Perennials for Shade Gardens

DESCRIPTION: Beautiful chocolate-purple, fragrant foliage and long, airy upright spikes of white flowers; prefers moist, but well-drained soil; use this plant primarily for its wonderful contrasting leaves.  BOTANICAL NAME: Actaea simp 'Brunette'OTHER NAMES: Baneberry, Fairy Candle, Black Snakeroot, Black CohoshAVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 150-180 cmAVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 60-75 cmSUN EXPOSURE: Full...

DESCRIPTION: Exotic, blue double flowers, the small spurless flowers are pompom shaped and resemble a small dahlia; this plant doesn't like to be disturbed so try spreading seed instead of dividing. BOTANICAL NAME: Aquilegia vulgaris 'Blue Barlow'OTHER NAMES: Clematis-flowered Columbine, var. stellataAVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 60...

DESCRIPTION: Beautiful wine-red double flowers on long, graceful stems, flowers are dahlia-like; foliage is also attractive as it emerges wine-tinged then eventually turns blue-green. BOTANICAL NAME: Aquilegia vulgaris 'Blue Barlow'OTHER NAMES: Clematis-flowered ColumbineAVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 75 cmAVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 45 cmSUN EXPOSURE: Full Sun to Full ShadeFLOWER COLOUR: RedFLOWERING...

DESCRIPTION: Exotic, dark purple (nearly-black) double flowers, the small spurless flowers are pompom shaped and resemble a small dahlia; this plant doesn't like to be disturbed so try spreading seed instead of dividing. BOTANICAL NAME: Aquilegia x 'Black Barlow'OTHER NAMES: Clematis-flowered Columbine, var. stellataAVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 45-60 cmAVERAGE...

DESCRIPTION: European Wild Ginger's glossy, textured, heart-shaped leaves remain forest green in colour throughout the season. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. BOTANICAL NAME: Asarum europaeum 'European Ginger, AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 10 cmAVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 30 cmSUN EXPOSURE: Full shadeFLOWER COLOUR: BrownFLOWERING TIME: Late springFOLIAGE COLOUR: Deep greenCOLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive up to...

DESCRIPTION: The Best Red! Burgundy Red Astilbe has masses of beautiful plumes of crimson flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its ferny compound leaves remain...

DESCRIPTION: Showy, velvety, upright, red flower spikes over divided, dark green and chocolate brown to reddish foliage; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astibe 'Mighty Chocolate Cherry'OTHER NAMES: False Spirea, False Goat's...

DESCRIPTION:  Dense, upright, lance-shaped panicles of deep lilac, rose-purple, or mauve-pink flowers. Bloom time is late summer into early fall (typically August to September), later than many standard astilbe varieties. Prefers partial to full shade, though it tolerates more sun and drier soil conditions...

DESCRIPTION: Lovely bright pink tipped plumes rising above glossy chocolate brown leaves that emerge coppery-orange in spring; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astilbe 'Chocolate Shogun'OTHER NAMES: False Spirea, False Goat's Beard AVERAGE...

DESCRIPTION: NEW 2024 This variety produces bright, arching, showy light pink plumes, rising above deep green leaves; dense, upright form; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astilbe aredsii 'Fireworks Pink'OTHER NAMES:...

DESCRIPTION: This variety produces bright, arching, showy white plumes, rising above deep green leaves; dense, upright form; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astilbe aredsii 'Fireworks White'OTHER NAMES: False Spirea,...

DESCRIPTION: Vivid lavender purple colored plumes rising above deep green leaves, on ruby red stems; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astibe arendsii 'Maggie Daley' OTHER NAMES: False Spirea, False...

DESCRIPTION: This variety produces showy purple plumes, rising above deep green leaves; dense, upright form; perfect in a shady spot with dappled light; prefers moisture so water regularly for abundant flowers and nice foliage. BOTANICAL NAME: Astilbe chinensis 'Taquetti' OTHER NAMES: Chinese Astilbe, False Spirea, False Goat's...

DESCRIPTION: New 2027 Bressingham Ruby Bergenia features unusual spikes of Pink to Rosy-Red flowers rising above the foliage from early to mid spring. Its attractive large succulent round leaves emerge deep green, turning gorgeous burgundy in the fall. Deer and rabbit resistant. BOTANICAL NAME:...

DESCRIPTION: Large glossy, leathery, cabbage-like leaves turn burgundy late in the season; interesting clusters of pink flowers rise above foliage; perfect for shady areas, water regularly but don't over water, a great coarse texture. BOTANICAL NAME: Bergenia cordifolia 'Winterglut'OTHER NAMES: Giant Rockfoil, Largeleaf Saxifrage, PigsqueakAVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 50...

DESCRIPTION: Jack Frost Bugloss features airy cymes of sky blue flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from early to late spring. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive heart-shaped leaves remain silver in colour with showy emerald green variegation throughout...

DESCRIPTION: Looking Glass Bugloss features airy cymes of sky blue flowers with from early to late spring. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive heart-shaped leaves remain silver in colour with showy emerald green variegation throughout the season.  BOTANICAL NAME: Brunnera macrophylla 'Looking GLass'AVERAGE MATURE...

DESCRIPTION: Lily-of-the-Valley features subtle spikes of lightly-scented soft pink bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late spring. Its pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season. BOTANICAL NAME: Convallaria majalis 'Rosea'AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 20 cmAVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 60 cmSUN EXPOSURE: Partial shade to full shadeFLOWER COLOUR: Light pinkFLOWERING TIME: SpringFOLIAGE COLOUR: Deep greenCOLD...

DESCRIPTION: A vigorous variety with delicate and pedulous clusters of white flowers in late spring, over ferny gray-green foliage that is delicate and finely cut; a beautiful garden accent. BOTANICAL NAME: Dicentra spectabilis 'Alba'AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 81 cmAVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 76 cmSUN EXPOSURE: Partial shade, Full ShadeFLOWER COLOUR: WhiteFLOWERING TIME: Early SpringFOLIAGE COLOUR: Light...

DESCRIPTION: Lemon Queen Globeflower has masses of beautiful lemon yellow round flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its deeply cut lobed leaves remain dark...