Here are three perennial shade plants I invite you to hunt out and grow. They may not be readily available in your local garden center but a little online sleuthing will quickly bring up smaller specialist mail-order nurseries for you growing pleasure
Hepatica
Hepatica has always been one of my very favorite of shade perennials. Blooming first thing in the spring and only for a few weeks, this is a true harbinger of spring and a dainty woodland plant sure to steal your heart.
It’s only 3-5 inches tall but the very early spring colors range from whites through to blues in dainty flowers. They do prefer a rich, organic soil with adequate moisture but no standing water, and the only time I’ve really lost them was when I allowed them to suffer full drought. Propagation is by seed or division.
Hepatica nobilis is the common species you’ll find and some good varieties include:
‘Ada Scott’ a double-flowering dark blue. Excellent grower
‘Barlowii’ with rounded flowers and sky-blue coloring.
‘Little Abington’ another double with blue flowers. Hard to find and expensive but you’ll fall in love with those double flowers
‘Rosea’ pink-flowering single bloom.
‘Rubra Plena’ double-flowering red. Excellent but difficult to find.
Specialist nurseries will also have some of the Japanese species on sale. I’d recommend you avoid these until you can easily succeed with the North American (and far cheaper) species.
Saxifraga
Saxifraga is another early spring charmer for a protected spot out of the hot sun – one of the perfect perennial shade plants for rock gardens and front-of-garden areas without a lot of competition from bigger plants.
Saxifraga is Latin meaning “rock breaker” and it’s a great description because it’s normally found growing in crevices between rocks where it is assumed the plant has forced itself (may or may not be true – I suspect it is simply opportunistic)
Whatever the name, this plant wants a gritty, well-drained soil. This is not a plant for the well-fed, rich soil of the perennial shade garden but rather stuck in a shady wall somewhere where the roots can reach the soil but the drainage is perfect.
It’s another short growing plant, 3-5 inches tall blooming in white through pinks and throwing up nice sprays of blooms. Plant 8-12 inches apart as they will form reasonable clumps in a relatively short time. Propagation is by early spring division or by seed.
Astrantia
Finally, let me introduce you to one of the great perennial shade plants – Astrantia or Masterwort. and it will even grow in the sun. Grow it anywhere if you keep it happy. You keep it happy by making sure the soil is right – damp and rich. Damp but not waterlogged I note.
It is an early summer to midsummer blooming plant growing 18-inches tall and prefers shade to part shade and moist, rich soils if it’s to grow well.
The flowers are stiff petalled in roses, pinks and white (and combinations) and are quite lovely in arrangements if you can stand to cut them.
Propagated by division or seed (remember the hybrids don’t come true from seed) it is an easy plant to grow if you give it the shade and dampish area it prefers.
Three Recommended Varieties
Astrantia major 24” to 30”
‘Lars’ a lighter red on 24” tall stems.
‘Rubra’ a light pink-red on 18 to 24” stems. The most commonly available form.
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