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Shade Perennials
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Astilbe
Astilbes are mainstays of shade and woodland gardens. They are clump-forming perennials which feature graceful, fern-like mounds of mostly basal, 2-3 ternately compound leaves, usually with sharply-toothed leaflets, and tiny flowers densely packed into erect to arching, plume-like flower panicles rising above the foliage on slender, upright stems.
Astilbe is easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils and prefer part shade to full shade. If regularly watered, the foliage will remain attractive throughout the season. Divide Astilbe when the clumps become over crowded every 3-4 years.
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'Bridal Veil'
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'Fanal'
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'Hennie Graafland'
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'Bridal Veil' is a foamy, ivory white bloomer with full, branched flower heads and dependably attractive foliage. 'Bridal Veil' blooms mid summer, adding light and movement to shady garden spots.
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'Fanal’ is noted for having perhaps the darkest red flowers of any of the astilbes and for its bronze foliage. It is a compact cultivar which typically forms a foliage mound to 9-12” tall with narrow panicles of dark crimson red flowers appearing on upright, 15-18” tall stems. The foliage emerges bronze but tends to turn dark green with a reddish tint as the summer progresses.
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'Hennie Graafland' has airy pale-rose plumes. It has finely serrated, shiny dark green foliage and blooms mid to late season.
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'Peach Blossom'
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'Rhineland'
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'Visions'
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‘Peach Blossom’ features a foliage mound (to 18” tall) of rich, medium green leaves and wide panicles of peach-pink flowers atop stems typically rising to 24” tall in late spring.
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‘Rheinland’ typically forms a dark green foliage mound (to 9-12” tall) with open panicles of clear pink flowers appearing on upright, reddish stems (to 24” tall). It should be noted that ‘Rheinland’ is sometimes listed as an x japonica cultivar.
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'Visions', a Chinese astilbe is a slow spreading, rhizomatous plants which bloom later than the x arendsii hybrids. ‘Visions’ is a compact cultivar which features a foliage mound (to 9” tall) of bronze-green leaves and thick panicles of raspberry flowers on 12-15” tall stems in late spring to early summer. |
Heuchera
The Heuchera is a must for part shade to part sun gardens. It is best grown in organically rich, humusy, medium wet, well-drained soil. In the St. Louis area, best foliage color may occur in sunny spots with part afternoon shade. Divide clumps in spring every 3-4 years.
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'Can Can'
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'Crimson Curls'
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'Lime Ricky'
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| The 'Can Can' has foliage that is tight and curly, with pewter-white with plum-colored veins and reddish-purple undersides. The new growth emerges flushed with pink, but slowly fades into silver with age. In the summer it produces light, airy panicles of greenish-white flowers in upright spires above the leaves. |
Crimson Curls' is a clump-forming perennial which features distinctively curly purple foliage and off-white flowers. The rounded, lobed, long-petioled leaves (2-4" wide) form a basal mound (to 9" tall). Tiny, white, bell-shaped flowers borne in open, airy panicles appear in late spring to early summer on slender, wiry stems rising well above the foliage mound (typically to 12-18" tall)..
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'Lime Rickey' is a vigorous, clump-forming coral bells cultivar that is most noted for its ruffled lime green foliage and white flowers. It has lobed, rounded leaves with ruffled edges that form an 8" mound which may spread to 18” wide. Leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, but mature to lime green in summer. Tiny, white flowers appear in spires in late spring to early summer on slender stems rising above the foliage mound, typically to 18” tall.
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'Obsidian'
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'Palace Purple
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'Rave On'
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‘Obsidian’ is a clump-forming, coral bells hybrid that is noted for its dark purple to almost black leaves that remain dark throughout the growing season. This compact mound grows to 8-10” tall and 16” wide. Small, creamy white flowers borne in open, airy panicles appear in late spring to early summer on slender, wiry stems rising typically 20-24” tall.
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'Palace Purple' is a clump-forming coral bell that has shiny reddish-bronze foliage with off-white flowers in summer. It is very showy. It will tolerate a wide range of soil types as long as good drainage is present. The addition of generous amounts of organic matter to the soil is beneficial to growing high quality specimens.
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'Rave On' is a coral bell that has silver veiled leaves with profuse masses of pink flowers. It grows 8" tall with 20" flower spikes.
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| Other great shade perennials include Hardy Geraniums, Helleborus, Ferns and Hosta and Pulmonaria! |
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Sun Perennials
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Echinacea
The Echinacea is asily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. They should be divided when clumps when they become overcrowded. Plants usually rebloom without deadheading, however prompt removal of spent flowers improves general appearance. The dead flower stems will remain erect well into the winter and, if flower heads are not removed, are often visited by goldfinches who perch on or just below the blackened cones to feed on the seeds. Echinacea comes from the Greek word "echinos" meaning hedgehog in reference to the spiny center cone.
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'Big Sky Summer Sky'
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'Kim's Knee High'
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'Paradox'
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'Big Sky Summer Sky' is the first bi-colored flower from the Big Sky series. It produces huge flowers up to 5 inches across with peach petals, a rose colored halo and an orange cone. The tall, stout stems hold up well when cut for arrangements. It is a prolific bloomer that tends to keep its color longer and the flowers are delightfully fragrant. It is a well-branched, vigorous grower.
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‘Kim’s Knee High’ is a compact or dwarf version of the familiar species plant. It is noted for its short habit and long summer bloom. It typically begins blooming when its rigid stems reach 15” tall. If not cut back, plants may eventually reach 24” in height by the end of the summer. This is a daisy-like coneflower that features drooping, clear rose-pink to purple-pink rays and large, pin cushion-like, coppery-orange to dark bronze central cones.
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'Paradox' is a yellow coneflower. The only species in the genus Echinacea to have yellow flowers (this being the paradox suggested by the species name). It features large, daisy-like flowers with drooping yellow to orange-yellow petals and very large, coppery-brown to chocolate-brown central cones. The flowers grow typically to 3' tall. It blooms mid-June to mid-July, sometimes with sporadic continued bloom throughout the summer.
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'Pixie Meadowbrite'
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'Ruby Star'
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| 'Pixie Meadowbrite' is a dwarf hybrid coneflower that has been developed and released by the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG in the cultivar name) as part of their Meadowbrite Series of coneflowers. It typically grows to 15-20” tall and to 20-24” wide. Each small daisy-like coneflower features horizontal bright pink ray flowers surrounding a dark center cone. Flowers bloom from June to August. |
'Ruby Star' is a purple coneflower seed cultivar that typically grows 2-3’ tall. It features daisy-like coneflowers (to 4” diameter) with carmine red to purple rays and large, pin cushion-like, dark bronze-brown central cones. Flowers bloom from June to August with some sporadic later bloom. Use in borders, meadows, cottage gardens, native plant gardens or part shade areas of open woodland gardens.
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Hemerocallis
Daylilies are easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Daylilies do well in a wide range of well-drained soils, but prefer a deep, fertile loam. Deadhead spent flowers daily for neatness and remove scapes when flowers have completed bloom. Daylilies should be divided to maintain vigor when the clumps become overcrowded.
Daylilies are extremely adaptable perennials. They are easy to grow, quick to multiply and virtually pest free.
They provide color and contrast to the perennial border when grown in clumps or when massed over large areas. The fountain-like leaves provide elegant foliage, color and texture for the garden when the flowers are not in bloom. Daylilies can crowd out weeds and form a verdant ground cover.
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'Eenie Weenie'
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'Happy Returns'
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'Little Audrey'
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'Eenie Weenie' features 1.75" diameter, light yellow flowers with green throats. Flowers are borne on naked stems (scapes) above a clump of arching, linear, blade-like leaves. Individual flowers open for one day. It tolerates summer heat and humidity. This cultivar is classified as a dwarf miniature, and is a repeat bloomer.
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'Happy Returns' is a repeat-blooming cultivar which features 3.5" diameter, ruffled, lemon yellow flowers on naked stems (scapes) typically rising to 18" tall above a clump of arching, linear, blade-like leaves. Individual flowers open for one day. Mildly fragrant. This cultivar is a 'Stella de Oro' hybrid which starts blooming in June with a good repeat bloom to frost. |
'Little Audrey' features 2.5" diameter, buttercup-yellow flowers with red eye zones and citron-green throats. Flowers rise above a clump of arching, linear, blade-like leaves. Individual flowers open for one day. It tolerates summer heat and humidity. This cultivar flower is classified as a miniature. |
'Little Grapette'
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'Pardon Me'
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'Prairie Blue Eyes'
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'Little Grapette' grows to 12 inches with 2 inch blooms. It has dark purple band, rose purple watermark and florescent throat
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'Pardon Me' is a vigorous cultivar which features 3-inch diameter bright red flowers with yellow-green throats. Flowers typically rise to 24" tall and are fragrant. Individual flowers open for one day. Blooms in late mid-season with a possible repeat bloom in autumn.
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'Prairie Blue Eyes' features 5.25-inch diameter lavender flowers with near-blue eye zones and green throats. Flowers open for one day and tolerate summer heat and humidity. 1976 AHS Award of Merit.
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'Stella d'Oro'
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'Stella Supreme'
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| 'Stella d'Oro' features profuse 2.75-inch diameter yellow flowers with ruffled edges and deeper yellow throats. The flower is classified as a miniature. Flowers open for one day. This multiple AHS award winner has become perhaps the most popular daylily in cultivation in large part because of its compact size, vigorous growth, profuse bloom and extremely long bloom period. It reblooms and withstands cold temperatures without mulching. |
'Stella Supreme' is an improved variety of H. 'Stella D'Oro'. It offers even richer color with its lemon-yellow blossoms and an extended bloom period from late spring/early summer to first frost. |
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Leucanthemum 'Becky'
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Perovskia 'Little Spire'
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Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum'
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'Becky' is a mainstay of the perennial border. It is a long lasting excellent Shasta cultivar. This daisy is larger than most other Shasta cultivars, growing 3-4' tall on rigid stems which do not require staking. Features 3-4" diameter flower heads with the classic white rays and yellow center disks and coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, medium green leaves. Stems do not require staking. Long bloom period of July through September.
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Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' is a compact Russian sage cultivar which typically grows to 2' tall (species typically grows to 3-4'). It is a woody-based perennial of the mint family. Features finely-dissected, aromatic, gray-green foliage on stiff, upright, square stems. Whorls of 2-lipped, tubular, violet-blue flowers tiered in branched, terminal panicles appear over a long summer bloom. Silvery foliage can provide good winter interest in warm winter climates. |
Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' or the Black Eyed Susan is easily grown in average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. It tolerates hot and humid summers and some drought.
This cultivar is an upright, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 2-3' tall. It features large, flowers with deep yellow rays and dark brownish-black center disks.
Mass in bold drifts in the perennial border, cottage garden, prairie, meadow or naturalized area. Provides excellent bloom and color for late summer. |
Stokesia laevis
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The Stokes' aster is native to the southeastern U.S. It is an upright perennial which features fluffy, cornflower-like, soft blue flowers (to 4" across) on generally erect, leafy stems growing 18-24" tall from a rosette of oblong-lanceolate, medium green leaves (to 8" long). Stokesia features long summer bloom. Stokesia is easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates filtered sunlight, but prefers full sun. Prefers moist soils, but has surprisingly good drought tolerance. Wet soil in winter is the main cause of death for this plant. A well-drained soil is essential. Appreciates a winter mulch in the northern parts of its growing range. Deadhead individual spent flowers and remove spent flowering stems to encourage additional bloom.
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Sedum
Sedum is easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It will tolerate some light shade as well as drought and heat. Sedum thrives in sandy to gravelly soils of moderate to low fertility. It needs good soil drainage to perform well. Plants will naturalize over time.
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'Angelina'
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'Autumn Joy'
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'Black Jack'
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Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' is a low-growing, mat-forming, evergreen stonecrop that grows to only 4” tall but quickly spreads to 24” wide on stems clad with spiky gray-green leaves. ‘Angelina’ is a yellow leaved cultivar featuring spiky yellow leaves (to 3/4” long) that often sport ginger brown tips. Star-shaped yellow flowers appear in June – August.
Angelina is an excellent used as a ground cover or used as a border or in rock gardens. This Sedum will drape over stone walls. It is effective in containers and hanging baskets.
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Sedum 'Autumn Joy' is a hardy upright plant that forms a dense mound of blue green foliage. Showy late summer flower display in Aug.-Sept. Broad rich pink flower clusters and will grow to 18 inches. |
Sedum 'Black Jack' has solid dark purple foliage is held on dark, sturdy, upright stems that will grow to 24". This plant is a sport from Sedum 'Matrona' with pink flowers that show up beautifully against the dark foliage. Plants emerge somewhat green and will get their darkest coloration hot, sunny conditions. Surround a group of these with Sedum 'Angelina' for a WOW combination!
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'Blue Spruce'
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'Hen and Chicks'
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| Sedum 'Blue Spruce' is a course textured groundcover sedum, with very blue (spruce colored), 1/2" long, needle-like foliage complement yellow flowers in summer. Any sedum, upright or ground hugging is an excellent addition to a sunny border. |
Hen and chicks are popular in gardens for their varied and interesting appearance and hardiness. They are grown as container planting or rock gardens. They do best in well-drained, rocky soil. Although they do best in sun, they will grow in light shade. |
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Other great sun perennials include Achillea, Artemesia, Campanula, Coreopsis, Monarda, Salvia, Veronica!
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