Tell us your Favorite Shade Plants

By dave
January 20, 2016

We're putting together a list of the ATP members' favorite shade plants! Come on in and read how to nominate your favorites! We will later publish a final article on the top picks.

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Jan 21, 2016 4:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Bob
Vernon N.J. (Zone 6b)
Aquarium Plants Bookworm Snakes Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Heucheras
Echinacea Hellebores Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Hostas Region: New Jersey
Might take some more effort then some other plants but well worth it . What other plant has this much of a choice of foliage colors.

With a bonus of hundreds of pretty small flowers.
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Jan 22, 2016 2:20 PM CST
Name: Catmint/Robin
PNW WA half hour south of Olym (Zone 8a)
Region: Pacific Northwest Region: Mid-Atlantic Region: Maryland Butterflies Bee Lover Native Plants and Wildflowers
Echinacea Azaleas Forum moderator Cottage Gardener Garden Ideas: Master Level Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I agree--heuchera is one of my favorite shade plants, too!
"One of the pleasures of being a gardener comes from the enjoyment you get looking at other people's yards”
― Thalassa Cruso
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Jan 23, 2016 8:53 AM CST
Name: Susie
Leonard, Minnesota (Zone 3b)
Annuals Herbs Heucheras Canning and food preservation Irises Lilies
Region: Minnesota Native Plants and Wildflowers Peonies Sedums Seed Starter Vegetable Grower
Heuchera are a standard for my shade gardens, they add great color even when there isn't anything blooming.
Thumb of 2016-01-23/4susiesjoy/52d897
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Jan 23, 2016 5:16 PM CST
Name: Margaret
Near Kamloops, BC, Canada (Zone 3a)
Region: Canadian Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Tip Photographer Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
Morning Glories Critters Allowed Birds Houseplants Butterflies Garden Photography
I have a few in my shade garden too, they have lovely foliage.
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Jan 23, 2016 5:51 PM CST
Name: Julia
Washington State (Zone 7a)
Hydrangeas Photo Contest Winner 2018 Garden Photography Region: Pacific Northwest Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Forum moderator
Plant Database Moderator I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Sempervivums Container Gardener Foliage Fan
I agree Love them
Thumb of 2016-01-23/springcolor/0e2f55
Sempervivum for Sale
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Jan 23, 2016 5:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Bob
Vernon N.J. (Zone 6b)
Aquarium Plants Bookworm Snakes Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Heucheras
Echinacea Hellebores Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Hostas Region: New Jersey
What a nice picture Julia.
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Jan 23, 2016 7:29 PM CST
Name: Debbie
Manitoba, Canada (Zone 3a)
Amaryllis Dog Lover Dragonflies Foliage Fan Hostas Houseplants
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Enjoys or suffers hot summers Daylilies Critters Allowed Annuals
Gorgeous picture Julia.
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Jan 24, 2016 9:46 AM CST
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Definitely could not live without heucheras. Wonderful plants.
:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:
Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Jan 25, 2016 6:26 AM CST
Name: Dnd
SE Michigan (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Houseplants Organic Gardener I helped beta test the first seed swap Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Garden Ideas: Level 2
If we're counting only 'outdoor' plants, heuchera is one of the few shade plants I currently have! I love my heuchera and I agree that the foliage on heucheras is among the most diverse of any plant type out there. The name 'caramel', however, is just as attractive to me as the plant itself. (And my husband and I always tease each other about the pronunciation...I'm always chiding him that there's another 'a' in there for a reason!: "car-a-mel"....but in theory, the "car-mel" does sound more like you have a mouthful of sticky, chewy, yummy caramel in it. Rolling my eyes. Still, I enjoy our little back-and-forth each time the subject comes up.)

Here's a picture of mine:



Although I would argue there are better pictures of it in the plant database:

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Jan 25, 2016 11:38 AM CST
Name: Dnd
SE Michigan (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Houseplants Organic Gardener I helped beta test the first seed swap Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Garden Ideas: Level 2
(It's not often that I get excited about a brown plant, either!)
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Jan 25, 2016 7:31 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Bob
Vernon N.J. (Zone 6b)
Aquarium Plants Bookworm Snakes Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Heucheras
Echinacea Hellebores Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Hostas Region: New Jersey
There is supposed to be a new version coming out called Mega Caramel with large leaves like Brownies. Hope it is as good of a plant as the original.
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Jan 25, 2016 7:43 PM CST
Name: Dnd
SE Michigan (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Houseplants Organic Gardener I helped beta test the first seed swap Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Thanks for the heads-up, Bob! I might look into that one.
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Jan 25, 2016 8:41 PM CST
Name: Jeanie
Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Replace your lawn with a garden!
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers cold winters Sedums Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers
Region: Minnesota Hostas Heucheras Butterflies Cat Lover Daylilies
Brownies is my favorite...it's huge! I will have to find a mega caramel for sure.
:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:
Old gardeners never die. They are just pruned and repotted.
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Jan 29, 2016 8:22 PM CST
Name: Dirt
(Zone 5b)
Region: Utah Bee Lover Garden Photography Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Photo Contest Winner: 2016
Photo Contest Winner 2018 Photo Contest Winner 2019 Photo Contest Winner 2020 Photo Contest Winner 2021 Photo Contest Winner 2022 Photo Contest Winner 2023
been working too much and didn't get my vote in for support of heuchera Thumbs up

DnD--too funny! How do you pronounce carousel?
(and have you ever been carousing on a carousel Hilarious! )
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Jan 30, 2016 7:54 PM CST
Name: Dnd
SE Michigan (Zone 6a)
Daylilies Dog Lover Houseplants Organic Gardener I helped beta test the first seed swap Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Garden Ideas: Level 2
I say carousel like "care-uh-sell" or sometimes "caro-sell"...I've never heard it any other way, but I can imagine that there are places where it's "care-oo-sell", "care-ih-sell", "caro-sall", etc... Smiling
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