Gardens of The Blue Ridge Inc

Wildflowers For Shade to Semi-Shade

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Galax urceolata  Galax

An evergreen groundcover with dark green glossy leaves. Leaves will turn a maroon color in the winter if they are exposed to some sun. Must have rich moist soil and it prefers a northern exposure. It will not tolerate hot weather or dry soils. Has a white spike bloom in early summer. It is a groundcover, however it is very slow to start spreading. More noted for the leaves than the blooms.

Shade, Rich Soil, Summer, 4-8 in., Zones 4-7

FULL LEAF

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Gaultheria procumbens     Wintergreen, Teaberry

Has oval shaped shiny green leaves that are atop a 3-5 in stem. The white flowers appear in the summer and are bell shaped, they are about 3/8 of an inch long. Has red berries in the fall, which will remain on the plant through the winter. Foliage will turn red in the winter if it gets some sun.

Shade to Semi-shade, Rich Acid Soil, Summer, 4-6 in. Tall, Groundcover, Zones 3-8

LIMITED SUPPLY FULL LEAF

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Gentiana andrewsi   Closed Gentian, Bottled Gentian

This plant has an unusual but beautiful bloom. The color is a bluish-purple, it remains closed, only opened  by pollinating insects. Will tolerate varied conditions, tends to grow taller with fewer stems the more shade it gets. Being a late bloomer makes it a great addition to your garden.

Sun to Shade, Average, Fall, 1-2 ft Tall, Zones 3-8

FULL LEAF. CROP IS SMALL THIS YEAR. WAIT FOR BAREROOT PLANTS IN SEPT

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Geranium maculatum    Wild Geranium

Looking for some blooms in the shade, this is the plant. Has light pink to purple flowers from late spring to early summer. It will spread and make a very nice size clump quite quickly. In cooler climates it will tolerate about a half a day of full sun. This is one of our best selling plants.

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

FULL LEAF

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Hepatica acutiloba       Sharp-lobed Hepatica

A very early spring bloomer, one of the first of the woodland wildflowers to bloom. Has pretty white flowers, sometimes they have a slightly pink tint. After the bloom fades the leaves unfurl. Leaves are an attractive dark green with a slight variegation. The leaves are just as attractive as the blooms and stay on the plant well past frost and cold weather.

Shade – Semi-shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 6-8 in Tall, Zones 2-9

FULL LEAF - FINISHED BLOOMING FOR THIS SEASON

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Hepatica americana    Round-lobed Hepatica

An early spring bloomer with the white blooms appearing before any foliage is on the plant. Sometimes the blooms are blue or pink but mostly white. As the common name suggests the leaves are rounded on the edges and resemble trilliums and jacks as they are divided into three parts. The leaves have a slight variegation and will remain green throughout the winter.

Shade to Semi-shade, Rich Soil, Spring 4-6 in Tall, Zones 3-9

FULL LEAF FINISHED BLOOMING FOR THIS SEASON

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Heuchera americana   American Alumroot

This a very attractive plant with lobed heart shaped leaves that are mottled with bronze in the fall and winter. Has a greenish white flower in the summer, which stands about 2 ft above the basal foliage. Works well in a rock garden.

Shade to Semi-shade, Rich Soil, Summer, 1-2 ft Tall, Zones 4-8

FULL LEAF

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Hexastylis arifolia - Little Brown Jug

The beautiful evergreen heart shaped leaves is what makes this plant so popular. The common name comes from the bloom shape and color. It has a small brown jug-shaped calyx type flower that is right on the ground underneath the leaves. They prefer shade to semi-shade with rich somewhat moist soil. These will grow into a large clump after several years.

Shade to Semi-Shade, Summer, 4-6" Tall, Zones 3-9

EVERGREEN - Full Leaf

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Hexastylis shuttleworthi     Heartleaf, Little Brown Jug

A desirable plant sought after for its evergreen foliage with some white variegation in it. Needs very  rich soil, and can tolerate a little sun. This species has more rounded leaves as opposed to more pointed leaves of some of the other species. A slow grower but the clumps will get quite large in time. Has small brown tubular blooms underneath the leaves, looks like little brown jugs.

Shade- Semi-shade, Rich soil, Spring, 4-6 in Tall,  Zones 5-9

EVERGREEN - FULL LEAF

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Hydrastis canadensis    Goldenseal

This plant is used extensively in the medicinal field. Has leaves shaped somewhat like a maple tree. The white bloom is pretty insignificant but has bright red berries in the fall. It is on the endangered and protected list. We issue a certificate with each plant we sell. Must have rich, cool soil to thrive.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 6-12 in Tall, Zones 4-8

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Iris Cristata   Dwarf Crested Iris

This well known plant is a great early spring bloomer with light blue flowers that have a white throat.

Stays short, only about 5 inches tall. Will spread and make a groundcover if it receives some sun.

Semi-shade, Average Soil, Spring, 3-5 in. Tall, Zones 4-9

FULL LEAF

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Iris cristata ‘Alba’ – White Crested Iris

The delicate 1 ½ inch white flowers have yellow patches on them with lance-shaped

green foliage.  These bloom in April and May and grow 3-8 inches tall.  Prefers part shade and well-drained soil, and given these conditions they will multiply quickly.  This one is a rare beauty in your woodland garden.

Semi-shade, Well-drained soil, Spring, White, 3-8 in. Tall, Zones 4-8

CROP NEEDS MORE TIME

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Jeffersonia diphylla    Twinleaf

An early spring bloomer with a solitary white flower, leaves are divided into 2 parts. Prefers a shaded spot with rich moist soil. Somewhat resembles the more common Bloodroot. Give it a little lime to make it thrive.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 6-10 in Tall, Zones 4-9

DORMANT

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Maianthemum canadense     False Lily-Of-The- Valley

Good groundcover for dry shade area. Has white flowers in the spring followed by red berries in the late summer. The leaves are somewhat heart shaped and shiny green. This plant stays low to the ground and will even grow under hemlocks in the dry acid soil.

Shade, Dry Rich Soil, Spring, 1-3 in Tall, Zones 3-7

FULL LEAF STARTING TO GO DORMANT

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Mertensia virginica    Virginia Blue Bells

A very early spring bloomer, has purple blue flowers on a leafy stem about 2 feet tall. It dies back shortly after it gets through blooming so plant something close to it so you will not have a bare spot in your garden, ferns are a good choice.

Shade to Semi-Shade, Moist to Wet Rich Soil, Spring, 12-18 in Tall, Zones 3-9

DORMANT

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Mitchella repens    Partridge Berry

A slow growing groundcover that grows in deep shade. Flowers are very small, plant is more noted for the red berries in the fall, flowers are white to pink in the spring. Leaves are small rounded with white veins. It grows right flat on the ground. Will tolerate dry shade if the soil is rich.

Shade, Rich Soil, 1 in Tall Groundcover, Zones 4-9

LIMITED SUPPLY

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Pachysandra procumbens     Allegheny Spurge

Excellent groundcover for the shade. Has 3 inch ovate shaped leaves that come out bright green and then become darker and mottled later in the season. Flowers appear in the spring but are very inconspicuous; it is more notable for its foliage. Evergreen in warmer climates.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 3-6 in Tall, Groundcover, Zones 5-8

FULL LEAF

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Panax quinquefolium   American Ginseng

This much sought after medicinal plant is a great conversation piece for your shade garden. These must have cool rich soil, moist but well drained. Roots will rot if soil stays wet or damp. Has an insignificant white flower in the spring, which forms into a clump of bright red berries in the fall. These are mature roots 4-5 years old and should produce seed the first year.

FULL LEAF

LIMITED SUPPLY

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 9-18 in Tall, Zones 4-8

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Phlox divaricata    Blue Phlox

A short growing phlox that does well in the shade and has blue flowers in the spring. Will spread and make a nice clump, which will brighten up a shady corner.

Shade, Rich Soil, Spring, 9-18 in Tall, Zones 3-9

DORMANT

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Phlox stolonifera   Creeping Phlox

This is a good groundcover for a moist shaded area with rich soil. The leaves stay right on the ground and are semi-evergreen. Has rose-purple flowers early in the spring, flowers are 2 inches across and stand about 3-4 inches tall. Flowers are somewhat fragrant.

Shade, Rich Moist Soil, Spring, 3-4 in Tall, Groundcover, Zones 4-8

FULL LEAF GOING DORMANT

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Podophyllum peltatum     May Apple

Each plant has a pair of large deeply lobed leaves, often reaching 8 inches across. The white flower nods down below these leaves. Will tolerate some sun if the soil is moist, but does best in a shady moist spot.

This is a good spreader.

Shade to Semi –Shade, Moist Rich Soil, Spring, 12-18 in Tall, Zones 4-9

DORMANT

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Polygonatum canaliculatum    Great Solomon's Seal

A very unusual plant in that it’s stem comes up 2 or 3 feet then lays outward another 2 or 3 feet. Has drooping greenish white flowers underneath the leaves, which turn into a purple seedpod in the fall. Will grow in varied conditions.

Sun to Shade, Average Soil, Summer, 2-5’ Tall, Zones 3-9

FULL LEAF ONLY FEW LEFT RABBITS GOT IN THE COLD FRAME

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Porteranthus trifoliatus   Bowman's Root, Fawn’s Breath, Indian Physic

The leaves and stems of this attractive plant have a slight red tint to them. The small white flowers, which appear in the summer, are quite numerous on each plant. When planted in a site that receives some sun it will bloom better and will be more compact and shrubby in growth habit.

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

Full LEAF

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