As a child, I was always drawn to shady nooks. In my mind, a deep green space spoke of mystery with its long shadows and dappled play of light. This fascination has continued into my adulthood. Only now, these same sensations inspire my designs, particularly when it comes to creating a shade garden.
SHADE GARDENS ARE ALL ABOUT CONTRASTING TONES
It’s a funny thing. In garden design, we often use hedges, fences and walls to provide a sense of enclosure. Yet, a shade garden needs none of these devices to conjure up exactly the same thing. How is this so? It’s the plants themselves that create the feeling of sanctuary. They do this through their shapes, sizes, textures and most importantly, their contrasting tones.
A grouping of contrasting tones
Indeed, a great shade garden uses contrasting light and dark tones to create a sense of depth in the landscape. Dark toned plants appear to recede into the garden, while light toned plants seem to move forward. The successful combination of both is what gives shade gardens their irresistible allure.
There are so many great shade-loving plants with beautiful flowers. But, if you’re looking to create that feeling of warmth and enclosure, start with the foliage. Below are six different types of foliage and the role each plays in enriching a shade garden.
VARIEGATED FOLIAGE
Variegated leaf of Solomon’s Seal
In a shade border, plants with variegated foliage act as beacons, lighting up shadowy spaces and helping to create a feeling of expanse. Choose plants with cream, white or lime margins (or spots) and plant them at intervals among drifts of solid green foliage to create a ‘dappled’ look. The effect is a lot like the reflection of moonlight on water.
Variegated Dogwood, Cornus alba argenteo-marginata
Hosta ‘Francee’ and Hosta sieboldiana ‘Frances Williams’
Broad leafed sedge, Carex siderosticha ‘Variegata’
Solomon’s Seal
DARK FOLIAGE
Dark green foliage of Japanese yew
In painting, artists use dark tones to create the illusion of depth and to make lighter colors ‘pop’. Shade gardens use the same devices. Dark leaves tend to recede when you look at them, leading the eye deeper into the garden. And dark foliage creates a nice backdrop for lighter-toned plants.
Japanese yew, Taxus cuspidata
Rhododendron (any)
‘Illustris’, Elephant’s Ear, Colocasia esculenta
BLUE FOLIAGE
Blue hosta
Blue injects the perfect note of calm into a shade garden. The cool tone provides a tranquil contrast to dark or variegated foliage. It’s not an easy color to find, however, as most blues tend towards purple, which produces an altogether different effect.
Fothergilla x intermedia ‘Blue Shadow’
SILVER FOLIAGE
Silver-toned leaves of Brunnera macrophylla
A little touch of silver foliage in the shade garden acts as a foil to other plants. It also shimmers in the moonlight. Don’t overdo it, though. This tone brings things visually forward. If you add too much silver, you risk losing that sense of depth.
LIME GREEN FOLIAGE
Chartreuse flowers of bright green Lady’s Mantle
There’s nothing like a splash of lime green to lighten up the shade border. Lime calls attention to itself in a different way than white. More cooling, it brightens softly, like a light bulb on a dimmer.
Lady’s Mantle, Alchemilla mollis
Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia
BIG-LEAVED PLANTS
Giant leaves of Hardy Begonia, Begonia grandis
If you really want to make an impact, go big with big leaves. Big-leaved plants placed in the back of the garden attract the eye and increase the sense of depth.
Indian Rhubarb, Darmera Peltata
Giant Leopard Plant, Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Gigantea’