Shade Garden

Peter Pan African Lily

Agapanthus africanus 'Peter Pan'

Peter Pan African Lily has clumps of narrow, strap-shaped leaves and produces clusters of trumpet-shaped, light blue flowers and darker mid-veins. It is suitable for borders, container plantings, and edgings.

  • Plant Type: Perennial
  • Water Needs: 8 to 11
  • Mature Height: 12" - 18"
  • Mature Width: 12" - 18"
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun
  • USDA Zones: 8 to 11
  • Colors: Green
  • Bloom Color: Blue
  • Bloom Season: Summer
  • Native To: South African Coast

Silk Tree

Albizia julibrissin

"The Silk Tree, also known as the Mimosa Tree, can grow a single trunk or multiple trunks. It has fragrant pink pom-pom flowers that bloom in mass, attracting bees and butterflies.
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  • Plant Type: Tree
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 20' - 40'
  • Mature Width: 20' - 50'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 6 to 9
  • Colors: Green, Pink
  • Bloom Color: Pink
  • Bloom Season: June to July
  • Native To: Iran to Japan

King Palm

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana gets its name from the "crown" which is the greenish-purplish-brown part of the trunk three feet below the leaves. At the top of this tall palm trunk are its feathery leaves. It boasts pink flowers at the base of the crownshaft.

  • Plant Type: Evergreen Palm
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 40' - 60'
  • Mature Width: 8' - 12'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 10 to 11
  • Colors: Green, Brown
  • Bloom Color: Pink
  • Bloom Season: Spring, Summer
  • Native To: Australia

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior

The Cast Iron Plant, also called the Barroom Plant, does well in low-light and can withstand neglect. It does well in containers.

  • Plant Type: Herbaceous perennnial
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 2' to 3'
  • Mature Width: 1' to 2'
  • Sun Needed: Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 7a to 11b
  • Colors: Green, Purple, Red-burgandy, Varigated, White leaves
  • Bloom Color: Tan, brown-copper, purple
  • Bloom Season: Summer
  • Native To: China, Japan

Birds Nest Fern

Asplenium nidus

This resident of rainforests usually grows as an epiphyte, perched on trunks and tree limbs.The Bird Nest Fern is characterized by dramatic foliage, with large strap-shaped, bright green fronds and black midribs with wavy margins. Sori are found in clusters on the undersides, arranged in a herringbone fashion in black straight lines.

  • Plant Type: Epiphyte
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 3" to 5"
  • Mature Width: 2" to 3"
  • Sun Needed: Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 11a to 12b
  • Colors: Green, Brown
  • Bloom Color: Non-flowering
  • Bloom Season: Non-flowering
  • Native To: Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, tropical Australia

Heartleaf Bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia

Bergenia cordifolia forms many clumps and is commonly used as a ground cover. It has rosettes of glossy dark green leaves that can turn purple or brown in the winter. In the spring it produces pink flowers at the ends of short stalks.

  • Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 1'-1.5'
  • Mature Width: 1'-1.5'
  • Sun Needed: Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 3 to 8
  • Colors: Dark Green leaves
  • Bloom Color: Pink
  • Bloom Season: Spring
  • Native To: Russia

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'

Blonde Ambition Blue Grama is a clump-forming ornamental grass with unique flower spikes that attach to stems at a 90 degree angle. The seed heads emerge chartreuse and mature to blonde. Foliage is blue-green and finely textured. Very heat and drought tolerant.

  • Plant Type: Ornamental grass
  • Water Needs: Low
  • Mature Height: 0.75' - 2.5'
  • Mature Width: 0.75' - 1.5'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun
  • USDA Zones: 3 to 10
  • Colors: Blue-green
  • Bloom Color: Chartreuse
  • Bloom Season: June-August
  • Native To: Missouri, United States

Variegated Carmel Creeper

Ceanothus x 'Diamond Heights'

The Varigated Carmel Creeper is an unusual low-growing Ceanothus hybrid that will appeal to those who are attracted to variegated foliage. It is a bright low-growing shrub with chartreuse leaves splashed with dark green, and an excellent choice for containers, along a shady border, or spilling over a wall.

  • Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
  • Water Needs: Low
  • Mature Height: 1' - 12"
  • Mature Width: 4' - 6'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 8 to 10
  • Colors: Yellow to Chartreuse
  • Bloom Color: Blue
  • Bloom Season: Spring
  • Native To: California

Eastern Rosebud

Cercis Canadensis 'Forest Pansy'

The Eastern Rosebud is noted for its pea-like rose-purple flowers in the Spring which can be used for cut flowers. It is often used as a street tree, and attacts birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

  • Plant Type: Tree
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 20' to 30'
  • Mature Width: 25' to 35'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 5 to 9
  • Colors: Blue-green leaves, turning pale yellow to greenish-yellow in the fall
  • Bloom Color: Rosy pink
  • Bloom Season: April
  • Native To: North America

Mediterranian Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis

Mediterranian Fan Palm is a clustering palm that has stocky trunks and a large, bushy, mounded form. It makes a nice barrier or group accent at the corner of the landscape. Use in containers for patio, deck or foundation areas. It's often used in commercial landscapes where its slow growth needs little maintenance. It may even be grown indoors as a houseplant.

  • Plant Type: Perennial evergreen
  • Water Needs: Low
  • Mature Height: 6' - 15'
  • Mature Width: 6' - 20'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 8a to 11b
  • Colors: Blue-grey, Green, Brown
  • Bloom Color: Gold, Yellow
  • Bloom Season: Spring
  • Native To: Mediterranian coast of Europe and North Africa

Sugar Gum

Eucalyptus cladocalyx

The Sugar Gum is a large, drought-tolerant eucalyptus that has fragrant white flowers that bloom in the summer or fall. Its fruits have a distinctive bowl shape and its smooth bark peels away to reveal a multitude of brown, cream, and gray colors underneath.

  • Plant Type: Evergreen Tree
  • Water Needs: Low
  • Mature Height: 90'
  • Mature Width: 45'-75'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun
  • USDA Zones: 9 to 10
  • Colors: Green, Cream
  • Bloom Color: White
  • Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
  • Native To: Southern Australia

Chinese Fringe Flower

Loropetalum Chinense 'Razzle-Dazzle'

The Chinese Fringe Flower has striking fushia flower petals against purple-black leaves.The lightly aromatic, spidery flowers bloom in clusters in spring. Plant in a woodland garden or even a container, it also looks good as a stand-alone specimen or planted in small groups. Also useful as a hedge or privacy screen.

  • Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
  • Water Needs: Medium
  • Mature Height: 3' - 8'
  • Mature Width: 3' - 6'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 7 to 10
  • Colors: Purple-black
  • Bloom Color: Fuscia
  • Bloom Season: March-April
  • Native To: China, Japan, Southeast Asia

Hummingbird Sage

Salvia spathacea

Salvia spathacea is a low growing sage that can be grown as a ground cover. It has aromatic leaves and pink flowers that bloom from late winter through the summer. Salvia spathacea is native to the grassy slopes along the California coastal ranges in from Solano County to Orange County and possibly north San Diego County.

  • Plant Type: Evergreen
  • Water Needs: Low
  • Mature Height: 1' - 2'
  • Mature Width: 4' - 5'
  • Sun Needed: Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • USDA Zones: 7 to 10
  • Colors: Green
  • Bloom Color: Pink
  • Bloom Season: Spring, Summer
  • Native To: California
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