Competition

Plants growing in the shade often must also compete with roots of shading trees for nutrients and moisture. Roots competing for water may cause shade gardens to dry out somewhat quickly. Some shade-tolerant plants are adapted to low moisture situations, while others require moist shade.  The key to Florida-Friendly landscaping is to provide water according to the needs of the plant and group those with similar needs together.

Many shade loving plants are woodland plants.  They will benefit from a layer of mulch such as compost.  Mulch helps retain moisture and also breaks down into soil nutrients.

 

Air circulation

Branches or walls that cast shade can also block air movement.  Poor air circulation may be coupled with lower light levels.  This means the leaves of plants stay wet longer in the shade than in sunny areas.

Most plant disease problems are worse under these conditions so space plants farther apart in the shade to allow more air movement. And if water is applied with soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems, foliage will not get wet.

  

Designing for the Dark Side

Shade gardens are usually more subtle and restful than sunny ones.  Plant textures, forms and slight color differences become important elements of the design. Glossy leaves have more impact than dull or velvety ones.

Choose your colors carefully.  Variegated or yellow-green foliage is more noticeable in the shade than is solid green or blue-green foliage. Light colors -- white, cream, yellow and pastel pink--stand out in the shade. 

If your shade is deep, you may want to put some plants in pots and rotate them to a brighter spot every week or so. This works if you have a lot of tree roots too.

Make a place for garden art --put color where you'll see it.  Don’t forget a place to sit and enjoy.  These specula spots need to be considered when placing accent plants or pots in the shade garden.

 

Shade Tolerant plants

Dense shade is a challenging place for plants.  I have an area of dense shade where ferns grow well.  Ferns come in lots of shades of green with many leaf shapes.  Some are also variegated.  Some spread readily by underground rhizomes, while others are slow to establish, needing frequent watering for a while. 

Also great in dense shade are the ivies.  There are several variegated forms of this hardy plant.  Cast-iron plant, aptly named for its determination to survive comes in a variegated form and was recently an FNGLA Plant of the Year.  Gingers are good in dense shade as well.  Note that all of these plants will grow in full, partial and light shade also.

For some color, add caladiums, purple oxalis, purple queen, begonias and impatiens.  The last two will benefit from pot culture and, need a little more water and an occasional vacation trip to light shade.  And, some of these can spread – another reason to keep them confined in pots.

If you use a lot of purple-leaved plants some lime-colored or variegated leaves will provide a nice contrast.  Oxalis has a yellow green variety that could be paired with its purple sister.   Spider plant has lots of white foliage and pairs well with purple plants too.

As you near the edge of the tree canopy or shady area you can experiment with plants that need a little more sun. Liriope and other mounding grasses make a nice transition to turf at the edge of shade. 

 

There is more information about great shade plants on our website and at the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods site where you can search the database for shade lovers, http://www.FloridaYards.org . (We have placed a list of locally adapted shade plants on our website.)  With the right plant in the right place shade gardening can be (almost) effortless and (very) satisfying. 

If you need additional information on shade gardening, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469. In Highlands County call 863-402-6540 and in Glades County call 863-946-0244.   Okeechobee residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons. GO GATORS!

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 02/28/2008.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert