Shade Tolerant Plants

Clusters of small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers are produced in spring and are followed by 1/4-3/8" diameter, red berries that ripen to glossy black in fall and are prized by songbirds. Carolina Buckthorn, Frangula caroliniana and previously Rhamnus caroliniana, is a small, native, deciduous tree to large shrub with large, glossy, ovate foliage and typically grows to about 10-15' high. It is native to much of the southeastern US from central Texas to central Florida and as far north as central Missouri. It is adaptable to most soil types provided they have good drainage and is moderately drought resistant once fully established. Provide the Carolina Buckthorn with a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, fertile soil for optimum growth and vigor. Caterpillar host: American Snout Butterfly. Item# 13555

Up to 3/4" diameter, lightly fragrant, dense Sputnik-like flower clusters are composed of numerous small creamy white to light pink, funnel-shaped flowers that are tipped in purple often giving the flowers a lavender cast and the long white styles and creamy white stigmas provide the spikey look. The nectar rich flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year, late spring and often into fall, attracting an array of pollinators. The Chinese Buttonbush or Glossy Adina, Adina rubella, is a deciduous, medium to large, fine textured shrub with a naturally rounded to arching habit and a moderate rate of growth. The very dark green foliage has a mirror like glossiness and creates a contrasting foil for the flowers. Like our native Buttonbush, this plant is naturally found growing along wet areas but has no problems adapting to average moist, fertile garden soils in full sun to light shade. Item# 10035

The dark maroon spikes to 30" high are adorned with clusters of dangling 2" long tubular bright red flowers that flare at their ends and are produced in cycles throughout the growing season attracting a variety of pollinators but especially hummingbirds. COLORBURST™ Deep Red Cape Fuchsia, a hybrid Phygelius, is a clump forming, heat and humidity tolerant perennial that is normally relegated to the West Coast but newer cultivars and hybrids like this one are showing that these plants can be enjoyed in the Southeast as well. They will do best in an acidic, well-draining, fertile, moist to average moist soil and can be enjoyed as both container specimens as well as in the garden and landscape. After a flowering cycle, remove the spent stems to help promote the production of new flowering stems. Images courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13323

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

The large billowy double pink flowers are randomly streaked and flecked with contrasting red and are centered by a boss of contrasting yellow stamens that are produced in mid to late season or January to April. Dad's Pink Camellia is a vigorous growing large evergreen shrub with a somewhat upright habit becoming rounded at maturity. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 12997

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Medium-sized, creamy white to very pale pink, formal double, a.k.a. rose or perfect form, flowers are edged in sweetly contrasting deep pink and are produced over an extended period in mid and late season, January to April. Desire Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a vigorous, densely branching, initially upright growth habit becoming rounded at maturity and developing into a large evergreen shrub to about 10-12'H x 6-8'W. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13215

Large to very large, deep red, billowy, semi-double flowers are centered by a large contrasting boss of gold tipped stamens and produced over an extended period from mid to late season, January to April. The pollen laden flowers attract bees and various other pollinators. Don-Mac Camellia is a large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth eventually maturing into a large rounded evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13217

Very large, bright red to orange-red, loose anemone form flowers typically showing at least some contrasting yellow stamens are produced in midseason, January to February. Named for the esteemed director of what is now the JC Raulston Arboretum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Dr. JC Raulston Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a vigorous, densely branching, upright to rounded growth habit and is cloaked in glossy, deep green foliage. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. See our Camellia Growing Guide for in-depth planting and care instructions. Item# 13251

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! The elegant formal-looking, medium-sized, semi-double, white to very pale pink flowers deepen to pink at their out edges and are centered by a boss of gold tipped stamens on white filaments. Flowering occurs in mid to late season, January to April, and the pollen laden flowers are sure to attract bees and other pollinators. Dr. Tinsley Camellia is a large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth and a densley branching habit and develops into a large evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13218

A winner of the Camellia Hall of Fame Award! The medium-sized, perfect or rose form flowers are fuchsia on the outer petals lightening to light pink in the center are produced in mid to late season or January to April. E.G. Waterhouse, a Camellia x williamsii hybrid, is a vigorous growing large evergreen shrub with an upright habit becoming rounded with age. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 12998

The large rounded clusters of deep orange and gold buds open to sunny yellow, fragrant flowers that attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds in early spring atop the bare stems. Earl's Gold Deciduous Azalea, an Earl Sommerville hybrid, develops into an upright to rounded, medium to large deciduous shrub well suited to bright woodland settings but will also thrive in full sun under good conditions. Like the Aromi hybrids, the Earl Sommerville hybrids show excellent tolerance to the heat and humidity of the Southeastern US. Sometimes still fondly referred to as Wild Honeysuckle Bushes, these nativars will do best in an average moist, well-drained, fertile, acidic soil from partial shade to full sun conditions. Topdress with an organic mulch like pinestraw, a.k.a. pine needles, or pine bark. Item# 13290

The large, up to 6-7" diameter, rounded clusters are composed of deep violet blue, trumpet shaped flowers that become pendant as they open are held on sturdy 3-4' high stems in summer. Elaine Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile is a vigorous, clump forming, naturally evergreen, tropical, root hardy perennial with arching, narrow strap-like, medium green foliage. Provide Agapanthus with a full sun to partly shaded site in a rich fertile, average moist soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. Makes an easy and low-maintenance container plant where not hardy. Agapanthus flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. May be fully winter deciduous in areas where moderate to hard freezes occur. The image is of Purple Cloud Agapanthus is shown here for reference. Item# 13351

Large, apricot pink, semi-double flowers have creped outer edges and the boss of gold tipped stamens may or may not have additional petaloids mixed in with it. The interestingly colored flowers are produced in midseason, January to February, and the pollen is sure to attract bees and other pollinators on warm winter days. Fashionata Camellia, a large flowered Japonica type, is a moderately vigorous growing, large evergreen shrub with a naturally upright semi-open habit that rounds out with maturity. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 13221

The medium to large, dark red, variable peony to anemone like flowers may display contrasting golden yellow stamens peeking out from between the petals and are produced over a long season from early to late season or November or December to April. Fire Falls Camellia is a vigorous growing large evergreen shrub with an upright habit becoming rounded with age and may be more open in growth than some cultivars. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 12999

Large rounded clusters composed of a multitude of intense deep red-orange, 1-2" long, tubular flowers and are produced throughout summer and into fall attracting hummingbirds for miles around. The Firecracker Bush, Bouvardia ternifolia, is a naturally small, upright to rounded, subtropical shrub native to the US desert southwest and Mexico growing to 1-2' high and wide but potentially to 4'. Its desert roots makes this an easy and forgiving container plant as well as an excellent addition to the garden and landscape. Provide the Firecracker Bush with a well-drained, fertile, average moist soil in part shade to bright shade for optimum vigor and flowering. Under warm frost free conditions it may flower nearly year-round. Item# 13182

2022 Missouri Botanic Garden Plants of Merit selection! 18" long arching spikes composed of numerous dark golden yellow flowers burst onto the scene in late summer and fall creating a much needed feast of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies including migratory Monarchs, and other garden beneficials. Fireworks is an award winning selection of the native Roughleaf Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa, and it won top marks in the Goldenrod trials at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. This is a hardy, clump-forming slowly spreading (a.k.a. short rhizomatous) herbaceous perennial that is both adaptable and manageable. Fireworks Goldenrod prefers a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist to moist fertile soil although it is tolerant of part shade, part sun conditions. Use this easy to grow native perennial in naturalistic settings and in mixed perennial gardens and landscapes. Item# 12313

Up to 1" wide, light purple to blue, yellow-eyed daisies are borne in small clusters and singly atop a dense mound of bristly arching stems over an extended period in late summer and fall attracting a variety of smaller pollinators, especially bees. The Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster, Ionactis lineariifolia but potentially I. repens (see additional notes on this plant's full product page), is a clump forming, herbaceous, native perennial that grows from a woody base producing a multitude of small wiry stems that are adorned with very narrow, stiff, fine, gray-green foliage. The plants naturally form a fairly dense rounded and spreading mound of stems to about 12-18" high and 16-24" wide. Locally, we normally find this plant on deep, dryish, poor sandy or loamy soils. This unusual Aster is native to much of the central and eastern US. It is a tough, deer and drought resistant, native perennial that is suitable for the perennial garden, rock gardens, and xeriscaping as well as for naturalistic areas like meadows and roadsides. The plants are moderately shade tolerant, but may flower best where they receive 4-6 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide the Flax-Leaf Ankle-Aster with a sharply draining sandy, loamy, or rocky soil and average moisture during initial establishment. Item# 10692