My Garden Plants
This is an alphabetized list, with pictures and information, of the perennials and shrubs I grow in zone 3. All of these plants have made it through a number of winters in Edmonton, Alberta. The descriptions and information are based on my observations and experiences in my garden. Most of these are currently growing in shade or part shade with a few noted exceptions. There are still more photos to be added and comments to expand.
Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair fern)
This beautiful fern has a delicate appearance with its thin black stalks and its airy looking foliage, but it is hardy. It looks great in the shade under trees and contrasts nicely with broad leafed plants.
Aruncus dioicus (goat’s beard)
This tall perennial has an almost shrub like appearance in summer. The foliage grows about 6 feet tall while the flower plumes wave above. It only blooms for about 2 to 3 weeks, but the foliage looks good until fall. I cut off the plumes when they turn brown. It grows well in medium shade, but shorter with few flowers in deep shade.
Astilbe arendsii ‘Diamant’ (astilbe)
This is a tall white astilbe that blooms for about 2 to 3 weeks in summer. The flowers fade to brown, but still look attractive, so I keep them on through the winter and cut them back in spring. The foliage of astilbe looks somewhat fern-like. Like all astilbes, it needs good moisture. These handle medium shade well, with lots of blooms.
Astilbe japonica ‘Europa’ (astilbe)
This is a medium sized astilbe with a terrific soft pink flower. The flower colour is my favourite of all astilbes. When the flower fades to brown, I leave them on the plant for winter interest. Like all astilbes the plant appreciates moisture. These bloom well up to medium shade.
Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Hennie Graafland’ (astilbe)
This shorter astilbe has light pink flowers with dark pink centres. The foliage of this variety is a very shiny dark green and contrasts nicely with other shade foliage. The plant appreciates extra water if it’s in a dry site. Like the other astilbes, they bloom well in shade.
Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern)
This fern grew naturally from spores at my old garden, between the cracks of my patio. It is a very lush medium sized fern that can be divided easily when it gets larger. It will spread outward, but is not rampant or invasive. This fern thrives in deep shade.
Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ (Japanese painted fern)
With silver tinged foliage and reddish purple stems, this is a very colourful fern that really stands out in the shade.
Athyrium x ‘Ghost’ (ghost fern)
This fern is related to the lady fern and Japanese painted fern. It is similar to the painted fern, but with an overall silver gray foliage colour that shows up well in shade.
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Siberian bugloss)
This is a fantastic foliage plant. The beautiful silver leaves with strong green veining are stunning. Each leaf looks like a beautiful stained glass painting. In spring, it has blue flowers that are similar to a forget me not. This plant glows in the shade and is one of the last plants to be visible at dusk. Mine do well with only an hour or two of sun.
Campanula carpatica unknown variety (carpathian bellflower)
I brought this Campanula carpatica from my old house so I lost track of which variety it is. These bellflowers are easy to grow and their blooms last for months. They have more blooms in the sun, but do well in dappled shade as you see here. The foliage makes a small neat mound and the blooms face upwards for maximum impact.
Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’ (carpathian bellflower)
This plant is easy to grow, with a neat mound of foliage and upward facing flowers. The long lasting blossoms are a bluish purple. I really like these plants as they give long term colour in the shade garden, which you don’t find in many perennials. They spread gently, but don’t annoy their neighbours.
Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Pearl’ (carpathian bellflower)
This plant is is supposed to be an improvement on the C. ‘Blue Clips’. They seem very similar, but I have only had it for one season. I’m going to observe it carefully this season and I’ll report on any differences.
Campanula carpatica ‘White Clips’ (carpathian bellflower)
This is the white flowered version of ‘Blue Clips’. It is otherwise identical in culture.
Campanula carpatica ‘White Uniform’ (carpathian bellflower)
This is another white variation of this low growing bellflower.
Campanula glomerata (clustered bellflower)
This is a tall bellflower with a large, round purple flower at the top which generally lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. There are sporadic smaller blooms later. When in bloom, it is a gorgeous flower, but the foliage is not as attractive, since it flops over and starts browning later in the summer. It also tends to spread a little too well, so I’ve removed one section of them and now only have a small patch. It blooms in semi-shade.
Campanula portenschlagiana ‘Hoffman’s Blue’ (Hoffman’s Dalmation bellflower)
This low growing bellflower has a very long lasting bloom time. The flower are pretty bluish purple coloured bells and the foliage stays attractive right through fall. It is one of the few perennials which remain green under the snow blanket over the long winter in my zone 3 garden. It adapts well to the shade.
Campanula posharskyana ‘Camgood’ (blue waterfall Serbian bellflower)
This is an extremely attractive low growing plant with a very long lasting bloom time. It is covered in bluish purple upward facing star shaped bells. The foliage remains fresh looking right through the fall, and is still green as the snow is melting in the spring. With our early frosts, a plant that stays green is an asset. It is vigorous, but easy to keep in check.
Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)
This is another of the easy care, pretty bellflowers. It is of medium height, with dainty bells. They flower more in the sun, but do well in the shade.
Chionodoxa luciliae (glory of the snow)
This is a very pretty bulb with blue to purple flowers in the spring. The foliage disappears in late spring.
Cimicifuga simplex ”White Pearl’ (bugbane)
This plant has good foliage and provides height in the shade. This variety blooms very late, and since I only planted it last season, I didn’t get to see the blooms. I’ll have to see this year if it can bloom before the first frost, since I’m not sure if it’s suited to our shorter growing season.
Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)
I love the sweet scent of these flowers. The dainty white flowers are perfect for spring and the foliage looks good until frost. They do spread, but I don’t find them annoying since they are so easy to remove and don’t pop back repeatedly like aggressive plants. If they come up in the lawn, you can mow over them once and they are gone until next year. These take the deepest shade with no problems.
Dianthus caryophylus ‘Grenadin’ (carnation)
This plant grows in one of the sunnier areas of my garden. I have a pink flowered version that has a sweet scent. These tend to be short lived, so I replant new ones every 2 to 4 years. If I was more on the ball, I would propagate new ones from cuttings before the old ones died.
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’ (bleeding heart)
This large perennial has light looking foliage and pretty white blooms. I find in the shade, with some supplemental water, the foliage looks good until frost, but then we don’t get the extended heat of other zones.
Dodecatheon (shooting star)
This is a pretty woodland perennial that blooms in late spring. It has dark pink flowers with a distinctive shape. The foliage tends to die back over the summer, to reappear the next spring. My plants have had a few unfortunate accidents, so they haven’t bloomed for 2 years. I’m hoping to see the pretty blooms back this year.
Dryopteris expansa (spiny wood fern)
This medium size fern has lush foliage and no problems in deep shade. The foliage looks great all season.
Geranium (cranesbill)
This geranium got mixed up when it was brought from my old house, so I’m not sure which species it is. The foliage is awkward, though, with single leaves at the end of very long stems. It tends to look sparse close to the plant, and the leaves flop onto nearby plants. These are in semi-shade.
Hemerocallis ‘Stella de Oro’ (daylily)
This ubiquitous daylily has sparse blooms in the shade. When Stella first came out she was the life of the party and went to every ball in town. People admired her many attributes. Then she started showing up at parties at the local fast food restaurants and gas station parking lots, which gave her a common reputation. Now some people look down on her, and don’t want to associate with a girl who parties on the wrong side of town.
Hemerocallis unknown variety (red daylily)
This daylily was in my garden when I first moved in so I don’t know the exact variety. It grows in a sunnier area of my yard. At first I didn’t like it that well, but now I’ve grown to appreciate it. Last summer it put on a fantastic floral show for many weeks and was covered in dark red blooms with orange throats. It is in a semi shaded area.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (annabelle hydrangea)
This shrub with large white blooms is new to my garden. I’ll write more about it after another season.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ (p.g. hydrangea)
This is a great shrub for part shade. It has large white flowers in the mid to late summer which fade gradually to brown. They are attractive enough to leave on through winter and cut back in the spring. The shrub has a nice shape and good foliage.
Iris unknown yellow variety (iris)
This iris was here when I moved to the house. I’ve divided and moved it to many different areas around the yard. It seems to do well in a variety of exposures from sun to shade. The flowers are yellow with a maroon fall. Each plant’s blooms last about 2 weeks. With the different exposures in the garden it is bloom for about 6 weeks, starting at a warm, sunny spot by my back door and continuing around the deck to the shady south east corner.
Iris unknown blue variety
This is an unknown blue iris that doesn’t bloom every year. It’s a very pretty purplish blue. I thought it had disappeared, but it’s back again this year, with more buds. It is in semi-shade.
Lilium unknown variety (lily)
This orange lily was here when I moved in, but it has been moved around a number of times. It is now at the side of the house by my raspberries. I’m not particularly fond of it, as the orange colour doesn’t really coordinate with the rest of my garden and it only blooms for about 2 weeks. The foliage is okay, but not particularly showy. The only reason it’s still in the garden is because it’s healthy, easy care and tolerates the shade, so I can’t bring myself to rip it out.
Linum perenne ‘Blue Sapphire’ (flax)
This plant is in a sunny area of the garden. It has pretty blue flowers and light delicate foliage that sways gently in the breeze. It self sows, but is not annoying as they are easily removed or transplanted elsewhere.
Matteuccia struthiopteris (ostrich fern)
This is a tall fern with a narrow base and broad top. It looks good with other shorter plants, such as Campanula or lily of the valley placed around it’s base. It is very easy care and spreads a bit, but is not aggressive in my garden. The dark fertile fronds look good through the winter, so I don’t cut them back until spring. It doesn’t mind deep shade, though it is shorter in the shadiest areas.
Muscari armeniacum ‘Blue Spike’ (grape hyacinth)
This is a small bulb with pretty blue flowers that last about 3 weeks. The blooms on this variety are open, giving them a fluffier, more showy appearance than the basic grape hyacinth. The foliage dies back like most spring bulbs, but sometimes comes back in the fall.
Osmunda regalis (royal fern)
This is a tall fern that looks a bit like a shrub. It looks lush in the shade and appreciates moisture.
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (peony)
This gorgeous peony is covered in large double pink flowers that have a wonderful scent. When it’s in bloom I have to walk by it every day to sniff its intoxicating scent. It needs support to keep it from flopping. I put a large metal ring around it after the new shoots appear in spring and it is quickly hidden by the growing foliage. It grows in a partly sunny with some shade area of the garden. Despite not growing in a full sun location, it gets a fair amount of blooms.
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage)
This plant grows in a sunny area of the garden. It has silver green foliage with lavender purple blooms in summer and fall. The flowers are long lasting. My variety tends to flop a bit, but there are other varieties that are more upright.
Philadelphus lewisii ‘Blizzard’ (blizzard mockorange)
This shrub has beautiful white scented blossoms. It has a more attractive shape than P. virginalis. This particular variety is supposed to do very well in a cold prairie climate. I planted it last year, so I’ll update this season with the results.
Philadelphus virginalis (mockorange)
Although the foliage on this shrub grows fine, it hasn’t bloomed in the 4 years I’ve had it. I’m not sure if that is because the location is too shady, or because of spring frosts. I will probably keep it in its present location for now since it is 6 to 7 feet tall and provides a good privacy screen. The branches are long and tall so the overall shape is not as pleasing as P. lewisii ‘Blizzard’ or the PG Hydrangea.
Phlox divaricata ‘Clouds of Perfume’ (woodland phlox)
This short Phlox is very eye catching when in bloom. The beautiful lavender flowers bloom for about 2 to 3 weeks in spring. They look great planted in front of ferns to show off the blossoms. I used to have this perennial in deeper shade under a willow and on the north side of a fence where it never bloomed even though the foliage was fine. Then I moved it down the fence to a medium shaded area, where it gets about 1 to 2 hours of morning sun, and now it blooms very well and is gently spreading.
Phlox paniculata ‘David’ (phlox)
This tall Phlox has large, clear white flowers that bloom throughout summer. As you can see, the blooms are very showy. It is mildew resistant, so the foliage stays fresher into fall. It is in a semi shaded area.
Puschkinia scilloides ‘Libanotica Alba’ (white striped squills)
This is one of the small, early spring flowering bulbs with pretty white flowers. It is the first flower to bloom in the spring in my garden. It is a whiter variation of P. scilloides ‘Libanotica’. The foliage will die back fairly quickly after flowering to reappear next spring.
Puschkinia scilloides ‘Libanotica’ (striped squill)
This is another of the small spring bulbs with exquisite flowers of white with subtle blue stripes. It blooms in very early spring and then the foliage dies back until the next year.
Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’ (pincushion flower)
Neither the scientific nor common names do justice to these pretty flowers. The variety name, Butterfly Blue, works harder at the PR, but they are really more of a bluish lavender. They are very long blooming, but the foliage can get some mildew. I have them in a sunnier area of the garden, but still semi-shaded. They prefer the sun. I removed these from my garden, since they kept getting powdery mildew.
Scilla siberica (squills)
These reliable, small spring blooming bulbs blossom for about 3 weeks with bluish purple flowers. They are in a very shaded area of the garden so I have been pleased with how well they bloom. The foliage dies back quickly after blooming.
Scilla siberica ‘Spring Beauty’ (squills)
This is another small bulb that blooms in the very early spring with purple flowers.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Wedgewood Blue’ (lilac)
This lilac, which grows to 6 feet, has beautiful light blue flowers with a wonderful scent. Unfortunately it has not bloomed very much for me. It is in a sunnier location in my garden, but there might still be too much shade for reliable blooming.
Taxus media ‘Hicksii’ (yew)
This evergreen tolerates the shadier areas of my yard with only a small bit of browning after the winter. Fortunately, yews can be pruned without leaving bare spots. It is upright and is, so far, slow growing in my garden. This variety seems to tolerate the cold climate.
Taxus media ‘Nigra’ (nigra yew)
This evergreen is more spreading than Hicksii. It has very dark green foliage and seems to do well in the deeper shade of the front garden. Like T. media ‘Hicksii’, it seems to do fine in the northern climate.
Your blog has such beautiful photographs, and this list of your plants with photos is a great idea. Thanks for inspiration in several directions.
Commonweeder, thanks. I like to see what other people are growing too, and read their impressions on the plant’s garden performance. I’ve included plants here that have made it through a winter in my garden.
Thank you for visiting me recently. Our gardens are very similar, what with the shade and the types of plants we grow. I’ve always considered our region to be zone 3/4 (at least, I know things will be hardy here if I look towards these plants), but lately we’ve been rezoned to 5a. Uncanny.
Beautiful photographs. We “inherited” a lot of astilbe when we moved here nearly 6 years ago. One set is a medium height, medium green with the light pink flowers. I wonder if I could just label mine Astilbe japonica ‘Europa’ (astilbe). I can’t think of another way to identify the plant…
I do have several oriental/asiatic lilies. There are so many types, colors, etc. However, they don’t make an interesting bed by themselves. Eventually the bed will fill out. I do have that bright orange one. I wonder if it has a label? :-)
Shady Gardener, it probably doubles the number of plants you can grow, if the zone 5 turns out to be accurate, but zone 3/4 plants will make it through the winter without any fussing.
The Europa astilbe is a very soft, light pink, without the peach tones that some astilbe plumes have, if that helps. The Hennie Graafland astilbe has dark pink centres to its blooms, extra glossy leaves, and a decidedly shorter stature.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the lily, since it was here when I moved in to the house.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I loved what you commented about the monsoons. So apt!
What lovely plants you have, Northern Shade! I can see what you meant about the lily…. it really stands out doesnt it?.
Its fascinating visiting a garden which is so totally different to mine. I’m in Zone 10 , I think. Or is there anything higher than that? (We dont go by Zones in India)Its mostly hot, hotter and really, really hot : ) Except during the monsoons, when its hot and wet !
Yet we do seem to have a couple of plants that pop up in both our gardens… the Maidenhair fern and the Ghost fern both show up during the monsoons here.
Sunita, I picture lots of hot colours radiating in your garden, to equal the power of the bright sun. Right now they’re probably glistening with moisture too.
I like to see gardens from such a different climatic zone, especially in winter.
Ferns are amazing. They’ve been on Earth for so long, and have adapted to so many niche ecosystems. I like the idea of the Ghost fern haunting your gardens too, and the maidenhair fern swaying in the breezes in India.
Regarding the orange lilies you don’t especially like, I recently saw them planted together with some purple heuchera that was blooming with the airy spray of ivory flowers. It was a surprisingly appealing combination!
Phillyguy, I definitely have to find a better position for the lilies. Pairing them with purple heuchera sounds like a good combination.
Your website is exciting and i just want to know if you live anywhere near Drumheller, Alberta. i recently visited my son there, trying to help with his awful old garden–mostly leggy junipers that we ripped out. Do all these things grow in central Alberta?
Linda b, I live in Edmonton, in central Alberta. All the plants on this plant list page have survived at least one winter in Alberta. On the other post pages, I usually mention if a plant is new this year, or borderline hardy. The other post pages contain more detailed information about many of the plants, and more photos too. You can also use the search to pull up any posts that have mentioned certain plants.
Renewing a garden is fun, but it is a lot of work if you have to remove the old plants too. Good luck with the garden redesign.
I popped over to see your site after you kindly visited our Central California blog – Your conditions couldn’t be more different than where I garden, that’s for sure. It was lovely to see lily of the valley in your list – which I remember from the U.K.
Nice idea to list all the plants in one page – Beautiful photographs! One of my great pleasures in the garden is photographing it.
Jackie, I made the plant list so gardeners could see what survives a zone 3 winter, and read a short summary of the plants. I have more to add, but I thought it might be taking a long time to load now, with all of the photos. I might break it into two sections.
I love lily of the valley, and look forward to it scenting the garden again this spring.
Thanks for this photographic album of hardy plants in shady environments. It’s a very useful reminder of things to try in the shade locations (and nice pictures too). Aren’t ferns wonderful! They look so delicate and yet thrive in the most difficult of circumstances.
MacGardens, I thought it would be helpful to show some plants that can take -35C (-31F), and that tolerate the shade (most of them). I love the look of ferns, and they combine so well with many other plants. They really suit the environment under the trees.
I just went through these plants again and have gotten some good ideas. I have a lot of shade too. Thanks~!
Jan, you’re welcome. I’ll be adding more to the list in the spring, when I see what other plants survived the winter.
Hello,
BRR, it is cold in Zone 3 for sure. I am so happy to live in Zone 8 because I grew up in Chicago and the winter is no fun. I love all your shade plants, they have inspired me to try more in my shade garden. Thank you for sharing.
Bonnie
Bonnie, right about now is when I get most anxious for spring. You have flowers and green shoots now, and you must have many bulbs popping up and blooming. I added even more of the earliest blooming perennials and bulbs last fall to get a jump start on spring. I’m looking forward to seeing what my first bloom will be this year.
I’m so excited to see your blog this year – I just found it. I am also in Alberta and I love to see what people do in our climate!! :)
Kendra, it’s good to see what gardeners in a similar environment are doing. I’ve listed here some of the plants that have been very successful in my garden. I have others too, but I’m waiting to see how they do over this winter before adding them to this list.
Northern Shade,
I am new to gardening ( 2-3 years now) I caught the bug from my mom. She is in Vancouver and I have just moved from the Edmonton area to the Calgary area. I have book marked your site. What a great reference. All the names of different species really mean little to me right now, but the photos are fantastic!
I am about to tackle a small North facing backyard that is a mud hole right now…..not even grass yet! Its should prove to be a learning experience and I know I will be back to your site!
Bravo!
CarleenG, how fun to have a new garden to plan and plant. I have many happy memories of gardening that I got from my family too.
I’m glad you find the list useful. We have such similar climates, so it’s great to know what another zone 3 gardener is growing. It sounds like you will have a lot of shade too. I’ve tried to mention how much shade most plants seem to tolerate in this list. If you do a search in the site search box, or check the archives, you will see the more detailed posts about the plants. These have even more pictures and discussion of individual plants or combinations
The scientific names are handy when you go to buy or research your plants, because common names can be a little confusing, since there are often so many of them for one plant, or the same common name for more than one plant.
Feel free to ask, if you have any questions.
Wow this is a treat ! Finally something that relates to our zones ! I was starting to think that no one figured we grew anything here !
I really appreciate the list of plants for shaded areas, I have been looking and doing the trial and error (more error) for about 5 years now. I have turned a corner flowerbed into a hosta bed, but need more to go with it and this is going to help immensely!
I would be very happy to post my pics as well and share my gardening plants, tips & tricks for anyone that could use them. Most of my yard is full sun, then the full shade no happy medium here :(
I have bookmarked your site and will certainly be back !
Thanks again for the handy, dandy info !
Debkay
Debkay, I will be adding to this list, now that I see what survived the last winter. Perhaps I should wait until after Wednesday night’s frost. :) I planted a number of new plants in the fall that have done well, despite being labelled for warmer zones, so I’ll add the pictures, review and information about them. I’ve written a bit about them in the most recent posts too.
I’m glad it’s useful. There are many interesting plants that could keep your Hostas company.
I needed information for a story I’m writing. I’ve been looking for plants and shrubs that grow well in this region. Your web page proved a wonderful tool and the pictures helped me create a solid visual for the reader. Thank you so much.
I was searching the web to try and find the name of a plant I have taking over my garden (tag raked out long ago) and I see from your site it is a campanula bellflower. I am in zone 5 (Ontario) and this pretty blue-purple flowered plant is a compact mound that does extremely well in part sun or shade, but then shoots out offspring below ground in every direction, so mulching has no effect whatsoever. I even have it cropping up in my grass far from the parent plant. I also found Campanula Rotundifolia (harebell) in my Ontario Weeds book. It seems some campanula varieties are sold in garden centres which is where I purchased my Campanula Bellflower however some can be very invasive and difficult to eradicate once established, especially Harebell. I have limited garden space, more shade than sun, and get annoyed when the tag doesn’t tell you a plant can be invasive. I have one Campanula variety with smaller leaves and small white flowers which is very obedient and I have no problem with it. I was just wondering if you had any such problem as I wouldn’t want someone to be spending hours trying to dig out all those babies and chucking the parent too like I have had to do.
Writer, I’m glad you found the information useful. What type of story are you writing?
Laura, there is a type of Campanula called rapunculoides (creeping bellflower), which is an annoying weed and spreads everywhere. It is somewhat similar in appearance. If you search for images of it, it might be the plant you are thinking of.
Although C. rotundifolia is hardy, I haven’t found it annoying in the garden. However, some plants can perform differently in different regions. Campanula rotundifolia is a native plant in much of the northern part of the northern hemisphere, and generally considered garden worthy.
I know what you mean about garden centres selling potential problems. I think about that each time I see Aegopodium (Goutweed) being sold.
Thanks, Northern Shade. Perhaps Creeping Bellflower is what I bought. The nursery stock is this cute little plant with a picture of its flower and some details, and each garden makes it act differently according to soil, sun, zone, location. I am still a “baby gardener” although a senior so at last have some time for my passion. Can anyone help me with a japanese quince that looks very healthy but has never bloomed. I believe it’s in the right location, lots of healthy foliage, gets fed and watered and I understand the flower comes before the foliage. 7 years now in this location and I hate chucking what looks like a healthy plant. I too cringe when I see Goutweed, and Creeping Jenny in the garden centres. I like creeping Jenny or Periwinkle or some of the beautiful ivys in a patio container and they usually are alive in the spring if I invert it out of the container into the garden in the fall.
Laura, I’m not sure about the quince.
It must be great for you to have lots of leisure time to garden. I love to putter around the garden.
Great site!! I’m in the same zone/province and your pics and info are fantastic. Bookmarked & I’ll be back! :)
Hi Rebecca, I’ve tried some new perennials that were supposed to be for warmer zones last fall, and they all survived, so I’m going to add them to this list. The links to the posts about some of the new plants are in the sidebar. It’s always good to know what survives a zone 3 winter.
Yes, it is very useful info to know what survived, I’m always hesitant to plant anything from Zone 4 although I might try a Midnight Wine Weigela. Your beautiful pictures of actual plants in an acutal garden are very helpul, much moreso than the pics on the tage or sites selling plants.
Your garden reminds me of mine is size, shape and composition (right down to the fence!), as I fill in all of the nooks & crannies, most areas are definitely shade/part shade. Also, as lovely as the mature trees are, they do restrict sunlight and more thought is needed as to what to plant. I’ll look for the Dalmation Bellflower (I have other Campanulas that I love), the Brunneras and the shorter, Clouds of Perfume Phlox. Thanks Again! :)
PS. Can you tell me what the small white flowers to the right of the spiny wood fern are? They are beautiful! Thanks.
Rebecca, one advantage of the trees is that you get lots of fallen leaves in the fall to cover the plants. Most of my perennials get covered up with leaves for the winter, and I think that helps some of the borderline ones survive.
The little white flowers to the left of the wood fern are an annual double flowering impatiens. On the right is a PG Hydrangea, but it was too shady in that location and is not there anymore.
Thanks for the info! You know, I hadn’t thought of using the fallen leaves as winter cover. I don’t rake the beds at all, but do clear the leaves off the lawn into bags. Perhaps I will try using them as cover this year. Also, do you leave your perennials standing all winter? I do for some, but not for others, without any rhyme or reason.
As to moving plants, are you particular about time of year? I have some perennials that I should have split earlier (heliopsis, shasta daisies), and I’ve been advised to wait til next year, but I’m wondering if I could go ahead.
Great info on Aegopodium, I knew it was invasive, but I was going to try and contain it in a narrow strip between the house & lawn, not something I’ll attempt after reading your post!
Rebecca, I try to clear up any foliage that might get diseased, like iris and peony, or anything that might have been infested with something, and any that looks particularly unsightly by late fall. The rest I often leave until spring. Some plants I leave up because they look decorative, like the astilbe.
I generally try not not move plants in flower, often moving later blooming plants in spring and spring blooming plants in fall. However, sometimes I want to redo a bed, and just go ahead, making sure to give extra water to everything for a while afterwards. The shady beds are probably not as bad to rearrange or divide in summer, as they don’t get as stressed from direct sun.
Aegopodium tends to laugh at containment attempts, since it is very good at sending runners under sidewalks, etc. You’d be amazed at how often it will grow back after being removed. It really does not play nice with other plants.
can quince grow in alberta? i was wondering i prefer to grow things that cannot be found in the market all year around.
I don’t grow quince, so I’m not sure, but I think they like a warmer zone, maybe 5 and up.
What a great web site. I live in the mountains of North Carolina at 4500 feet. Supposed to be zone 7 but I call it zone 6 because we are up so high.
My garden is all shade or partial shade. You can see some of my plants here http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/123667 My plants are all under my nameValerie 2 on this site. You have given me a lot of good ideas for my shade garden. Thanks so much.
Val, you’re welcome, I love experimenting to see what grows well in the shade, and can survive our winter temperatures. We have a few months before the earliest bulbs start showing, and I’m eager to see how the perennials did over the winter.
You have a beautiful setting for your garden, Valerie.
What a wonderful site..I was searching for shade perennials in Alberta and yours was, by far, the best search result. Your photos are exceptional and have inspired me to take pix of my flowers, now that I know what many of them are, lol.
A few years ago, I joined a website called Freecycle, where folks can offer up all sort of items in order to recycle and reduce the dumping in landfills. I then donated a selection of ‘stuff’ and shortly thereafter put out my own call for perennials to help start my own yard transformation. I figured avid gardeners would prefer to see their thinned out perennials go to a new home rather than get dumped or composted.
My boys were very little and I wanted to get them interested in gardening and digging in the dirt, not a difficult objective with wee boys. Once I put out the request, I received several dozen offers for perennials.
All I had to do was go and get them, and that was the fun part. I got to visit with so many wonderful gardeners. As a fairly new gardener, I learned a wealth of info, heard lots of interesting stories and met some great people.
I was surprised and pleased to find that I have a good percentage of the perennials you listed in your shade presentation. Your site was very helpful to me in identifying all these plants that I had and no idea what they were….amazing that they survive, considering I didn’t know too much about them, haha.
Last fall we added some new trees and are hoping for the best.
Today my garden is a work in progress, as is the case with many gardeners, (of course it’s dormant right now)and my boys are enthusiastic participants. We are already planning the veggie garden.
Thank you very much for all of your info and taking the time to create such a wonderful site. I will be visiting it often.
Darlyn
Darlyn, thanks, I’m glad it helped you identify your perennials. There are quite a few plants that do well in the shade in Alberta, although a few of these don’t have as many blooms in the shade.
You had an adventurous beginning to your garden, with so many new perennials. It’s fun to see how the plants grow, and what they look like as they mature. If you take pictures of them, it gives you a visual for planning over the winter too. It’s especially fun to take before and after shots of your garden beds, as you rearrange them.
Good luck with your garden. Maybe I’ll be seeing how it grows on your garden blog someday. :)
Thank you for all your info. I am learning Edmonton gardening after many years of gardening on Vancouver Island, and I am having fun, although, of course, I find the season a tad short. Winter definitely rules six months of the year here.
Jane, you’re welcome. Edmonton does have a long planning season, and a shorter digging season. At this time of year, I’m anxious for the real spring to arrive. Our unexpected warm spell of the last few weeks, and a few bare patches between the snow, has me eagerly scanning for the sight of new green foliage, even though I know it is still too early.
I had so much fun looking at your plant pictures and reading the posts from fellow gardeners. I am in Minnesota and have many of the plants on your list. I do see a few plants I haven’t tried and I’m anxious to give them a try. It’s so hard to wait to get out and be in my garden. Every day I see something new poking out of the ground. It won’t be long now!
Connie, we probably have very similar zones and growing conditions, although mine might be drier. It’s fun to take a peek into other gardens, and see which plants are working.
I’m eager for spring too. We’ve had a few extra snow falls this week, and the bulbs are buried a little deeper now, but soon there will be flowers to replace the white blanket.
I have learned and enjoyed so much from your blog. Specially tagged in my favorites.
Soon, during summer time, I will receive my house in Sherwood Park. I come from tropical gardens country. Proud of my skills there but learning a lot here. Surprisely those colorful “Hemerocallis” also grow over there…Sure these ones will be in my wish list.
What would be your best advice if I’m planning to have a nice year-around tree spot in my front yard. My lot is facing North, wider in the front and besides the park walk way. I will receive 3 trees from the developer and don’t know what to choose besides a pine. I dont know if mapple tree would be a choice in Alberta.
Lorena, a lot depends on the size of your lot, how much room there will be for the mature trees, and if you mind trees that drop fruit, etc.. If you want some smaller ones, then a flowering crab apple or apple can be beautiful, but they will also drop fruit. A lilac can make a nice small specimen too, and give you gorgeous blooms and scent in the spring. I love the look of a birch tree, with wonderful bark, but they’ll need water. The large spruce look great in the winter, but they need lots of room, and grass doesn’t grow well under them, if that’s important to you. The beautiful maples of Eastern Canada don’t grow as well here, but there are some that will.
You have a very informative site! I have struggled with our north facing front yard since we moved to Calgary 10 yrs ago. I just don’t seem to have luck growing a whole lot in the raised bed under our bay window at the front of the house. I would like to have some containers on our front porch but it is in full shade. I’ve had luck with hanging fuchsia baskets and bergenia in the raised bed. I’ve tried astilbe’s, hostas, vinca vine, heuchera and monkshood. The monkshood grew very tall but last year it didn’t flower. The bed is a dry shade bed. I have read about planting indoor tropical plans in pots for the front porch – might try that this year. Any ideas you can give would be wonderful….I’ve spent a lot of money over the years. Have even resorted to to fake flowers in pots – yuck! Oh and did I mentioned we have deer. Thanks so much for any suggestions you have. I am ever hopeful!
Cheryl, I have a north facing, dry bed under a bay window too, and I know what you mean about experimenting with different plants. I give it some supplemental water, which helps, but it is my most challenging bed, especially because there are spruce trees in front too. For early spring, I have some bulbs, Puschkinia scilloides (striped squill) and Scilla siberica (squill), which have pretty blue flowers. There are two Taxus media (evergreen yew shrubs) for winter greenery, and they do fairly well. The ends of the beds get a bit more sun, so I have a Hydrangea shrub on each end, which do fairly well, but get fewer blooms. The Epimedium grandiflorum (barrenwort) is a nice groundcover, and it doesn’t mind the dry shade. There are some small Aruncus aethusifolius (dwarf goat’sbeard) that get little white plumes in summer. Across the walkway from the bed, I planted some Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian bugloss) last year. They seem to be doing very well so far, plus they have great foliage and pretty blue flowers. Also across the walkway, I have some Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) as a groundcover, and they don’t mind being under the spruce trees either. I also planted some Asarum (wild ginger) as a groundcover under the spruce, and they have really nice evergreen leaves. I’ve been thinking about adding some Polygonatum (solomon’s seal) to this bed.
Hi, nice site! I am in zone 3-4 in Alaska and am attempting to landscape a home we bought. Having come from Michigan, its not all new… I wish there were a japanese maple that would live here…any suggestions…weeping cherry maybe? Miss terribly my mother’s wisteria….any suggestions? I have already last summer planted many of the plants you suggest including 3 lilacs… also…an online nursery suggestion that ships to alaska would be fantastic…not asking much here, eh? lovely garden you have…one thing I have that I would suggest for you… I have a gorgeous siberian lily..”blue flag” growing wild in my yard..and a blue geranium…both hardy here in alaska, also lupine…its stunning in my yard and grows wild in all the ditches here making a beautiful field of blue for a solid 30 days.
Thank you for sharing your gardening journey in zone 3!
Colleen in Kenai,AK
Colleen, unfortunately, I don’t know of an equivalent to Japanese maple for zone 3, but I often admire the beautiful trees. I also can’t think of anything like wisteria, only clematis for the purple or blue flowers on a climbing vine, but not the same effect.
Fraser’s Thimble Farms in British Columbia ships to the States, and they have a great selection. However, the costs would add up with the extra certificates needed to cross the border, and minimum order for American orders.
Good luck with your new garden.
Thank you for some great inspiration for my shady beds here in Ottawa!
Fuzzpedals, you’re welcome. You can also check the categories, like perennials, on the right side to see lots more shade plants on this site.
Thanks for the great pictures and informative site! I live in a similar zone/climate to yours and am slowly building my very shady gardens in front of the house and my one in the bright backyard ….. great to find some info on what works and doesn’t!! Thank you!
Hannah, you can find some more ideas by looking at the perennial, bulb and other categories from the right hand menu, too. I’ve got more information, and lots more photos in the individual posts, as well.
I work at a state agency in Massachusetts, and am putting together a fern id pocket guide that I will us for teaching wetland identification. The guide will be free and available for download on the web. More about what I do is at http://www.buzzardsbay.org/wetlands-delineation.htm
Is it possible to use your lady fern photos for this purpose, provided proper credit is given? Photo is from:
http://northernshade.ca/wp-content/images/athyrium-filix-femina-lady-in-red1.jpg
Thank you for your consideration.
John Rockwell
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
John, I emailed you about the photo.
Northern Shade,
Your garden is stunning! I live in Spruce Grove and dug up a big perennial bed in my backyard this spring. I just planted some Ostrich Fern that my great-grandfather dug up from the bush in Saskatchewan, and planted in his backyard in the 1960′s. I would love to plant some Phlox divaricata ‘Clouds of Perfume’ (woodland phlox)
next to it in my own garden. Do you happen to remember where you bought it? It is so fun to work with my little girls in the garden. I’m hoping they develop a love for growing like I got from my own mother. Thanks for your beautiful posts.
Elaine S., I planted the Phlox divaricata about 8 years ago, so unfortunately I don’t remember where I bought it now. It might have been Holes. Your ostrich fern will have a long history of ancestry. Perhaps your daughters will plant it in their gardens when they grow up. I got my love of gardening from my father.
You gave me idea to do a plant file. I can record my garden and plants I have.
Wonderful.
Thank you.
ps I am a flower presser. you can check out my blog site.
Ruth, here is a post I wrote showing how I keep track of my plants on a spreadsheet. It has a sample you can download to see, and there is a follow up post showing it in action.
Hi,
Can you grow hydrangea plant in Calgary? Will it survive its harsh winters? Please help. Thanks.
Andy
Andy, the hardiest Hydrangea are the Hydrangea paniculata, like PG, ‘Little Lamb’, etc. I grow them in Edmonton. I also grow Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. This year I had a small amount of dieback on the tips of some branches, but overall they are hardy here.
Thanks so much “Northern Shade”, I appreciate your advice. I will try planting the ones you mentioned above, since I am worried that the other kinds of Hydrangea might not survive in Calgary.
Cheers,
Andy
Andy, you’re welcome. They are great in the garden for their long bloom time in late sumer.
Hi all,
I have a big patch of garden which is totally shaded. I am wondering if you have any idea to make it bright with flowers ( it get sun only 6p.m. to 8p.m). For your information Calgary is very new to me.
Thanking you in advance
Sana
Sana, if you want bright colour all summer, then annuals like begonia and impatiens would work well. Lobelia is a nice edging with blue flowers.
Here are some of the perennials that get the showiest flowers in that kind of shade. You can use Brunnera and Pulmonaria for blue colour in May and June. Pink bleeding hearts provide colour for about 2 months, from the end of May to mid July. Epimediums come in shades of yellow, pink and purple, and they give spring colour too. Some Campanula (bellflowers) like Dalmatain bellflower have blue blooms for a couple of months in summer. Serbian bellflower and fairy thimble bellflower get showy blue flowers. Aruncus (goatsbeard) will get very tall white plumes for 3 weeks in July. Actaea (bugbane) gets tall white spikes in late summer. Astilbe give very bright colour with fluffy plumes in pinks, reds, whites and purples in July and August. Some of the Heucherellas like ‘Tapestry’ get nice pink spikes for a couple of months. Filipendula is another tall perennial for the shade, with pinkish flowers. Primulas come in a rainbow of colour. Those are some of the perennials that get showy flowers in shade.
I stumbled on your page about a year ago when I was first looking for fern varieties, here I am again after Google’ing shady plants for zones 2-3! I just wanted to say thank you for all the details provided on your [mostly] shade loving plants! I’ve been having a bit of a difficulty trying to plan out what I am going to fill my shady, well treed north-east corner, but I definitely have some ideas now. :)
Thanks again from the nwo!
MissB, you’re welcome, I’m glad the information was helpful. I just wrote a post on a new shady garden with pink blue and white flowers. Here is another post I wrote about another shade garden under evergreens. They both have more photos and ideas.