Shade Tolerant Plants

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

The strikingly variegated new growth is broadly edged in creamy white to light greenish-yellow and each narrow leaf is centered by a contrasting line of deep green creating a nice contrast with the mature, often solid colored, deep green foliage. From a distance it has an overall light yellow to chartreuse cast to the plant. The Roman Candle™ Variegated Japanese Yew, a selection of Podocarpus macrophyllus, is a naturally upright to rounded, large evergreen shrub to small tree that can be maintained as a hedge, specimen accent plant, screen, or it can be trained into a single or multi-trunked small tree. Japanese Yew has long been a favorite in the gardens and landscapes of the Southeastern US with its virtually pest free, low-maintenance, adaptable, deer resistant, heat tolerant demeanor. It is also used widely in the art of bonsai as well as for container specimens. Provide a full to partly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil with average moisture. Item# 12750

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

Clusters of bright golden yellow upward facing daisies are produced atop sturdy stems emerging from the rosettes of rounded low growing deep green foliage in early(8B) to late spring or early summer(3) depending on your cold hardiness zone. Roundleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera obovata, is very similar to the cutleaf Golden Groundsel, Packera aurea, but is more tolerant of full sun as well as light shade and drier growing conditions. This stoloniferous native perennial develops into an evergreen to semi-evergreen mat of low rich green foliage and its flowers attract many early season pollinators, especially bees. Use Roundleaf Golden Groundsel as a groundcover in informal and naturalistic garden settings as well as in roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies. It is native to much of the central and eastern US.   Item# 12249

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

The large to very large, pure white anemone form flowers, sometimes with a few yellow stamens peaking out from between the central boss of petaloids and are produced in early to midseason or Nov-February. Snow Chan Camellia, a sport of Shiro Chan which is itself a sport of Elegans, and each of these varieties tend to have a slower rate of growth and a more open habit with large deep green foliage lacily edged with large prominent teeth. It tends to have a more evenly rounded form growing about as wide as high. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and a deep organic mulch. Item# 13008

Large conical white flower clusters composed of numerous sterile florets are held atop strong sturdy stems with the flower show beginning in late spring to early summer. Flowers take on pink tones as they age. Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea has sturdier stems than Alice with a more compact, denser, naturally rounded habit. This is a selection of our native Hydrangea quercifolia that offers the showy peeling cinnamon colored winter bark and purple, red and burgundy fall foliage typical of the species. Snow Queen has proven to be hardy into zone 5. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile, acidic soil and although they are tolerant of full sun they flower well even in fairly dense shade. The Oakleaf Hydrangea will have the most intense fall foliage coloration where the plants receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. An organic mulch, especially important under full sun conditions in areas with hot summer climates, will to help alleviate moisture stress during dry periods among its numerous other benefits. Item# 12577

Huge 12-14" long panicles composed of numerous double sterile florets open bright white and slowly change as summer progesses adding red, pink, cream, and green tinges and are held on strong sturdy stems beginning in late spring or early summer with flower clusters lasting into winter. Snowcicle Oakleaf Hydrangea boasts some of the largest flower clusters among its peers, excellent vigor, and strong sturdy stems to support its massive flower clusters. In fall, the bluish-green, fuzzy, oak-like foliage changes into shades of red, purple, and orange. The Oakleaf Hydrangea is truly a plant for all seasons as winter shows off the bare stems with peeling bark. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile, acidic soil and although they are tolerant of full sun they flower well even in fairly dense shade. The Oakleaf Hydrangea will have the most intense fall foliage coloration where the plants receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. An organic mulch, especially important under full sun conditions in areas with hot summer climates, will to help alleviate moisture stress during dry periods among its numerous other benefits. Images courtesy of Plants Nouveau, all rights reserved. Item# 12578

The bare winter stems are adorned with bright sunny yellow flowers in late winter and early spring attracting mainly bees as pollinators. Once the flowering season is finished this beautiful shrub is adorned with solid yellow foliage providing color until autumn when the foliage takes on purple tones until it falls away. The Solid Gold Dwarf Korean Forsythia, Forsythia viridissima var. koreana 'Solid Gold', is an Almost Eden introduction that we selected as a stable sport of the cultivar Ilwang. Ilwang was first shared with us by the late great nurseryman Sherwood Aikens of Minden, Louisiana. This is an easy to grow, low maintenance, compact growing deciduous shrub with an arching, fountaining habit growing wider than tall and maxing out at about 3-4'H x 4-5'W. Its golden foliage can tolerate full sun but may lighten some but this does not appear to affect the plant's vigor it. Provide a fertile soil with average or better drainage and average moisture. Item# 9742

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! The small to medium-sized, double, ruby red flowers with a lavender tinge, showing varying amounts of yellow stamens among the central petaloids, are produced early in the season, October to December. Sparkling Burgundy Sasanqua Camellia is a C. hiemalis hybrid with Shi-Shi Gashira lineage with a vigorous yet compact well-branched habit and cloaked in medium-textured, dark green, glossy foliage growing about as high as wide. Use this medium-sized evergreen shrub as a fall flowering accent, hedge, or even a container plant in formal or informal settings. This was one of the earliest patented Camellias assigned USPP1539. 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# 13229

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy medium to deep green foliage is heavily overlaid with contrasting white to creamy white variegation including the major veins which are almost solid white. A choice evergreen shrub for shaded sites. Mature plants produce 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. Spider's Web 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. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12829

The beautifully mottled, splashed, and flecked yellowish, chartreuse, and deeper green variegated succulent ovate foliage adorns the zig-zagging stems of this upright growing succulent and summer may bring a ring-like cluster of 1" long deep red, bird-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and give the plant its common name. The Splish Splash or Mottled Red Bird Cactus is an easy to grow highly decorative form of this heirloom and Florida native plant that has an easy and forgiving disposition creating fantastic, architecturally pleasing specimens. A shrub-like native of tropical forests of southern Florida and as far south as Central America, it makes an easy porch or patio plant where it partial shade to bright shade but can also be enjoyed as an easy indoor plant.  Allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings although it can tolerant more moisture when in active growth and less during winter. Item# 12608

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

For several weeks in mid to late spring, the mounds of large, apple-green, heart-shaped, quilted foliage with maroon veining is topped by a multitude of up to 10" high conical spike-like clusters, or racemes, that are adorned in pink round buds that open to display the fragrant dainty white flowers that attract a variety of smaller pollinators. In fall and winter, its foliage takes on fall colors in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. Spring Symphony Foam Flower or Tiarella, a hybrid selection, is a stoloniferous, ^†semi-evergreen, perennial groundcover perfectly suited to shaded gardens and landscapes. They can tolerate more sun in areas with cool summer climates but will still likely prefer to be in the shade during the heat of the day. Tiarellas prefer a moist soil with ample organic matter and average or better drainage and are resistant to be being browsed by deer and rabbits. In his introduction to the genus Tiarella, Dr. Allen Armitage in his Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 4th Edition states that he "puts these plants on the A list for shady areas." and in regards to the cultivar Spring Symphony he states "Even though there has been an explosion of newer cultivars, this is still the one I recommend to my daughters." Spring Symphony Tiarella has also been selected as an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Images courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 13327

A rare striped Sasanqua! This is a heavily flowering plant that produces loads of medium-sized, single to semi-double, white flowers that are randomly striped and often heavily edged with starkly contrasting deep rose red and are centered by a boss of nicely contrasting yellow stamens. Flowering occurs in early to midseason, October to January, attracting bees with ample pollen. Stars 'N Stripes Sasanqua Camellia has a moderate rate of growth with an upright to spreading, densely branching habit and matures into a medium-sized, evergreen shrub. The dark green, medium-textured, glossy foliage acts as a wonderful foil to its fall flowers and is sure to be a conversation piece. Sure to make a neat choice for a hedge, specimen, or accent in the garden and landscape as well as for container culture. 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# 13243

The medium-sized, elegantly cupped, semi-double flowers are composed of deep rosy red petals that are edged in a broad and starkly contrasting bright white band and are centered by a boss of golden stamens often mixed with a few petaloids. Flowering occurs in early to midseason, October to February, attracting bees and other pollinators. Tama Americana Camellia is a large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth and a somewhat open habit maturing into a large rounded evergreen shrub. Provide Camellias with a fertile soil rich in organic matter, with average moisture, and an organic mulch. Item# 13244

The medium to large, semi-double to loose peony form flowers are composed of rosy pink to rosy red petals that are edged in a narrow and starkly contrasting bright white band and are centered by a boss of golden stamens often mixed with petaloids. Flowering occurs in early to midseason, October to February, attracting bees and other pollinators. Tama Beauty Camellia is a large flowered Japonica type with a moderate rate of growth and an upright to rounded, densely branching habit 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# 13245

An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner! Large, deep red, rose form to formal double to loose peony form flowers accented with darker veining are produced over an extended period from early to midseason, October to February. Tom Knudsen Camellia is a large flowered Japonica with a moderate to vigorous rate of growth and an upright, moderately dense branching habit maturing into a large, upright and 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# 13246

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