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Minnesota Gardening

recommendation for shrub for shade/perennial

15 years ago

Hi all,

I hope you are enjoying our MN spring! I'm looking for a shrub to plant in front of our north facing porch. It gets minimal sun, but does get a little.

We prefer a shrub, but are open to suggestions on perennials as well. I would love something with some purple/red tones that maintains some good winter form as well.

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (3)

zenpotter
15 years ago
Here is a wonderful site to look up plants any kind at all.

Here is a link that might be useful: U of M plant selection
dirtbert
15 years ago
We have purple sand cherry shrubs planted in front of our house (north side) and they do very well.
In fact every couple of years we cut them down to the ground since they get a bit large and start to crowd our front door.
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Since you are going to do some soil amending I think your choices can expand. Remembering that this is right at your patio, I would imagine you want things that are going to look good ALL the time, and that would indicate to me using annuals for seasonal color with some "backbone shrubs". How about sweet almond bush Aloysia virgata (can get big, but can be kept smallish) with wonderfully fragrant blooms. Bird of Paradise (forget the botanical name) Most perennials especially native can look kinda of ratty at some time or another, so pick carefully there. I love Forest Fire annual salvia - and it will keep with your tropical theme and reseed nicely. A note - if you use butterfly weed you will have butterflies, sure, and you will probably be fighting orange aphids ALL summer long. To me, butterfly weed should be an "enjoy from a distance" type plant. How about crinums?
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hostaholic2 z 4, MN
15 years ago
zenpotter gave you a link to a great site.

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