Gardens of The Blue Ridge Inc

Wildflowers For Shade to Semi-Shade

As you browse through the web pages on our website you will find something new. We are adding pictures of the root system of our bareroot plants. Notice we have measurements on each picture to give you an idea of how large the root system and what it looks like. We thought you might find this interesting and it will give you an idea of what you will be receiving. Of course keep in mind that root sizes will vary but this will give you a basic idea. Also you can click on the picture to give you a more close up and detailed view. Please be patient as it will take us some time to get these pictures posted to the website.

Actaea pachypoda  Dolls Eye, White Baneberry

Very similar to some of the Bugbanes, but this plant has its white flower in late spring. Then it produces a white seedpod that has a black dot on it which resembles a dolls eye. Prefers a shady spot with rich moist soil.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 2-3 ft Tall, Zones 4-8                                                                   

Dormant

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Allium tricocum  Woodleek, Ramps

Two leaves emerge from the ground very early in the spring bearing white flowers. This plant is well known for its great tasting root, resembling the taste of garlic or onions. Must have a wet location, often found along creeks and springs.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 6-12 in Tall, Zones 4-9

Dormant

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Amianthium muscaetoxicum    Fly Poison

The basal foliage on this plant is grass like except wider than grass. Has a showy white flower in the summer, really stands out in a shade garden. It will tolerate some sun in cooler climates.

Shade to Semi, Rich Soil, Summer, 1-2 ft Tall, Zones 4-9

Dormant

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Anemonella Thalictroides – Rue Anemone       

This Rue Anemone has single 6” white flowers. They grow in woodland areas with little care. They bloom in early spring and go dormant later in the summer. This one is easy to grow in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter.

Shade to Semi Shade, Well drained Soil, Spring, 8-12” Tall, Spread 8”, Zones 4-6

Dormant

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Aralia racemosa     American Spikenard                                                                                     

A very large plant with a massive root system, works well in the back of a garden in a shaded spot. Has large heart shaped leaves. The flowers are greenish white, and the fruit is a dark blue berry type fruit, which is edible.                                                    

Shade to Semi-Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Summer, 3-5 ft Tall, Zones 4-7

LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER

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          Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Indian Turnip                                                                           

A must for every woodland garden. Growing to heights of 2 feet or more in a moist shady location. Has 2 leaves generally divided into 3 parts. The spathe type flower can vary from pale green to purplish brown and is often striped. Blooms in the spring and has a cluster of bright red berries in the fall.                                   

 Shade, Moist Soil, Spring, 1-3 ft Tall, Zones 4-9.

 DORMANT

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Aruncus dioicus     Goatsbeard                                                                                             

Almost forms into a small shrub with a plume of white flowers in the summer. This plant is very showy and works well in the back of a garden. The stems have a slight reddish tint to them making this an attractive plant even when it is not in bloom. Give this plant plenty of room to spread out, spacing them at least 3-4 ft apart

Shade to Semi-Shade, Average Soil, Summer, 3-4 ft Tall, Zones 3-9

Full Leaf

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Asarum canadense     Canada Wild Ginger                                                                       

This ginger has kidney shaped leaves with purplish flowers just below the leaves right on the ground. It will make a ground cover in a shaded moist spot that has rich soil. The leaves and roots are aromatic when crushed.                                                                                                                                                     

 Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 6-12 in Tall, Zones 3-8

FULL LEAF

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Aster divaricatus   White Wood Aster                                                                                    

A late summer bloomer that will tolerate shade. It also spreads very nicely, and has white flowers with gold centers. Makes a nice show when not much else is blooming in the shade.                                          

Shade, Rich Soil, Summer – Fall, 1-2 ft Tall, Zones 4-8

FULL LEAF

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Astilbe biternata    False Goatsbeard

This is the native Astilbe that gets rather tall. Has a plume of white flowers, which shows up nicely in the shade. This plant can get quite large with a spread of 24-30 inches, so give it some room. Does look somewhat like the Goatsbeard hence, its common name.

Shade, Rich Soil, Summer, 3-5 ft Tall, Zones 4-9

Dormant

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Carex flaccosperma – Blue Wood Sedge           

This Groundcover is a native with striking blue foliage. It is easy to grow and is an evergreen in warmer zones. Cut back in late winter and see it rebound in the spring. You will find it spreads slowly in shady woodland gardens. It propagates by seed or clump division every few years. Can be grown in containers.

Shade, Average Soil, Spring, 6-10” Tall, Spread 10-12”, Zones 5-8

Full Leaf

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Carex pensylvanica – Pennsylvania Sedge            

This is a native grass that makes an excellent shade groundcover which spreads in a restrained fashion. It has semi-evergreen leaves with an arching effect and spreads via rhizomes. Cut back in spring before new growth appears. It is easy to grow and makes a great underplanting.

Sun/Semi, Average Soil, Spring, 8-10” Tall, Spread 12-18”, Zones 4-8

Full Leaf

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Caulophyllum thalictroides   Blue Cohosh

A plant that is sought after in the herb business for medicinal properties. Has a greenish yellow flower in the spring, which produces a blue berry in the summer. It needs a shady spot in the garden.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 2-3 ft Tall, Zones 3-8

Dormant

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Chamaelirium luteum       Fairywand, Devil’s Bit                                                      

This plant has basal foliage, which will remain all year in the milder climates. It sends up a spike of white flowers in the summer. Will grow in varied conditions, which makes it a great addition to any of your gardens. Soil should be slightly acid and rich.                                                                             

Sun to Shade, Rich Soil, Summer, 1-3 ft Tall, Zones 4-9.

Full Leaf

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Chelone glabra WhiteTurtlehead                                                                     

Has opposite lanced shaped leaves that are slightly toothed. Likes a shady wet spot, often growing along on creek banks. Has white flowers in the fall.                                                                                              

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Fall, 2-3 ft Tall, Zones 3-8

FULL LEAF

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Chelone lyoni       PinkTurtlehead                                                                                          

 Similar to the white variety except the leaves on this one are a little wider and it has pink flowers in the fall. Also likes shady wet areas. Good fall bloomer for the shade garden.                                                                                                                      

  Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Fall, 2-3 ft Tall, Zones 3-8

FULL LEAF

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Cimicifuga racemosa    Black Cohosh                                                                                

A great plant for the back of your shade garden. Has a tall white, slightly fragrant, spike flower in the late summer. These will tolerate some sun in cooler climates. Needs to be in rich soil, moist but well drained. It is much sought after in the medicinal field for its medicinal properties.                                                          

Shade to Semi Shade, Rich Soil, Summer, 3-5 ft Tall, Zones 3-9.

Full Leaf

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Claytonia virginica    Spring Beauty

As the name suggests this has white flowers very early in the spring. These are small but in time will spread and make quite a show in your woodland garden when nothing else has hardly even started to sprout.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 6-12 in. Tall, Zones 5-8

 DORMANT

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Clintonia umbellulata    Speckled Clintonia, Blackbead Lily

An excellent ground cover for your shade garden. Has oval shaped basal leaves with white flowers atop a short stem. In the fall it has black seedpods. Needs good rich dirt to spread.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 8-15 in Tall, Zones 4-8

DORMANT

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Collinsonia canadensis     Citronella

This plant has fragrant lemon yellow flowers in the summer. The leaves are large with toothed edges. Grows best in a shady damp spot. The stems are juicy and smell of citronella when crushed.

Shade, Moist Rich Soil, Summer, 1-3 ft Tall, Zones 3-9

FULL LEAF

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Convallaria majalis   Lily-of-the-Valley

An excellent ground cover with fragrant white flowers in the late spring to early summer. Will tolerate some sun in cooler climates.

Semi-shade to Shade, Rich Soil, Spring to Summer, 6-10 in. Tall, Zones 2-9

DORMANT

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Delphinum tricorne  Larkspur

Has a beautiful purple flower in the early spring.  Must have very rich organic moist soil and full shade to survive. Often grows around old rotten dead stumps where the soil is loose and rich.

Shade, Rich Organic Soil, Spring, 1-2 ft tall, Zones 4-8

DORMANT

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Deschampsia flexuosa – Wavy Hair Grass          

This elegant native grass thrives in dry shade. It is fine-textured and looks delicate but is actually tough and drought tolerant. It is also ideal for any well-drained shady location as a groundcover. Its feathery Apricot  blooms blow quietly in the spring breezes. Try to avoid winter wetness.

Shade/Semi, Well-Drained Soil, Spring, 12” Tall, Spread 14”, Zones 4-9

FULL LEAF

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Dicentra canadensis   Squirrel-corn

This is a small delicate plant that blooms white early in the spring. Shortly after it blooms the foliage will die back and the plant will remain dormant until next spring. Must have rich loose soil to survive, preferably on the north side where the soil remains cool.

Shade, Rich Cool Soil, Early Spring, 4-10 in. Tall, Zones 3-8

Dormant

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Dicentra cucullaria    Dutchman’s Breeches

As with the squirrel-corn this has a white flower early in the spring and then the foliage dies back shortly after it quits blooming. Must have rich loose soil, preferably on the north side where the soil remains cool. Blooms resemble a pair of Dutchman's Breeches.

Shade, Rich Cool Soil, Early Spring, 6-18 in. Tall, Zones 3-8

DORMANT

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Dicentra eximia       Fringed Bleeding Heart                                                                                          

It blooms from first sign of warm weather until the frost kills it back in the fall. The pink flowers mixed with the fern like foliage give it a very delicate look. In cooler climates it will tolerate quite a bit of sun if the soil is rich and not allowed to dry out. It makes almost a small shrub, will grow to about 2’ tall and 2-3’ across.                                                                         

Shade to Semi Shade, Rich Soil, Spring thru Fall, 18-24 in. Tall, Zones 3-8.

FULL LEAF

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Diphylleia cymosa     Umbrellaleaf

Has large lobed leaves often reaching 10-12 inches across. Has a white flower atop these massive leaves in the spring, then in the fall it has  very attractive purple berries on red stems. Will grow best in a wet shade.

Shade, Wet Rich Soil, Spring, 1-2 ft Tall, Zones 5-9

DORMANT

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Dioscorea villosa    Wild Yam

This is a small vine that does not take over. Vines only reaching 4-8 ft. long, with large heart shaped leaves, which turn yellow in the fall. The small yellow green flowers bloom in the summer.

Shade, Rich Soil, Summer, Vine up to 8 ft., Zones 5-8

FULL LEAF

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Dodecatheon media    Shooting Star

A small but pretty plant with white flowers in the spring. The basal foliage is very tender and will curl up some if over exposed to the sun. The ideal spot is a shady area where the soil is rich and somewhat moist. It usually goes dormant in the late summer.

Shade to semi-shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 9-18 in. Tall, Zones 4-8

DORMANT

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Epigaea repens    Trailing Arbutus   Mayflower

This is an evergreen groundcover that has leathery oblong leaves and ½ inch white to pink blooms in the early spring. Must be planted in very acid dry soil, the pH must be down to 4.5. This is a very slow spreader more sought after for its foliage and blooms than as a groundcover. Get your soil right or it will not survive.

Sun to Shade, Very Acid Soil pH of 4.5, Spring, Groundcover, Zones 3-8

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Erythronium albidum       White Trout Lily

Has white blooms early in the spring. Has two somewhat variegated leaves, which will remain until mid-summer then they will go dormant. Must have a shady, moist spot.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 5-10 in. Tall, Zones 4-9

DORMANT

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Erythronium americanum   Yellow Trout Lily

Growing conditions same as White Trout Lily above. This one has a yellow flower in the spring. Will spread if given the proper conditions.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 5-10 in. Tall, Zones 4-9

DORMANT

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Eupatorium rugosum     American Ageratum

Has white blooms in the fall, and prefers the shade. A good plant to give that shady area some color in the fall. Will spread somewhat if the soil is rich and loose.

Shade, Rich Soil, Fall, 2-3 ft Tall, Zones 4-9

FULL LEAF

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