Shade Tolerant Plants

Large rounded clusters of 2" orange-yellow tubular flowers sit like golden crowns atop the large rich green tropical foliage of this rare beautiful tropical. Easy and rewarding, the Orange Flame Justicia, a.k.a Golden Crown Jacobinia or Justicia chysostephana, flowers throughout the year, when kept under warm tropical conditions, but will likely be late spring until fall as a die-back perennial, creating a small herbaceous plant to about 2' high and wide. Excellent for hummingbirds and a potential caterpillar host for the Malachite and White Peacock Butterflies! *Gardeners in both zone 8B and 9 have reported good hardiness with this species when planted out, a breathable, but insulative, preferably organic, mulch over and around the crown in winter will also help to improve the chances of this species returning from a well-stablished crown in spring. Planting the Orange Crown Justicia out fairly early in the growing season, once all danger of freeze and frost have passed, and soil temperatures have begun to warm, will also help to increase its reliability. See our Growing On the Edge Growing Guide for additional details. Item# 10102

Small clusters of unusual looking, funnel-shaped deep red flowers are tipped with contrasting white and green with the insides of the flowers being streaked and flecked with brown. The flowers are produced in early to midsummer atop 2-3' high stems and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. The Parrot Lily, Alstroemeria psittacina, is an old pass-a-long heirloom perennial whose rhizomatous habit may be too aggressive for most garden settings but in the right location it makes an easy and rewarding informal groundcover. Alstroemerias prefer an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil and tend to be sturdiest where they receive atleast 4 hours of direct sunlight. *Where summers are hot, consider providing shade or filtered shade during the hottest part of the day. These also serve as long-lasting and popular fresh cut flowers. Item# 12831

In early spring to early summer, pairs of starry, four-petaled, tubular fuzzy white flowers are produced atop the deep green foliage and are followed by 1/4-3/8" diameter, glossy, bright red berries. The flowers are a standout against the deep green foliage and are likely to attract pollinating moths, like Sphinx and Hummingbird Moths, as well as smaller pollinators like bees and potentially butterflies. The fruit is consumed by a variety of wildlife like Quail, Dove, Wild Turkey, songbirds, and small mammals. The Partridgeberry or Twinberry, Mitchella repens, is a low growing, slow-ish growing and thus non-aggressive, shade tolerant, native, evergreen, woody groundcover native to all states east of the Mississippi River and those abutting it, as far west as East Texas, as far south as South-Central Florida, and as far north as Eastern Minnesota, Maine, and into Canada. We normally see it on average moist to moist, often sandy soils and in shaded to partly shade areas where it has minimal competition. The Partridgeberry is considered tolerant of periodically dry-ish shade once well established. Provide a shaded, average moist, acidic, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13540

3-4" high Shrimp Plant-like, square-shaped spikes of brilliant red bracts from between which emerge red-orange, curving tubular flowers with recurving petals and are produced mainly in winter into early spring. The Peruvina Wild Petunia or Lobster Claw, Ruellia chartacea, is a shrubby, naturally evergreen, tropical plant with medium-sized, glossy, deep green foliage and grows to 3-6'H x 3-4'W but can be maintained smaller with pruning. This is the only known Ruellia species with such showy bracts and they can provide color for months. Provide bright indirect sunlight, filtered shade, to cool sunlight like early or very late in the day. The Peruvian Wild Petunia will prefer an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12926

The pine-cone shaped flower clusters are composed of a multitude of rich pink, 2" long, slightly arching, tubular flowers that are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators like larger butterflies. The Pink Jacobinia, a selection of Justicia carnea, is a naturally evergreen, upright to spreading, heat-loving, shrubby tropical cloaked in large, medium green tropical looking foliage and growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide by the end of the growing season, but may get larger where protected from freezes and hard frosts. Jacobinias make easy and rewarding container plants as specimens or in mixed company or can be added to garden or landscape for summer color. They are adaptable to sun to light shade but may benefit from midday shade in areas with hot summer climates. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9854

Small to medium-sized, 3-4" wide, perfect or rose form, bright pink flowers are produced late in the season, March to April, which is unusual for a Sasanqua. Pink Princess Sasanqua Camellia is vigorous growing, large evergreen shrub with an initially upright habit and medium textured, deep green, glossy foliage. It should make a good choice for a hedge, screen, or specimen plant. The Sasanqua Camellias are much more tolerant of growing conditions than standard Japonica Camellias and can tolerate less than perfect soils and full sun to light shade conditions. Images courtesy of Cam Too Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13240

Large, ball-shaped flower clusters are composed of numerous light blue-violet trumpet-shaped flowers with nicely contrasting darker stripes and are held on sturdy 18-24" high stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall on mature plants. Poppin' Star Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile, previously offered under the trade name Buccaneer™, is a small to midsized, vigorous hybrid with excellent repeat flowering ability, deep green strap-like foliage, and good disease resistance. These easy to grow tropicals can be enjoyed as both low-maintenance easy care container plants as well as in the garden and landscape where hardy. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide a full to partly sunny site in a fertile, well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Concept Plants BV®, all rights reserved. Item# 13402

The large and elegant, perfectly formed, purplish-red flowers are accented by strong purple tones and veining, especially in cooler weather, and are produced over a long period from early to late season, or December to March. Purple Dawn Camellia, a.k.a. Mathotiana, is a highly sought after, heirloom, large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth and dense branching habit developing into a large upright and rounded evergreen shrub to about 10' high and 6-8' wide. Purple Dawn or Mathotiana has been plied with a number of names over the years including: Julia Drayton, Mathotiana Rubra, Purple Emperor, Purple Prince, William S. Hastie, etc. For optimum growth and vigor 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# 892

Loads of upward facing deep orange-red tubular buds open to show off thier contrasting starry yellow petals in spring atop a neat rounded mound of foliage. Ragin' Cajun Indian Pinks, a Plant Delights introduction that originated near St. Francisville, Louisiana, was selected for its neat and compact rounded habit, high bud count, orange-red flowers, and long flowering season. This is an easy and reliable long-lived clump forming, native perennial that is tolerant of full sun to light or bright shade. It goes fully dormant in winter dying back to near ground level then returning in early spring. Indian Pinks, Spigelia marilandica, will do best in a fertile, acidic, well-drained soil with average moisture. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other long tongued pollinators. Images courtesy of Walter's Gardens, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 13100

Large clusters of long-lasting, light lavender, mauve, to purple calyxes serve as the backdrop for the contrasting deep red, 1" wide, butterfly shaped flowers that are produced throughout the warmer months of the year, as early as midspring to about mid fall. The Red Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum x speciosum, is a naturally evergreen, heirloom, twining, tropical climber that is one of the better and more reliable flowering vines for shaded areas, although it can also take *full sun, if acclimated, where it may be even more floriferous, and it attracts butterflies and likely hummingbirds. I have always found it interesting that many of the butterfly and moth pollinated species in the genus Clerodendrum appropriately have butterfly shaped flowers. The colorful bracts have the deepest purple coloration in full to partial sun conditions. Provide the Red Bleeding Heart Vine with a moist to average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. This is a hybrid of the White Bleeding Heart Vine, C. thompsonae, and the Flaming Glory Bower Vine, C. splendens. Item# 599

The Red Butterfly Ginger produces large deep reddish orange to red flowers that emerge from a darkened flower spike atop the sturdy stems of rich green smooth tropical looking foliage. It very much resembles the White Butterfly Ginger when in flower other than the flower color but has darker foliage a more compact habit. The Red Butterfly Ginger is one of the earliest gingers to flower in our collection. Provide a semi-shaded location where it receives shade during the hottest portion of the day although it is fairly tolerant. The Red Butterfly Ginger will prefer an average moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Item# 11521

1" wide, deep red, Hibiscus-like flowers are produced from spring to fall to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Red Dragon Rockrose, potentially a hybrid between the native Pavonia lasiopetala and the South American P. missionum, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming, naturally evergreen to semi-deciduous, tropical shrub adorned with deep green, lance-shaped foliage and growing to about 3-4' high and 2-3' wide. It is considered hardy in zones 9-11 and may act like a die-back perennial in areas that experience hard freezes. Where not hardy plants can be enjoyed as container plants or summer annuals. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13648

Small spike-like racemes composed of numerous 1-1/2" long, tubular, deep cherry red flowers are produced from spring to frost to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions potentially attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Red Fountains Skullcap, a selection of Scutellaria longifolia, is a mounding, naturally evergreen, herbaceous perennial perfectly suited for hanging baskets or container culture as a spiller or filler and is considered to be a root hardy, dieback perennial into zone 8. It can also be utilized as a groundcover for near the front of the border or landscape. Hanging basket culture will bring the nectar rich flowers within easy reach for hummingbirds. Provide an average moist to moist, fertile soil in full sun to partly shaded conditions for optimum vigor and flowering. Provide an organic mulch to protect the crown in areas where freezes occur if it is intended to be grown as a perennial. Item# 1201

Red Fountains Skullcap is considered by some to be hardy to zone 8A if provided with a breathable but insulative winter mulch like pine straw (a.k.a. pine needles).

Spikes topped by densely stacked pinecone-like bracts which are produced in summer emerge green and slowly deepen to red. Sunny yellow flowers emerge from between the bracts over a long period. The Shampoo Ginger or Pinecone Ginger is a hardy, clump forming rhizomatous perennial that produces deep green narrow tropical looking foliage that can reach 4-6' high. Prefers cool sunlight and an average moist, well-drained soil. Where not hardy this ginger is easy to enjoy and overwinter as a container plant. Long lasting cut flower. The flower shown is in between the green and red stage. Item# 11477

A seemingly continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual pink lipped tubular flowers emerge from spring to fall to year round under warm tropical conditions. This plant has exceptional flower power and makes a beautiful display as a container plant specimen and in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. The common Red Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeeana, is a heat loving, naturally evergreen, bushy, tropical plant with dark olive green foliage and grows to about 24" high by about 18" wide. 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. Attracts hummingbirds and the occasional larger butterfly and is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Caterpillar host: Cuban Crescent, Texan Crescent, White Peacock, and Malachite. Item# 620

The large to very large, loose anemone to peony form, bright red flowers typically showing contrasting gold stamens atop white filaments and are produced over an extended period beginning early in the season and continuing through late, November to April. Reg Ragland Supreme Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a moderate rate of growth and densely branching, compact habit developing into a large, evergreen shrub cloaked in deep green, glossy foliage. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 13253

Medium-sized, formal double, deep rose red flowers are produced in midseason, January to February. Romany Camellia is an older, but still highly prized, large flowered Japonica with a vigorous, upright, densley branching growth habit developing into a large evergreen shrub cloaked in deep green, glossy foliage. 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# 13254

A compact hydrangea sporting large flower heads of rich purple to shades of magenta florets depending on soil ph. Royal Purple Big Leaf Hydrangea is still considered to be one of the darkest colored varieties around. It's compact habit lends it to confined spaces, smaller gardens and even container culture. Provide a humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil and grow it where it gets mid-day shade. Item# 629

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Medium to large, lightly fragrant, loose peony form to semi-double, medium silvery-pink flowers with a boss of yellow stamens are produced in early to midseason, November to February. The pollen laden and fragrant flowers are likely to attract bees and other pollinators on warmer days. Scentsation Camellia is a large type Japonica with a moderate to vigorous, densely branching, upright to rounded habit. One of the earlier Japonicas that were bred for fragrance, it was developed and introduced by Nuccio's Nurseries in the late 1960's. 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# 13242

Large, 4-5" wide, fragrant, semi-double flowers of the purist white with wavy petals and a contrasting boss of golden yellow stamens shine like spotlights against the foil of deep green glossy foliage. Flowering begins early in the season in October continuing into December, with a few flowers into early January. Setsugekka Sasanqua Camellia has a vigorous moderately upright habit that rounds out with at maturity. This dense foliage of this large evergreen shrub lend it to use as a specimen, screen, hedge, or even a small evergreen tree form. The Sasanqua Camellias are tolerant of full sun to part sun conditions. Provide an average moist, average to well drained, moderately fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter and an organic mulch for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 10183