow.
.


I would also add Epimediums to Hostas
Ferns
Heuchera
Astilbe

I've just been lamenting the loss of my brunneras in my shade garden but these are my top plants in my shade gardens:

anemone - late to show in Spring but those autumn blooms are wonderful
hostas
heuchera
pulmonaria
Japanese painted fern

These plants have worn out their welcome in the shade garden:
Solomon Seal (no longer variegated)
lamium
lily of the valley

@alwaysbehindMN, Linda - we seem to have the same garden cat!

evelyninthegarden said:I cannot show you my pictures right now, but maybe soon as I get my laptop to a "hot spot".
I have a new shady garden and I would love to show you the pictures. But for now, are you still looking for 5 top shade plants?

Well, like many of you I have a variety of things all growing together, especially as I am sure that I have overcrowded them since my beds were so small and I wanted to plant so many things.

1. fern assortment (painted ferns, different maidenhair hybrids, sword ferns)
2. Pulmonaria 'Moonshine'
3. Foxglove (white, unspotted)
4. Monkshood (various varieties)
5. Lamium 'White Nancy' and 'Beacon Silver'

Well, I guess I can't really stick with just 5 plants.

I have several hydrangeas, White Violas (scattered themselves about), Epimedium, Azara microphylla 'variegata', a couple of variegated hostas and one variegated (to match) Pachysandra, Schropholaria variegata, 2 different white Astilbe, several heucheras, several brunnera, white bleeding heart, variegated sedges, variegated liriopes, several hellebores, the sweet woodruff is dueling with the lamium to see who will take over. I will probably cut the lamium back and pull out some of the woodruff, if it gets too crowded.

Away from the prime area - lily-of-the-valley, lady's mantle, various campanulas...oh there are more...I will have to check them again.

I will now give you my 5 worst shade plants for a hot droughty summer:

1. Astilbe
2. Brunnera
3. Lady's Mantle
4. Sweet Woodruff
5. Small ferns, especially the maidenhairs

So what still looks nice and fresh? Well there are several actually:

1. Liriope
2. Hostas
3. Pachysandra
4. Sedges
5. Epimedium

Thanks for the best & worst.

My new arrivals for shade ^^

Caladiums! Just about any caladium thrives in shade, the white varieties like 'Moonlight' really show well.

They look great.

Japanese maple, Golden moss sedum, blood grass, hellbore orchids, don't have a 5th really

donp, those caladiums are beautiful.

Karen