27/11/2020
How to brighten shaded areas in the garden. Plant selection. Part 2
In the first part of this article, I presented you with ways to illuminate the lowest layer of vegetation. I suggest reading it first in order to get the most out of Part 2.
In this second part, we will deal with the shrub layer.
The open space between the ground layer and the tree canopy will ensure the brightness of the spot. However, in some situations (e.g. for privacy reasons) a shrub layer is required. In such cases, we of course need to pay attention to the flowers, but above all, to the leaves.
Many of the most shade-tolerant shrubs, such as rhododendron, pieris, and camellia, are evergreen, and their dark green leaves tend to darken.
Despite this, I recommend a shrub called Sarcococca confusa (sweet box), mentioned in Part 1 of this article, which has shiny, reflective leaves. Its fruits, that appear in spring, are a delicacy for birds, and importantly with respect to the topic of this article, it blooms white and, most importantly, in winter.
In general however, deciduous shrubs have brighter leaves and thus add the illusion of a lighter spot. Daphne mezereum f.alba (white mezereon) also grows in the shade and impresses us with its very fragrant white flowers before the leaves in late winter and early spring.
Viburnum, e.g. Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood), or Viburnum opulus (guelder rose) are shade-tolerant, as are Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (sevenbark), Hydrangea quercifolia e.g. 'Snow Queen' (oak-leaved hydrangea), Itea virginica (virginia sweet spire) or Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepper-bush).
The combination of the above shrubs will provide the shaded areas of the garden with white, brightening flowers from December (sweet box) to September. Mezereon in March, viburnums in April-May, hydrangeas in July / August, together with sweet spire and sweet pepper-bush.
To this layer of shrubs, let's add classic species such as blooming Cornus canadensis (creeping dogwood) and the well-known lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) or snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) and the dark corners of the garden will be beautifully illuminated for many months.
I did not include the whole range of shade-loving plants in this article. It was not my intention. I would simply like to draw your attention to the methodology of planting such parts of the garden. For more complete lists, please visit the many nursery websites. Nevertheless, I hope this short information was useful and I invite you to read the next article on planning a garden that is interesting for children.
