When I first planted Rozanne in a full sun bed I was displeased with how it sprawled. Later, after reading about the cultivar's growing/blooming habits I decided to stand back and see what she had to offer. These days I just enjoy seeing the lovely blooms that begin early in the season and keep going until a hard freeze with absolutely zero help from me. A care-free perennial, reliably hardy that grows to about 3 ft. wide.

Quote: "Barb, wow, that's quite a list! I'm glad to hear Cranberry Viburnum is doing well in shade...we may put that in a western corner. And I'm definately going to be planting perennials, too; I just want to get the shrubs out of the way first. I was surprised to see Burning Bush on your list. Is that Wahoo, our native burning bush, or Eunonymus alata, the infamous invasive exotic? I only mention it because it seems like you have made an effort to plant native or native-freindly plants elsewhere. The Burning Bush I was referring to is the "Dwarf Winged Euonymous" that is dark green and shiny all summer and crimson red in fall. I understand that it is invasive and considered a "weed", even problematic in some regions but here we find it does well without any spreading. I wonder if our conditions here are just too harsh for it to become even slightly problematic because I have never seen one even produce a single baby nor have I ever seen one naturalized into a field, ditch or woods anywhere and we've done a lot of hiking over the years. I was surprised to hear from folks to the south of us in the USA that this species is considered a "noxious weed" in some areas. Very strange. But you mention a good point in that the native "Burning Bush" would be an excellent alternative IF you can find it. Sadly I find that locating native specimens even in the largest and most reputable nurseries, is very difficult. What a shame that we can't get our hands on plants, shrubs and trees that are "NATIVE" yet we can easily get these other things that come from afar. Many of the shade loving shrubs are fruit bearing and the birds will LOOOOOOOVE you for planting them. Perhaps you mother (if not already) will become an avid "birder" :o) and most certainly you will need to add some bird houses, a bird bath and feeders to the property to keep the birds that come to feast on the ripe berries. (Christmas and birthday gift ideas for the future) Yes, when we bought our property which is half woods and half groomed lawn, we agreed (my husband and I) that I could do what I wanted with the groomed area but the woods would be all native. I have stuck to my part of the deal but my husband feels that I've pushed the limits by placing a garden that divides our woods from the groomed area (mix of native and non-native) with almost all non-native shrubs. I'm a sucker for fall colour so I wanted the edge of the woods, before you enter it, to blaze with colour in the fall but he feels I've got my proverbial "toe on the line". Oh well... ;o) I do love my native woods but there are just a few non-natives that I just can't live without simply because of their fall foliage. In my shady foundation area between my house and the house next door I also have non-native, Japanese Painted Ferns and Autumn Ferns... again, for colour. Mixed with the perennial pink and white Dicentra Bleeding Hearts, the Orange Trolius Globeflowers, the various coloured Hostas, some dwarf iris, Columbine, bright Orange Butterfly weed and Blue Oat Grass which are in the sunny bits, this shady foundation planting is VERY colourful. Now I only wish I had more property to plant but alas I'm running out and will have to carry on in the coming years with container planting on my various porches and decks (we are building phase 1 of our decks this summer and phase 2 next summer along with a little bistro patio area outide my kitchen. I guess with more "land" I should also wish for more MONEY hahaha. ;o) :o) Barb Oh, PS... if you get a Highbush Cranberry, you might consider putting it nearest to your eavestrough downspout. They LOOOOVE water and will fruit like crazy.

Hi Amazin , sorry I'm new at this web stuff ( mostly just a lurker) and couldn't find were I wrote to you the 1st time ... me feel so dumb with this puter stuff... but yes I have 9 begonias and 6 are from Logee's, some are named and other are ( pass a along's ) ..... Named ones= Begonia " Richardsiana" B." Snow Capped " B. "Tea Rose" B. "Hot Tamale" B. "Good and Plenty " B, "Tiny Gem " B. " Silver Queen " The Richardsiana has in pass week took a big flop , and so not sure whats up with it , taken it back into house , hope it was just heat stroking from 100 + daze we have been in for pass couple of weeks here in nastyville , so not sure about it. Two other's unknown named ones but pretty just the same and last one I think mite be B. " Sophia Cecile " not sure. I see you have " My Special Angel " have been looking at it in the catalogs . sorry I'm so long winded.... but sure there must be something in your long list that we can work with . P.s. I wont make it to any plant swap so..... not sure how we would do this if we've a mind to ???? But thanks for your time and effort if thats the only way .

It sounds like you have a reasonable depth of soil for many plants to work there. Small Hosta as suggested above would work well. Astilbe chinensis doesn't seem to need quite as much water, so here the foliage looks great all summer with additional water only in dry weather. Hakonechloa macra/Japanese forest grass, especially the gold foliaged ones, will show up well and add light to the area. IME Pulmonareas/lungworts vary a good deal in size . . . one I have is probably 18" across and it's only starting its second season. Japanese painted ferns come in a range of foliage colors and are well-behaved IME. Brunnera choose one with a reputation for having healthy, frosted foliage European or US wild ginger (Asarum) has a range of green or frosted foliage that ranges from slightly fuzzy to rather shiny, depending on the variety. Hellebores have really early spring flowers. Veronica 'Georgia Blue' will weave around all the other plants, but not overwhelm any of them. Iris cristata is a shade-loving native iris that blooms white or blue-purple in spring. Perhaps some of the more rugged Heucheras/coral bells, Tiarella/foamy bells, or their cross, Heucherellas. Mukdenia is a tidy little shade lover with white spring flowers and bright crimson fall color. Phlox divaricata is a spring-blooming woodland phlox that flowers blue or white. Epimediums are available in ground cover and clumping forms. Early spring flowers, and often interesting leaves. Consider using a combination of a few different foliage textures and colors that are repeated down the bed so that there is interest even when nothing is blooming.