Interesting plants for large container/full shade?

15 years ago

I've been busy moving things around in my garden, having finally accepted that the house isn't going to move to allow sun in certain areas. Sigh. We have two large containers by the front door - they may get a whisper of late afternoon sun but it's really a shady area. We want to put in something interesting, beautiful and maybe a bit cheeky - just as a little hat tip to our strict HOA....;-). Suggestions at a couple of places have been gardenia, firecracker plant, camelias, tea plant, leopard plant and calladiums...none if which have knocked my socks off. We'd be happy to train something up and around the doorway and can treat these as annuals or baby them when/if it gets cold.

Anything come to mind?

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Comments (13)

Vulture61
15 years ago
I have a giant Turk's Cap that reaches 10' tall. I trained it to grow as kinda lanky tree. It blooms almost all year long.

Omar

Here is a link that might be useful: Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus
beachplant
15 years ago
Amorphophallus! They bloom a really cool bizarre flower that smells like rotten meat. It only smells until it's pollinated by flies so the smell doesn't last that long, but it's such a weird flower. The name means deformed penis. Then it sends up these totally cool leaves, they can be 4' or more, spotted stalk, lobed. You can order them off e-bay for a decent price, konjac is pretty cheap usually. Go dormant in winter. Brent and beckys and a few other mail order companies carry them.

Angel trumpets do good in shady areas. Smell good and you can keep them trimmed to a pot size.

Tally ho!
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rock_oak_deer
15 years ago
Japanese Maples do well in shade and provide beautiful color. They will stay small in containers for many years. They do lose their leaves in winter even in warm climates. Mine are in containers by the front door and are still leafing out or I would post a pic for you. I add annuals in the pots for seasonal color.
bobbi_p
15 years ago
Well, Beachplant, guess that's the winner for finding a "cheeky" plant to place on your front doorstep! Too funny...

I was trying to think of something obnoxious that would tee off the HOA, you win.
dragonfly_wings
15 years ago
I wish I could recall the name of the iris that I have by my front door. It looks every bit like the African Iris (dietes moreae) or Butterfly Iris, but is a shade loving variety (perhaps the same family?). I purchased it at Lowes. What I love about it is its uprightness and evergreen qualities, plus of course the beautiful and nearly continuous blooming iris flowers (pretty much between first and last frost if you feed it).

My front porch faces east so it gets a little morning sun, though it's somewhat obstructed by live oaks. This plant seems to love its location with little to no direct light.
Gardener972
15 years ago
How large are the containers? Are they on the ground? Will you be leaving the plant out through the winter?
magical_isis
Original Author
15 years ago
Heh - awesome suggestions, thankyou!! And that - rottingmeatthingy - definitely would be cheeky!

The pots comfortably fit a 5 gallon container with some wiggle room(originally bought them to dress up a booth at a bridal show)...I'm happy to baby things and cover them, or bring inside, if we get a winter...
mikeandbarb
15 years ago
I plant bulbs in my containers and tuber plants, when dormant you could plant something in the winter months.

Hosta's do really well in containers, Just about anything will grow in a container. Gingers have nice leafs of interest, some smell good. Persian shield a good purple color. Ivy loves being outside.

Beach wouldn't rottingmeatsmell Bring the DOG's to the porch Pew wee.......LOL
Sowth Efrikan
15 years ago
Clivias do very well in shade and don't require much water. They also flower at a time when many other plants are still dormant. They don't withstand winters here in NETexas, so will have to be brought indoors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clivia info
tshcd
15 years ago
A Brazilian plume flower (Jacobinia carnea) would be pretty.
tshcd
15 years ago
Oh, and Philippine violet, which is a shrub, too.
cynthianovak
15 years ago
I would second the Brazilian Pink Plume Plant. But it doesn't over winter here and I've only found it in nurseries in the fall....errgh! That said, I have mine in a plastic pot and I bring it in over winter nad tote it out. It can take temps above freezing and will come back after I've forgotten to water it. It appears to be a relative of Lollipops.

BTW I find that both of these want some sun and aren't very colorful in full shade. My brugs won't bloom in full shade either.

I've seen clivia popping up in garden places now.

What about SUn Coleus? They are less colorful in the shade but get bigger than their shade loving kin. Ginger or varigated gingers are pretty. Lots of the tropical offerings are happy in the shade. Maybe a combination of them with zebra plant in the front....? Maybe Maracas?

I've already got my caladiums and elephant ears from Sam's waiting in the garage.

Here is a link that might be useful: maracas
Gardener972
15 years ago
How about a giant liriope in the center and setcreasea pallida (purple heart) surrounding it? Both are tolerant of shade and are perennials.