Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—Southern Plains

See regional picks for variegated plants for shade , and read the article by Andy Brand for even more ideas .

“ While the cool , shady area have furnish me with the opportunity to grow some of my favourite genus , they also have presented me with a bonnie share of challenges . One of the tricksy issuance is figuring out how to brighten the border growing under a dim canopy or in those dark corner . Plants with showy flowers are an obvious solution , but usually their effect is transeunt , and all too often flowering is diminished with too much tincture . An even better option is to integrate plants with variegated leafage and let their leaves of lily-white , cream , Au , and gullible lend light to the shadiness . ” Read more inPlants That Shine in the Shade .

View the whole collection .

1.‘Eversheen’ Japanese Sedge

Name:Carex oshimensis‘Eversheen’

Zones:5–9

Size:12 to 18 inches tall and wide

atmospheric condition : fond to full shade ; fat , moist , well - drained soil

aboriginal chain : Japan

Part of the EverColor ® Series , ‘ Eversheen ’ dazzles with slender yellowed leaf blades march in dark green . kempt mounds of lightly curve evergreen foliage lend spate of grain to the shade garden . Perfect for massing as a ground covering or for edge flagstone way , ‘ Eversheen ’ also performs well in containers and provides a lively accent in minor spaces . Sedges grow dear with security from afternoon sun in red-hot mood , and it ’s a good approximation to water during dry enchantment . This sedge , like most , is also cervid resistant .

2.‘Fireworks’ Solomon’s Seal

Name:Polygonatum odoratum‘Fireworks’

Zones:4–9

Size:18 to 24 inches tall and encompassing

Conditions : fond to full shade ; well - debilitate soil

aboriginal range : Asia

My best-loved plant for dry shade , Solomon ’s seal adds bold grain and graceful structure to woodland gardens and shady borders . The arch halt of ‘ Fireworks ’ vaunt broad , ellipse - shape leaves stipple with white . As the plant life age , a creamy ashen edge outlines the green leave , which keep on their flecking . Small white , Alexander Melville Bell - shape bloom dangle beneath maroon stems in spring . This flora is drought tolerant and diffuse easy through rhizome to forge flamboyant colonies . It count peculiarly chance upon when planted in mass . Solomon ’s seal stand heavy shade but farm more vigorously with a few hours of daybreak sun .

3.Bollywood®Azalea

Name:Rhododendron‘Farrow’

Zones:6–9

Size:24 to 36 inch tall by 18 to 24 inches panoptic

precondition : fond to full shade ; rich , acidic , well - drained stain

aboriginal range : Interspecific hybrid ; parent lines from Asia

With variegated leaf and vivacious spring flower , Bollywood ® azalea accents the garden all time of year long . recondite pink blossom cover the plant in late natural spring to early summertime , pull in butterflies and hummingbird . The green and silver - livid foliage is semi - evergreen and disease resistant . mottled sun or hopeful shade and acidulent grease provide ideal produce conditions in hot Southern states . Although this industrial plant display good heat tolerance , it is good to fend off afternoon Dominicus . Protect the shallow origin with leaf clay sculpture or mulch , and keep plants water during dry charm . Bollywood ® azalea can be trimmed after flowering , though little pruning is required .

4.‘Hermann’s Pride’ Lamium

Name:Lamium galeobdolon‘Hermann’s Pride’

Zones:4–10

Size:8 to 12 inch tall and 12 to 14 inches wide

aboriginal range : Europe and Western Asia

Better behave than other lamium varieties , ‘ Hermann ’s Pride ’ forms a tidy mound of jagged foliation marbled silver and green . Cheery sensationalistic blossom are stick out in clusters in late spring to early summertime . The plants are slow to fan out , especially in the harsh condition of the Southern Plains states . ‘ Hermann ’s Pride ’ brightens the story of shade garden and provides cover in deep shade where other plant struggle . It also induce a adorable trotline in container . This plant life is drouth tolerant once established and resists deer browsing . It ’s also a problem solver for dry , rocky soils and areas prostrate to wearing .

— Kimberly Toscano is a horticulturist and garden interior designer from Stillwater , Oklahoma .

From Fine Gardening # 194

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Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—California

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