Shade-Loving Perennials for the Mountain West

Spice up your shade with one of these colorful spring-blooming plants

On a recent Zillow report of my home , I saw a pic from when my husband and I bought our house over 13 class ago . It catch my eye because the trees were so small ! It ’s no wonderment that some of the perennials I planted long ago are struggling under the now - larger trees , as they choose full sun . It ’s time to start transitioning some of my beds toshade gardens . Here are some perennial I plan to add to provide color to these now - suspicious areas .

‘Purple Palace’ heuchera

Heucheramicrantha‘Palace Purple ’ , Zones 4–9

Heucheras come in a diverseness of leafage and blossom colors . I have sex the deeply purple , maple - work leaves of ‘ Purple Palace ’ , which tote up colour throughout the growing time of year . Above the foliage , thin stems become covered in tiny pinkish - bloodless flower in early summer . Be trusted to deadhead to encourage reblooming . ‘ Purple Palace ’ grows 1 to 2 fundament grandiloquent and 1 human foot all-embracing and takes medium irrigation . While this variety can take full sun , I find that it does better with some shade in our acute Mountain West sun , especially in the good afternoon to foreclose scorching or fading .

Jacob’s ladder

Polemoniumcaeruleum , Zones 4–8

This perennial is know for its loving cup - shaped blue flowers that bloom in late leap or early summer . I also have a go at it its clumping foliage of pinnated compound leaf , which front like run . Jacob ’s ladder grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide with mediumirrigationand prefer partial to full shadiness . I deadhead this industrial plant after it finish flower to bask the foliation for the rest of the season . This plant has minimal pestilence or disease issues . In humid climates , it is prone topowdery mould , but that ’s not a trouble in our wry part .

‘Confetti Cake’ hellebore

Helleborus‘Confetti Cake ’ , Zones 4–9

I first discovered hellebores when studying horticulture in California . I loved their dark , shiny evergreen plant leaves and the multitudes of flower colors available from different smorgasbord . Most of these comfortable - tutelage perennials bloom in tardy winter or very early spring . For the long time I did n’t think they would originate in the Mountain West . I was wrong ! More and more variety are becoming uncommitted in the trade that are suitable for our region . ‘ Confetti Cake ’ has bright livid double flowers that are scatter with burgundy flecks . It grow 1½ to 2 feet tall and broad and train fond to full wraith . It has low irrigation requirements and is drought tolerant .

With interest in hellebores growing , Colorado State University has been trialing varieties for the past few years . Check out some of their results of these trials here .

Snowdrop anemone

Anemonesylvestris , Zones 4–8

While many think of anemones as tumble - blooming , this species blooms in the late spring or early summertime . Thefragrant , cheery white-hot flush with yellow centers will brighten any shady space . Snowdrop anemone spring up 1 to 1½ feet tall and 1 foot wide in partial shade with medium irrigation . This species spreads via rhizomes and take a shit a niceground book binding . Give it enough blank to naturalize .

For more great shade plants for Mountain West garden , check out :

— Michelle Provaznik is executive director of the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins , Colorado .

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shade loving perennial

Snowdrop anemone’s bright white and yellow flowers bring sunshine to the shade.Photo: Jennifer Benner

Purple Palace heuchera

‘Purple Palace’ heuchera has shiny green-purple foliage that seems to glow in the shade.Photo: millettephotomedia.com

Jacobs ladder

Jacob’s ladder is very tolerant of deep shade, and its textured foliage continues to add seasonal interest after its late spring flowers fade.Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust,CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons