Yew-Tauton, Hydrangea-Annabelle, Viburnum-Mohican

Red Stem Dogwood -- cornus stolonifera

fallopia ... IF ZONE APPROPRIATE .... hey.. to z4.. dies to the ground .... NOT a problem in my garden .... though in higher zones.. it might be a problem...

also.. ligularia...

and something with big green leaves that starts with a B.. that is escaping me right now.. bulgaria??? bulmonaria.. bulimia ... berg?????

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: i could probably send you some

Bergenia?

That helps! Thanks.

Also, I'm wondering if any of you have had much experience with the hardy Azaleas and rhododendrons.

And I'm also thinking of acquiring some sumac (I know, I know) for the edges of the garden, in more sun. I like the Tiger Eye and the staghorn for the color. My plan is to put them into big yard-size garbage cans, with the bottoms cut out, to keep them from suckering all over the yard. I think they might be a good alternative to the color of Japanese maples.

She specified winter interest/ evergreen. Ligularia is spectacular in summer but it dies back to the ground in winter.

If presence in winter is not as important, then I would add Rodgersia pinnata, Aruncus dioicus (goatsbeard), and Cimicifuga racemosa "Black Beauty" to the list.

All of the above require moist conditions, BTW.

Ligularia & Rodgersia Pinnata are showing as zone 5.

I'm not limiting to evergreen, but would like to have SOME evergreen presence, or interesting bark or growth remaining through winter.

Some boxwood are tagged for partial shade. I've got a few specifically for partial shade-sun & they've done well and grown the year they've been in the ground. Research for your zone.

I grow ligularia and rogers flower here in zone four(upstate NY).
I also have both the big and small leaf rhododendron. You have to watch the winds with the rhodys. The winter wind dries them out, so I usually put something around them to protect them from the wind somewhat.
I have had a white dogwood for about 3 yrs. No blooms yet, but it is still living...I'm still hoping for the best.
Pee Gee Hydrangea is another that I have and spice bush.

I have several different ligularia growing in my garden. They are very hardy. I am in northern Manitoba.

Suggestions from the Wisconsin DNR with cultural information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wisconsin DNR native shrubs

I think Rhododendrons would look great, In fact, next year I am planning on getting a few to use as backdrops in a certain area of my yard.

not to bad mouth a plant, manyhosta... but we planted a bunch of the red-twig dogwoods only to find that they are prone to a white fungus (powdery mildew) and also to brown and black spot, so unless they will be in excellent drainage and lots of air flow, with pruning to keep them open, they often die.

and I'm confuses... wasn't the question about shrubs. I mean, yes ligularia is cool, particularly the species przewalski (pronounced che-VALL-skee) and I love brunneras and Rogersia is excellent and very hardy in Minnesota... and I'll second the vote for one of the red-stemmed cimicifugas (snakeroots) like Hillside Black Beauty or Brunette or James Compton... and I'll throw in Kirengeshoma (Korean waxbells) as well...

but none of them are shrubs!

I also can grow Ligularia here in zone 3, but again, they die back in winter. Rodgerisia I have not been able to keep. The bergenia that was mentioned is one of my very favorites. But - how big do you want? Bergenia is a rather small plant with tall flower stems in spring. Beautiful and the very first to color up in spring, but maybe not big enough for you?

Anabelle hydrangea also dies to the ground in winter here. Red twig dogwoods are good and so are yews. Rhododendrons don't work here because the soil is not acidic enough - not sure wher eyou are so I don't know if that's a problem.

ptilda, if your partial shade is really filtered shade (under oaks), so shrubs will not be in much direct sunlight, I would be careful on expectations of leaf colors and blooming. Azaleas, Viburnums, Elderberry, Dogwood, Ninebarks have all needed more sun to perform well for me -- Hydrangeas 'Annabelle'(filtered shade) and 'Pink Diamond'(bright shade)and also Tauton Yew(shade) have done well.

Sumac will want sun.

Paul

The soil is acidic and it's mostly under a canopy of mature oaks, but like i said, I have some area on the edges where I can plant some for sun.

idiothe, Not shrubs. Exactly. That's the point I was trying -- and obviously failed -- to make.

With the dogwoods, good air circulation is really important. The new U of M introduction, Garden Glow dogwood, is supposed to be very cold hardy and resistant to mildew. Golden Shadow (developed in the Chicago area) is another very attractive new dogwood, reported to be very slow-growing in the north, though.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Glow dogwood

thanks for that info... we may have a use for Garden Glow! It was so disheartening to see the whole hedge of Isanti Dogwood die off in two years...

If you decide to plant Azaleas make sure that they have the word Lights in the name. They were hybridized in Minnesota and are known to survive -40 in the winter. I just picked up Azalea 'Mandarin Lights' this summer, but there are many in the Northern Lights series.
Here are a few others I know of:
Lilac Lights
Lemon Lights
Northern Hi-Lights
Orchid Lights
Rosy Lights
White Lights
Northern Tri-lights

Jen

If your soil is acidic you should be able to grow Azaleas and Rhodos, they will do great in partial shade. Just remember they do not give year round color, but the show that they put on for a few weeks are worth having them.
The trick would be to plant a number of them with different flowering times then you would have a couple of months of color. The PGM's are very hardy and are the first to bloom. I also have many of the Lightes series azaleas.

Before you buy any check to see what the lowest temperatures are that they will tolerate. You will find many available. This time of year, if there are any in your area, would be a great time to get deals on them.

I have more than 100 rhodos and azaleas and the colors with the hostas are fantastic. I have a red one next to Hosta Patriot and I just stand and stare at them. Maybe you could try clematis, in some sun, with different flowerings times as well. Also my magnolias and dogwoods are beautiful.

To find out more about rhodos and azaleas check out Capt Dick Steel, Bayport, N.S. on the internet. His is a very interesting story and in person a very informative man to talk to. He could convince anyone to try rhodos and magnolias. He is now approx 95 years old.

Remember I live in Nova Scotia, very cold and sometimes snowy winters.

By the way I have sumacs as well, sumacs everywhere. Want some. I planted two, wish I hadn't, spreading like crazy.

Betty

Margo, Where did you find Mandarin Lights? I thought it was out of cultivation! I need to replace two in a flower bed that I am doing over. The Northern Lights Azelea are gorgeous in Spring in bloom but honestly, I don't think they have much to recommend them as a backdrop plant in the summer nor much winter interest.

Ninebark is another alternative she might want to consider. I have Diablo on the north side in partial shade and it has been a great grower for me. Dart's Gold and Center Glow are brighter cultivars. All are rated hardy to zone 2b.

This is my Diablo blooming in early June, with pee gee hydrangea as background and hosta in foreground.

Here, in September, it shows its deep summer color.

It is looking rather sloppy in these pictures but it is easy to clip back and shape.

I picked up Mandarin Lights at a local nursery. They had almost all in the lights series, and would think since she is a small nursery just bought them wholesale. You are right about them only being impressive in the spring, and then they just look like a plain green shrub. Ninebark is a very nice shrub for color, much better than the Sambucus (Elderberry) someone talked me into, which have no form and just flop all over the place.
Jen

Thanks for the excellent suggestions. I'm working on some new areas, so this will take some thought to get just what I'm looking for.

My issue with the diablo ninebarks and annabelle hydrangeas is that they are late to leaf out...they leaf out after the hostas have already come up and are starting to look exciting. If they were early, they'd be my first choice, as I am also searching for a shrub backdrop for a new hosta bed.

One shrub that I love with my hostas is Elderberry Sutherland Gold. I have not cobbled mine back every year like many recommend and mine has grown into a lovely tree that is decidedly Japanese Maple looking. It is much less lanky looking than the species. I receive many compliments on it. It also looks very exotic and beautiful when it is leafing out, which is timed nicely with the leafing out of the hostas. Very hardy.

I am considering for my backdrop: a tall, glossy green cotoneaster hedge. I think its dark, dark green would be a nice backdrop if I combined it on one end with a Sutherland Gold elderberry and then perhaps planted a few wichita blue or moon glow jupiters for some blue color. Those are my current ideas, but I would love some more, as well.

Has anyone had experience with Harry Lauder's Walking Stick? I'm finding that to be a VERY interesting option! Our winters are long, and it's nice to have something interesting in the garden for those 6 months! :)

ptilda, Yes, I have had a Harry Lauder's Walking Stick for around fifteen years. Dumb me. . I don't have hostas around it. . I never thought about it. . duh. . .It adds a wonderful winter feeling. It has been very cold hardy. We have some doozey of snowfall and below zero weather during that time. One thing I don't like about it is that it's graft tree wants to grow out of it and I have to keep it cut off.. . Think maybe I will do something with it this fall with hosta. .

I have a walking stick also. I find it more beautiful in winter than when it has leaves. Mine is nothing but a nub this year because the rabbits found it this winter and ate it down to nothing. So you might have to fence it, which kinda takes away from the winter appeal.
Jen