Shade Tolerant Plants

The spicily fragrant, 4" wide, medium-sized, loose peony form, medium to deep pink double blossoms with contrasting yellow stamens peaking out between the ruffled petals are produced in mid to late season or January to April. Ack-Scent Camellia is a hybrid with a moderate rate of growth develops into a dense evergreen shrub with an upright eventually rounded habit. Bred for its fragrant flowers by Dr. William Ackerman in the 1970's it is still one of the most prized fragrant Camellias available. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12993

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 flowering-sized bulbs actively growing in a 4.5" pot. Item# 12276

The arrowhead shaped medium green foliage is decorated with darker purplish green round spots when young then matures to a rich medium green. Soon after leafing back out in spring, African False Hosta, Drimiopsis maculata, produces arching 1" diameter dense rounded spikes of small white buds that mature to green once the flowers open.This is a naturally decidous clump-forming, readily multiplying, semi-hardy tropical bulb that is well suited to shaded conditions and is suprisingly considered hardy in the garden into zone 7B per Tony Avent of Plant Delights. The shade-loving African False Hosta is well suited to container culture where it makes an easy and low-maintenance specimen plant, utilize it in mixed succulent gardens, as a groundcover under larger plants provided it gets sufficient light, as well as in the shaded garden or landscape. Its main requirement is a very well-drained soil. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 1-3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 2.25" pot. Item# 12277

Zone 6B cold hardy! The medium-sized, white, perfect or rose form flowers are randomly streaked with contrasting medium pink and are produced in mid to late season or January to April. April Dawn Camellia is a hybrid that was selected for exceptional cold hardiness and reliable flowering even in those colder zone 6B climates. The flowers are very similar to the ever popular La Peppermint. It has a vigorous rate of growth developing into an upright shrub becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12994

Zone 6B cold hardy! The small to medium-sized, medium pink to red, perfect or rose form flowers are produced in mid season or January to February. April Kiss Camellia is a hybrid that was selected for exceptional cold hardiness and reliable flowering even in those colder zone 6B climates. It has a slow to medium rate of growth developing into an upright shrub becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12995

Zone 6B cold hardy! The medium-sized, rosy pink to near red, perfect or rose form flowers are produced in mid to late season or January to April. April Rose Camellia is a hybrid that was selected for exceptional cold hardiness and reliable flowering even in those colder zone 6B climates. It has a slow rate of growth and dense compact habit eventually developing into an upright shrub becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12996

Clear Creek Deciduous Azaleas produce large, full, fragrant soft yellow flowers with a deep yellow blotch eye are produced in rounded clusters in early spring perched atop the still bare winter stems. The fragrant flower clusters attract larger butterflies and hummingbirds. In the garden, the Aromi Deciduous Azalea Hybrids have the look, feel, and fragrance of many of, or are improvements upon, our most beautiful, US native deciduous azalea species, sometimes called bush honeysuckles, and yet are easy and vigorous enough for the average gardener to be successful with. They prefer acidic, average moist, loamy soils in full sun to partial or filtered shade. Item# 13076

Pat Ryan Deciduous Azaleas produce large, full, fragrant soft orange flowers are tinged pink with a with a yellow eye are produced in rounded clusters in early spring perched atop the still bare winter stems. The fragrant flower clusters attract larger butterflies and hummingbirds. In the garden, the Aromi Deciduous Azalea Hybrids have the look, feel, and fragrance of many of, or are improvements upon, our most beautiful, US native deciduous azalea species, sometimes called bush honeysuckles, and yet are easy and vigorous enough for the average gardener to be successful with. They prefer acidic, average moist, loamy soils in full sun to partial or filtered shade. Item# 13075

The out of this world very large, up to 5" across, funnel shaped flowers can range from solid salmon, to randomly flecked and streaked with salmon and pink, to white with randomly flecked with pink and are produced in late spring. Astronaut Azalea, a.k.a. Holly Springs Astronaut, is a Satsuki hybrid developing into a 3' high mound of deep green, medium textured, evergreen foliage. It lends itself to bonsai culture but is sure to be a low-maintenance conversation piece in the garden and landscape. Azaleas do best in average moist, acidic soils that are rich in organic matter but have good to excellent drainage and should be top dressed with an organic mulch such as pine straw and pine bark. We recommend using a slow-release, non-burning fertilizer that is labeled for acidic loving plants. Azalea flowers attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12796

The clusters of fragrant starry white flowers with a touch of contrasting red to burgundy at the base of the corona may be produced throughout the year under warm tropical conditions. The sweet and almost honey-like, spicily fragrant flowers attract butterflies, hummingbird moths, and other pollinators. The Australian Waxflower, Hoya australis, is an exceptionally vigorous growing, twining, evergreen, tropical vine with glossy rounded ovate foliage and burgundy new growth. It naturally wants to climb and the vines can reach 30' long if offered support but it can also easily be trained to a small 3' high trellis or as a hanging basket specimen. This appears to be one of the easier to grow species and is reported to tolerate some cool sunlight although the leaves may become more olive or yellowish green than the typical deep green coloration under high light conditions. Item# 12343

The rosette-like clusters of glossy, wide, succulent, medium green, tapering foliage resembles a bromeliad in many regards but is actually a close kin of the more common Wandering Jew and Spiderworts. Mature Basket Plant mothers may produce upright to arching branching stems that are adorned with basket-like clusters of dainty, white, fragrant flowers that are likely pollinated by hummingbird and Sphinx moths. New pups are typically produced at the ends of long, spidery trailing arms and can be up to 36" long. This is an easy and rewarding, heirloom plant suitable even for beginners and it can be enjoyed indoors as well as out. The Basket Plant, Callisia fragrans, is a naturally evergreen, tropical perennial with individuals growing to about 6-10"H x 12"W. It can be enjoyed as hanging basket and container specimens and is also used as an easy and low maintenance groundcover in areas with mild winter climates. It is reported to withstand some direct sunlight but the leaves tend to lay down and may take on purple tinging, we personally think it looks the best when grown in light shade or with a short period of cool direct sunlight like very early or very late in the day. Provide a well-drained, average moist soil and allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings. Item# 12908

The bracts start out chartreuse to yellow and quickly begin to take on bronze tones and mature to a deep brick red. A favorite among hummingbirds, the nectar rich, tubular white flowers peak out from between the bracts and have maroon bee guides on the lower lip. The Bicolor Red Shrimp Plant, a selection of Justicia brandeegeana, is a heat loving, naturally evergreen, bushy, tropical plant with dark olive green foliage and grows to about 24" high by about 18" wide. The foliage of these plants may eventually show white and cream variegation as they were propagated from variegated mother plants. The Red Shrimp Plants can be enjoyed both as container plants as specimens or in mixed company as well as in the garden and landscape. It is both full sun and bright shade tolerant but tends to have the densest branching habit where it receives at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide an average to well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. The Red Shrimp Plant is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 12909

Selected at the esteemed Biltmore Estate, Ashville, NC, the summerlong display of 2" wide dangling Chinese lantern-like flowers are a soft yellow-orange heavily overlaid with a strongly contrasting deep red veining. Biltmore Ball Gown Abutilon or Flowering Maple is an exceptionally hardy and reliable upright growing, naturally evergreen shrubby tropical that has proven to be evergreen in mild zone 8 winters but where it is not reliably hardy it makes an easy container plant that can be overwintered indoors near a sunny window. Abutilons are also known as Parlor Maples as this was a reliably flowering indoor plant and a conversation piece. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other garden beneficials. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist soil. Item# 13087

The large tropical deep green, sagittate to heart-shaped foliage is heavily marked with starkly contrasting bright white to creamy yellow pinstripes. As the foliage ages it eventually fades into a deep dark glossy green and may occasionally sport burgundy to solid white foliage and even pink tinges. The Birkin Philodendron, a shockingly different sport of its parent Red Congo, is a naturally upright and self-supporting or self-heading Philodendron with a slow rate of growth eventually reaching up to 2-3' high and wide. It will do best in high to medium indirect sunlight, although it can probably tolerate a little filtered early morning or very late evening direct sunlight. Too much direct sunlight is likely to cause leaf burn as with many other variegated plants. Enjoy your young Birkin Philodendron as a window sill plant or on a table top. Use a high quality potting soil and mix in a slow or controlled release, non-burning fertilizer and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings and never allow them to remain soggy wet. Overall these are easy to grow and enjoy evergreens that can brighten up a room or porch or patio during the warmer months of the year, when night time temperatures remain above about 60-65^oF. Item# 12808

Large clusters of lightly fragrant, pale blue flowers held on 12-14" high stems are produced in early spring to early summer, depending on your zone, attracting mainly butterflies, long-tongued bees, and sphinx and hummingbird moths. Blue Buttons' Lapham's Phlox, is a selection of Phlox laphamii, a.k.a. P. divaricata var. laphamii, that is reported to have a slightly longer flowering season, petals that are without clefts and are rounded to pointed, wider foliage and may have a slight preference for shade above that of typical Woodland Phlox. This is an evergreen to semi-evergreen, slowly spreading native perennial that makes a choice groundcover in average moist to moist, well-drained, fertile soils preferably rich in organic matter. Provide shade during the heat of the day such as morning sun, filtered shade, and deciduous shade seems to be about perfect as they receive sunlight during the majority of the growing season but are shaded by the time summer arrives. Item# 12878

The widely flaring deep blue-purple fan shaped flowers open from tubular buds, and are very reminiscent of Scaevola or Half-Flower, open singly and in clusters held at the growing tips as well as in the leaf axils attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The 5-lobed flowers of Blue-Lips, Sclerochiton harveyanus, are produced most heavily throughout the warmer months of the year. This is a shade tolerant naturally spreading to scandent (vine-like) evergreen tropical shrub with rounded, glossy deep green foliage. Blue-Lips is considered to be frost resistant but not freeze tolerant and it is easily maintained as a shrub form for containers, including hanging baskets, in and around larger growing shade-loving tropicals in the garden as well as on a shaded porch or patio. Provide it with an average moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soil in a site that receives at least some cool morning sunlight or filtered sunlight for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12268

The narrow deep green to bluish-green foliage is adorned with broad creamy white vareiegation down the center of each recurving leaf. In typical Airplane Plant fashion, Bonnie produces a multitude of miniature plantlets along creamy white arching stems eventually developing into a dense mass of foliage that is perfectly suited for small to medium-sized hanging baskets and containers. It will do best where it receives bright indirect sunlight in an average moist, fertile soil. We have long been in love with this cultivar not only for the name it shares with our mother but also for its neat dense and unusual habit. Easy and carefree and perfectly suited for shaded porches, patios, atriums, and gardens or enjoy it indoors with bright to medium indirect sunlight. In warm tropical climates Airplane Plants may be utilized as shady groundcovers. Item# 12461

The 1" long, showy tubular flowers are red to red-orange at their base and quickly fade into bright sunny yellow and are held against a foil of dainty, glossy dark green foliage. The flowers are produced heaviest in fall and spring with intermittent flowers in between. The Brazilian Fuchsia or Firecracker Flower, Justicia rizzinii or now J. floribunda, is a naturally evergreen, small tropical shrub typically growing to up to 2-3' high and potentially as wide. It can be enjoyed as an indoor plant where it is sure to provide a little cheer during the cold dreary winter days in a warm sunny window. The flowers of the Brazilian Fuchsia attract hummingbirds and other pollinators in fall and spring as they migrate through when grown outdoors. Utilize it as a porch or patio plant during the warmer months or in the ground in areas with mild, generally frost free winters like in zone 10 as it is reported to be hardy to brief dips to about 28^oF. Tolerant of full sun to light shade and provide an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 12807

The large, glossy, dark green, tropical foliage of the Congo Fig, Dorstenia bahiensis, creates a beautiful rosette of foliage on a 2-4" high stem that will rarely exceed 12" high and about 18" wide making it the perfect little container plant. Unusual flattened maroonish 'flowers', technically hypanthodia, are produced basically year-round and are held on sturdy stalks and peak above the foliage of this easy and unusual indoor plant. The flower structures forcefully eject the ripened seeds a few feet from the mother plant. The cream to tan colored seeds require no pollination and are clones of the parent plant and so often come up in the pots of neighboring plants. The Congo Fig is quite tolerant of low to high indirect light and is forgiving when it comes to moisture levels but the plants seem to be happiest in a well-draining, average moist, fertile soil. Item# 10055

The stiff ferny fronds are adorned with numerous thick leathery medium to deep green leaflets often with a bronze tinge and emerge from what becomes an underground trunk. The Coontie, Zamia integrifolia (a.k.a Z. pumila), is a small tough southeastern native Cycad that eventually develops an underground trunk that will branch with age creating a dense 24-36" high cover of the soft to medium textured fronds. It is resistant to drought, tolerates high heat and humidity, sun or shade, and is a very low maintainence addition to the landscape. In areas that experience hard freezes, like zone 8, the foliage may freeze back but a new flush readily returns in spring. Makes an easy bonsai and a low maintenance container plant. Item# 12729

Deep rusty red, red, to burgundy foliage with fine rounded teeth is narrowly edged in starkly contrasting yellow to neon yellow and is sure to provide a summer long splash of hot and spicy color. Copperhead Coleus has a naturally full and densely branching upright to rounded habit, growing a little taller than wide typically. Its compact habit lends it to use as specimen container plants, in mixed container gardens, as well as to liven up the garden and landscape from spring to frost. Copperhead is both sun and shade tolerant and will generally have the deepest most intense coloration where it receives more than about 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. The colors will be only slightly muted in light shade where it leans more toward the rusty reds with a chartreuse to neon yellow edging. Copperhead Coleus won high marks in Penn State's 2021 Trial Gardens in both sun (4.79 out of 5) and shade(4.96 out of 5) containers. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12945

The deep green 4-angled succulent stems are tipped with deep green fuzzy palmate grape or cucumber-like foliage that soon becomes deciduous. The Cucumber Cactus, Cissus quadrangularis, is an easy to succulent herbaceous vining to trailing plant whose stems can potentially grow to 5-15' long if a support is provided but is easily kept as a smaller hanging basket or container plant. In spring it may produce clusters of small green to yellowish flowers that may be followed by grape-like clusters of red to black berries. This unusual succulent is drought resistant and is quite adaptable to growing conditions from full sun to light shade as well as very acidic to very alkaline soils, although, it does require good to excellent drainage and should never be soggy wet. The Cucumber Cactus has been used medicinally,as food, and as fiber in its native tropical Asia and Africa. If stems happen to break off they will readily root. Item# 12438