skip to main content

heucheras that perform well in sun & shade?

16 years ago

Have 2 beds, separated only by the front door's stoop, along the front of the house. One is shaded all day. The other gets sun for several hours in the afternoon/evening. Looking to plant the same types of plants in both beds if possible. Was hoping to use 'peach Flambe' and a purple like 'Plum Pudding'. Concern is whether they will maintain their colors in both situations

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mxk3 z5b_MI
16 years ago
I'm rather new to Heucheras, but I wanted to chime in and say that I have a grouping of Plum Pudding in full sun and this cultivar is holding the color beautifully with no fading.
leslie197
16 years ago
I think it kind of depends on the type of shade you have. Is it deciduous or building shade? Is it high-filtered shade. Does it get any bright light? It doesn't sound from your post that there is much sun at all on either side, so I would think that there would only be minor differences between the two sides.

However I wanted to mention that when I moved to my current home I had mostly sun, no shade trees. I soon found that heucheras did not do very well in solid building shade, the only kind I could provide. Right now, except for some lime green ones, which will scorch a bit in the sun, I grow most of my heucheras & heucherellas in the sun. I'm talking about 6-8 hours or more of sun.

Peach Flambe is spectacular looking in sparkling sunlight & may be bright enough to show up well in darker situations. I just don't know. The dark purple-red heucheras blend into the dark ground color too much for my taste. Pewter Veil does nicely for me in bright light (no direct sun) & looks especially nice with the silver-green Lungwort Majeste, along with the slow-growing Japanese Painted fern & a big fat Bergenia cordifolia Bressingham Ruby. I also have 4 varieties of the Caramel/amber ones (the best of which is Caramel) and they color well in both heavy deciduous shade and sun, being just a bit greener in shade than in sun. The ones in shade are a lot smaller, but that may be a varietal thing as some of the early amber ones were poorish growers.

OTOH, I wanted to mention to you that I gave away most of my purple varieties to a niece with a new-to-her home in an older neighborhood. She has huge big limbed-up-high trees providing lots of filtered light & they are all doing well for her. They are doing much better for her under the trees than they did for me in the dark building shade.

Hopefully, some people with shade will post their experiences for you.
Related Discussions
North garden w/ AM shade, PM sun: full sun or partial shade?
Q
Comments (8)
I think you would be fine with hydrangeas there. If salvias are too floppy, try some veronicas or agastaches. You might even be able to grow baptista (false indigo). I have a similar exposure in my zone 5 Iowa yard. Trees along one side, and then it slopes too, so it is a bit of an odd long bed. It used to be grass and mostly invasive Asian honesuckle shrubs. I have only been gardening at this house for 1 1/2 years, so I am still experimenting; plus I am new to this zone and previously lived in zone 9. I first considered this area part shade and planted accordingly. Now I see there are pockets of more and less sun. In this area the plants doing best are: Hostas--This surprised me, but I see them in full sun around town now that I have started looking. Not sure if it is the same for zone 6. Foam flower--this looks GREAT right now with tidy foliage and is still blooming. I had some red tulips behind the foam flower and they looked lovely. Columbines--flowering nicely with airy foliage. Agastache--the one I have has short white flowers, but blues are common I think. Overwintered and re-sowed abundantly. My soil drains well so may be why they like it there. Garden phlox--were small plants last year from Bluestone spring sale. SO far they are growing nicely but will see if they flop. Today the whole area seemed to be in so much sun! Daylillies--will see how they do this year Foxglove--sowed last summer, getting ready to bloom, seems to be good for them in this spot. Monarda, bloomed last summer and no flopping. Soloman's seal--in a shadier pocket, but still gets some afternoon sun. Doing really well right now. helleborus--one little helleborus which has been doing great so far this spring, to my surprise. When I realized how sunny the spot was, I thought I'd move this little plant, but it is doign well. Toad lily--these are growing nicely and had attractive late flowers last year. Lobelia--there are some nice blue lobelias available. low growing veronicas--doing very well and blooming profusely. Happy planting. :)
...See More
Sun tolerant heuchera?
Q
Comments (7)
Thanks Vivian. I am not positive on the photo, but either this May or June. I just sized the photos this month and it changed the save date. I am getting ready to do a post over the Winter on my blog and was playing with the photos. I know it was already close to summer as the Sedum around it is already full green (it's already turned red for the Winter)and was in the 90's. This is one on my front corner where the driveway and walk is. With this horrendous summer I got a few burned leaves on everything in my yard, but all the Heuchera did no more in this area than maybe a few burned leaves. I did have to take Tiramisu out of there as it couldn't handle it and added another Caramel where it was. Cher
...See More
Heuchera or Heucherella for Full Sun
Q
Comments (4)
I have Obisidian and Dolce Licorice, and the Licorice is more vigorous. It also has huge rocket-shaped lime green and plum flowers, while Obsidian's aren't very impressive. Mine is over a foot tall and the foliage stays nice. I had two Licorices under trees in very dry conditions. I read they prefer drier rather than wetter conditions. One gets dappled sun and it grew bigger and had twice the flowers of the one in more shade. I moved the one in shade to full sun/moist soil last fall, and so far it's doing very well. When I bought them about five years ago, there were other Dolce varieties that I was interested in trying. Hope they're still available!
...See More
Will purple heucheras take full sun?
Q
Comments (3)
As long as soil conditions are good and they receive adequate watering, most any heuchera will grow well here in full sun. In fact, with the exception of the chartreuse and yellow cultivars which would prefer a bit of afternoon shade, they tend to grow and color up better in full sun, especially the deep purple cultivars that can lose color in too much shade. Remember, PNW sun is not nearly as intense as it is in much of the rest of the country. I grow a couple dozen different cultivars of heucheras and most of mine receive considerable sun. Good soil and sufficient water seems to be the key for their success and longevity. Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nursery, responsible for the introduction of scores of new heucheras in a rainbow of colors, recommends full to part sun for virtually all cultivars.
...See More
mxk3 z5b_MI
16 years ago
Have to agree with the comment re: the dark purple-red huecheras blending into the ground. I do find this to be true, not only in my yard but in other people's yard. They really need a shot of light and/or bright foliage to set them off, otherwise they tend to get "lost" against the ground, especially in a shadier location. Silvery foliage is particularly nice with the purple heucheras (lamb's ear is a good one, or if in part-shade Japanese painted fern is a nice companion).

The silvery-purple heucheras (gosh, there are so many, with all sorts of veining patterns) show up much better in the shade.
paul_
Original Author
16 years ago
I was thinking of having some hostas planted behind the heucheras to serve as a backdrop

Related Stories

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Heuchera Richardsonii Flourishes in Sunny, Dry Spots

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Richardson’s alumroot for spring blooms in north-central perennial gardens, rock gardens and informal prairie plantings

0

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING How to Pick a Patio Umbrella That Performs

By Shawn Gauthier

Looking for just the right amount of shade, sturdiness and weather resistance? We've got you covered

WINTER GARDENING Great Design Plant: Gold Collection Hellebores Perform Like Stars

Exciting colors, longer bloom times, forward-facing flowers ... These hybrids leave old hellebores in the dust

GARDENING GUIDES Shades of Vegetable Gardens: Growing Edibles in Less Sun

By Steve Asbell

See how one gardener produces a veritable feast of vegetables and herbs under a canopy of shade

REMODELING GUIDES Extend the Roof for Shade and Shelter

Block the sun and rain with a modern brow-like extension of your roof

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Juniperus Conferta ‘Golden Pacific’

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

‘Golden Pacific’ shore juniper shines in sun or partial shade

PLANTING IDEAS 8 Sumptuous Shade Garden Plant Combinations

By Olander Garden Design

Enjoy these plant combinations made for spots with varying levels of shade and different garden zones

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Set Your Shade Garden Aglow With Light

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Invite brightness to the dark corners of your garden for a magical dance you won't want to miss

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Thalictrum Dioicum Thrives in Dry Shade

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant early meadow-rue in eastern U.S. woodland gardens for its tolerance of dry sites and shade

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Seek Shelter in the Shade This Summer

By Olander Garden Design

Open up to outdoor living with 8 garden shade strategies

Sponsored

More Discussions

Are bricks a thing in the US

37

Good mail order source for salvias?

3

On-going photo essay "25 years of gardening" is in KT, if interested

12

Gardenia Distress

4

Has your “Blue Fortune” emerged yet??

2