Shade Tolerant Plants

The large, rounded to heart-shaped, deep green glossy foliage is deeply cut, with most splits nearing the main vein of the leaf, and individual leaves can easily reach 12-24" or more across. The Split-Leaf Philodendron, not a Philodendron but in fact Monstera deliciosa, is a popular and relatively easy medium to large house or patio plant that is actually a vigorous tropical evergreen vine that can potentially attain heights of 70' in its native habitat but is more commonly maintained as a 3-5'H container plant. It can be trained to any untreated, sturdy wooden support where its adventitious roots will firmly attach the stem to its support. Mature plants may produce male and female flowers, a spadix which is typical of Araceae, but is uncommonly produced under typical cultivation. The Monstera is easy and adaptable but will perform best where it receives bright indirect light and it can even tolerate some cool direct sunlight as well as filtered shade. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Item# 12707

The large, rounded to heart-shaped, deep green glossy foliage is deeply cut, with most splits nearing the main vein of the leaf, and individual leaves can easily reach 12-24" or more across. The Split-Leaf Philodendron, not a Philodendron but in fact Monstera deliciosa, is a popular and relatively easy medium to large house or patio plant that is actually a vigorous tropical evergreen vine that can potentially attain heights of 70' in its native habitat but is more commonly maintained as a 3-5'H container plant. It can be trained to any untreated, sturdy wooden support where its adventitious roots will firmly attach the stem to its support. Mature plants may produce male and female flowers, a spadix which is typical of Araceae, but is uncommonly produced under typical cultivation. The Monstera is easy and adaptable but will perform best where it receives bright indirect light and it can even tolerate some cool direct sunlight as well as filtered shade. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Item# 12950

Masses of 2-¹/₂ to 3" wide semi-double rose pink flowers seemingly cover up the plants in February-March and are centered by a boss of yellow stamens atop white filaments. Spring Awakening Camellia, a hybrid developed and introduced by Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery in 1990, is a moderately vigorous, large growing evergreen shrub with an upright, somewhat loose and open habit initially that will likely become denser and rounded with age as is typical of most Camellias.  Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 13009

The ovate, pointed, succulent, blue-green to gray-green foliage is adorned with fine streak-like veins reminiscent of a watermelon rind and may also be coated in a white bloom. Like the String of Pearls, this easy to grow succulent has a clear, slit-like "epidermal window" that allows light to enter the internal part of the leaf. The String of Watermelons, Senecio herreanus, is a tropical, trailing succulent whose thin trailing stems can reach 12 or more inches long. During the warmer months of the year it produces small, ray-less white flowers enjoyed by bees and other small pollinators. Provide a sharply draining, cactus-like soil allowing it to become moderately dry between waterings although they can tolerate slightly more water during the growing season. The String of Watermelons makes an easy windowsill plant, hanging basket specimen, and table top decoration or use it in one of the head pots for an interesting specimen plant. Provide high or bright indirect light outdoors but they can also tolerate some cool direct sunlight indoors. Item# 12675

The gigantic arrowhead shaped medium green foliage of this Elephant Ear is truly massive with individual leaves reaching 5' long and 4' wide and plants reaching heights of up to 9' high! The Thailand Giant Elephant Ear, a Plant Delights selection of Colocasia gigantea now classified in the genus Leucocasia, is a naturally evergreen, cormous, herbaceous tropical that tends to be much more of a clump forming species versus the long rhizomatous runners of the common Elephant Ear or Taro, Colocasia esculenta. While it is naturally evergreen in its native tropical habitat, in areas that experience freezes, frosts, or even temperatures that fall as low as about 45^oF the plants typically die back to near ground level reemerging in spring if properly mulched and plants are well sited. Does well in both full sun to partially shaded sites in fertile, well-draining soils. Unlike their cousins, the Giant Elephant Ears should be allowed to become semi-dry between waterings when not in vigorous active growth. Images courtesy of Agristarts (primary image was taken at Plant Delights' Juniper Level Botanic Gardens), all rights reserved. Item# 13126

This award winning Coleus is densely adorned in a cloak-of-many-colors with twisty, deeply lobed, medium-textured foliage in starkly contrasting patches of rich reds, deep purples, sunny yellows, and bright greens in sun. *In shade the colors lean toward greens and yellows with touches of reds. Twist and Twirl® Coleus is a vigorous, upright to rounded, densely branched, heat and sunloving tropical that is sure to turn heads and spark conversation! Use this fun and colorful Coleus cultivar as container specimens, as a thriller in mixed containers, or add it to the garden and landscape for spring to frost color. Twist and Twirl® Coleus was tops in 2008 in ground and container trials at Kansas State University, a 2008 Top Performer at Longwood Gardens, a 2007 Bronze Medal Winner at the University of Illinois Champaigne County Master Gardener trials, and a 2007 Premium Quality selection at Welby Gardens trials. It was also listed as one of the Proven Winners® top performing Coleus in trials at LSU AgCenter. Developed at the University of Florida as part of the IFAS program. Images courtesy of Proven Winners® - www.provenwinners.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12534

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy deep green foliage of this Variegated Fatsia is splashed with nicely contrasting bright creamy white making this a standout in shaded gardens. Large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Item# 9305

Grown more for its beautifully variegated, starkly contrasting bright white and deep green, upright to slightly arching clumps of slender foliage than for the near continuous procession of starry, ½" wide white flowers produced throughout the warmer months of the year on gracefully arching stems. The iris-like flowers are reported to attract bees, butterflies, and other smaller pollinators. Variegated Shooting Star Lily, a selection of Anthericum saundersoniae but now reclassified as Chlorophytum saundersoniae, is a naturally evergreen, clump forming member of the Asparagus family and a close cousin of the popular Spider or Airplane Plant, Chlorophytum comosum. It is adaptable to both full sun to bright shade as well as to soil types although an average moist, fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam rich in organic matter may be optimum in the garden and landscape. The Variegated Shooting Star Lily also makes an easy container plant as a specimen or as a filler in mixed combination pots and can be easily overwintered indoors near a sunny window. Item# 13064

The Variegated Red Shrimp Plant produces a continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual maroonish-red and white tubular flowers emerge in spring and summer to year round under warm tropical conditions. This plant has exceptional flower power along with beautifully variegated foliage that is flecked and splotched with creamy white. Use as a container plant specimen and in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. The common 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. Item# 710

Large rounded clusters of medium to light pink, honeysuckle-like fragrant flowers are produced in early spring atop the still bare winter stems attracting larger butterflies, hummingbirds, and the hummingbird like Sphinx moths with its fragrance and nectar. Varnadoe's Phlox Pink, a strongly pink selection of the native Piedmont, Mountain or Pinxterbloom Azalea, Rhododendron canescens, whose flowers are more commonly a light pink to near white, at least here in the Pineywoods. This is a medium-sized deciduous native shrub and is often still fondly called Wild Bush Honeysuckle. Like most Azaleas, it will do best in an average moist, acidic, well-draining soil that is top dressed with a breathable organic mulch like pine straw. It can tolerate full to mostly sunny sites under good conditions but is generally best grown in an area that receives filtered to partial shade. Item# 13078

The spring to frost display of tall dense spikes of tubular, almost batface-like purple and lavender flowers are held above the neat mounds of dark purple-tinged deep green foliage. VELVET™ Diva Plectranthus is a breakthrough for this easy to grow, showy tropical and has a nice, almost formal, densely branching habit that doesn't require pinching like the older Mona Lavender Plectranthus did. It makes a perfect container specimen for 8-10" pots for shaded to partially shaded areas like a porch or covered patio. VELVET™ Diva Plectranthus can also be used as a warm season annual shaded gardens and landscapes. It can tolerate cool direct sunlight, like early in the day or late in the evening, and filtered sunlight fairly well but will need shade during the hottest portions of the day, especially in areas with hot summer climates, to keep the foliage a dark healthy green. Provide a moist to average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum growth and vigor. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12865

The spring to frost display of tall dense spikes of tubular, almost batface-like flowers sport shades of bright rose, pure pink, and violet and are held above the neat mounds of the purple-tinged deep green foliage. VELVET™ Starlet Plectranthus is a breakthrough color for this easy to grow, showy tropical and has a nice, almost formal, densely branching habit that doesn't require pinching like the older Plectranthus did. It makes a perfect container specimen for 8-10" pots for shaded to partially shaded areas like a porch or covered patio. VELVET™ Starlet Plectranthus can also be used as a warm season annual shaded gardens and landscapes. It can tolerate cool direct sunlight, like early in the day or late in the evening, and filtered sunlight fairly well but will need shade during the hottest portions of the day, especially in areas with hot summer climates, to keep the foliage a dark healthy green. Provide a moist to average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum growth and vigor. Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12864

The large 3-4" wide, funnel shaped, white flowers are neatly edged in a broad band of contrasting rich reddish-pink and seem to nearly glow against the foil of dark green, medium textured foliage. Flowering is in midspring attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Vibrant Evergreen Azalea, a Harris hybrid, is a rare dwarf with a dense and compact habit that 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. Item# 12576

Loose hyacinth-like spikes of dainty green flowers with recurving petals and contrasting dark purple filaments and yellow stamens are held above the narrow silvery foliage with dark green spots and reddish-purple reverses in spring after a dry winter dormancy. This is an easy to grow dwarf scilla or squill, tentatively Ledebouria socialis 'Violacea' as there are many similar horticultural forms within this species, is a dwarf growing, evergreen herbaceous tropical succulent that grows from a thickened above ground bulb and readily multiplies happily filling its container. This should make an easy windowsill, porch, or patio plant where it receives bright indirect sunlight or a small amount of cool early morning or filtered sunlight. Provide this easy to grow plant with a well-drained, cactus-like soil and allow the soil to become moderately dry between waterings. If it gets too dry it will wilt to let you know but it readily recovers once moisture is applied. During active growth, average moisture is preferred and it can be allowed to remain a good deal dryer when dormant. We ship 3 or more bulbs actively growing in a 2.25" pot. Item# 12453

A Louisiana Super Plant selection! The large 3-4" wide, coral pink, funnel-shaped flowers are produced beginning in late spring with sporadic summer flowering and another nice show in fall with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Watchet Azalea, an evergreen Satsuki type, has a neat and compact, densely branching, naturally rounded habit that lends itself to use in low-maintenance gardens and landscapes, including formal settings. Its small size also lends Watchet to use in bonsai as well as for low-maintenance container plants. Provide your evergreen Azaleas with a well-drained, average moist, humus rich, acid soil and topdress with an organic mulch for the best results. Item# 12575

Large rounded clusters of flowers (sterile florets) in deep rosy pink or medium blue-purple, depending on your soil's acidity and the availibilty of aluminum, adorn the tidy compact well-branched plants with strong sturdy stems and dark green healthy foliage and are produced from summer to fall. Wee Bit Giddy® Bigleaf Hydrangea is a dwarf and compact, has good cold hardiness, and is a repeat flowering mophead that flowers both on this year's and last year's growth. Its tidy rounded, 2' high by 2 -1/2' wide size make it well suited for use in both containers and in gardens with limited space but it is no less useful in gardens and landscapes providing summer to fall color. As with other Bigleaf Hydrangeas, provide this Proven Winners® Color Choice® selection with a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in an area that receives morning sun with shade or filtered shade during the hottest portion of the day in areas with hot summer climates. In cooler climates Bigleaf Hydrangeas can tolerate full to mostly sunny sites. Some direct sunlight, preferably >4 hours per day, is needed for good bud and flower production. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12911

Large rounded clusters of flowers (sterile florets) in deeply saturated shades of rosy red or blue-purple, depending on your soil's acidity and the availibilty of aluminum, adorn the tidy compact well-branched plants with dark green healthy foliage from summer to fall. Wee Bit Grumpy® Bigleaf Hydrangea is a dwarf and compact, has good cold hardiness, and is a repeat flowering mophead that flowers both on this year's and last year's growth. Its tidy rounded, 2' high by 2 -1/2' wide size make it well suited for use in both containers and in gardens with limited space but it is no less useful in gardens and landscapes providing summer to fall color. As with other Bigleaf Hydrangeas, provide this Proven Winners® Color Choice® selection with a moist, well-drained, fertile soil in an area that receives morning sun with shade or filtered shade during the hottest portion of the day in areas with hot summer climates. In cooler climates Bigleaf Hydrangeas can tolerate full to mostly sunny sites. Some direct sunlight, preferably >4 hours per day, is needed for good bud and flower production. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12910

Beautiful and unique spidery white flowers absolutely cover this semi-dwarf evergreen shrub in mid-spring. The rare Koromo White Azalea's naturally compact growth habit, durability, and rare flower form make this a definite conversation piece. The lavender form of this Azalea, Koromo Shikibu or Purple Spider, lines the eastern border of the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Gardens at Stephen F Austin's Mast Arboretum. 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. Item# 10813

Pink tinged buds open to 2 ¹/₂-3" wide, ruffled, fragrant, anemone-form to semi-double flowers with a boss of golden yellow stamens that are produced early in the season in Nov-December. Winter's Snowman Sasanqua Camellia is a hybrid that was selected for its reliable zone 6 cold hardiness, clean white fragrant flowers, as well as for its vigor. This is a naturally fairly large growing evergreen shrub with medium textured, deep green Sasanqua-like foliage that emerges burgundy in spring similar to the Red-Tip Photinia and extending its seasons of interest. Like a Sasanqua, Winter's Snowman can be maintained as a 4-6'H hedge, formal to informal screen, or allow it to grow into a naturally large evergreen shrub to small tree with a naturally upright to spreading habit. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Images courtesy of CamToo Camellia Nursery, all rights reserved. Item#13010

Loose clusters of sweetly fragrant, creamy yellow, star shaped flowers are produced over a long period beginning in late spring and early summer on this vigorous and durable evergreen twining climber. This cultivar of Confederate Jasmine appears to flower a good deal longer than the more common white flowered selections. An excellent choice for arbors, trellises, and evergreen screening on a lattice work or fence. Confederate Jasmine can also be used as a deep groundcover that will grow to 12-24" high. Where not hardy they can be maintained as easy and low maintenance container specimens. This may be the same as Woodlander's 'Mandianum' which may yet be the 'Star of Toscane'. Item # 11020

Unusual for the Florida Flame Azalea! Whorls of deep rich rosy pink to near red, pointed, tubular buds open to display the large light to medium pink, lightly fragrant, butterfly pollinated flowers that are produced in early spring atop the still bare stems. The Yellow River Pink Florida Flame Azalea, Rhododendron austrinum typically produces flowers in shades of yellow and orange and so this is quite uncommon for this species, was discovered by Ron Miller along the banks of the Yellow River in Alabama. As is typical for the native deciduous Azaleas, this is a naturally upright to vase shaped growing plant that rounds out somewhat at maturity and the foliage and new growth begin to emerge about the time the flowering season ends. As with other Azaleas and Rhododendrons, the Yellow River Pink Azalea will need a well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average moisture and will benefit greatly from an organic mulch, such as pine straw, to help maintain more even moisture levels during the growing season. They can be grown in full sun under good conditions but may benefit from midday or afternoon shade to filtered shade, especially in drier conditions. Images courtesy of Ron Miller, all rights reserved. Item#12743