Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a shallow rooted shrub/tree and therefore does not tolerate drought very well. It also prefers a more neutral soil, which may be a problem in a Pine forest. It will grow in full shade, but exhibits best fall color and better flowering when receiving some sunlight. The best specimens are usually found at forest edges. Mine are young seedlings, so I don't expect to see any flowers for a few more years (usually 5-7 years from seed). They can be propagated by layering, but will take a year for roots to develop. It is also one of nature's oddities in dispersal of seed. When the seed pods are mature, they explode, scattering the seed up to 30-40 ft. away. Rb

Well, we know that Astilbe is a short time bloomer. What you might look for is "Snow Angel" heuchera (coral bells). The foliage is spattered and splashed with a creamy white and it's blooming right now with sprays of pink 'bells' to 24" over a 10-12" mound. White flowered hellebores,rain lilies bloom white and you also have the various spring narcissus and the wild flowers to choose from. Tiarellas are fairly long blooming for this time of year and they put up sprays of white flowers. Heucherellas (a cross of tiarella and heucheras) are good too. My white 'bleeding heart' is a dependable perennial and has been blooming all April and May at a height above the other plants I suggested. All these plants and many more give the visual brightness to the shade. Don't take out your impatiens. Grab some white violas and some of the perennials and spread the brightness around. I suggest you find a really expansive book on shade gardening and get "The American Woodland Garden" by Rick Darke

USDA hardiness zones are based on an average minimum winter low temperature over a period of time, typically about 30 years. Average - not an absolute minimum low. It is highly conceivable that - on average - lows in these select pockets range in the 20-25F consistent with a zone 9a rating for any number of years before experiencing a winter weather event that may cause temps to plummet. It is the moderating influence of marine currents that governs these mild pockets. One certainly wouldn't expect to see a similarly mild condition persisting much inland. If one has issues with these zone determinations, it probably makes the most sense to pursue these issues with those who compile the appropriate weather data and formulate the zone maps rather than chastising those who are simply using them. They are after all only guidelines for plant selection, with ultimate plant hardiness based on a number of factors not considered by just average winter lows. Since moving to a somewhat protected coastal location that benefits from this marine influence after a more inland situation that was noticeably colder on average in winter (although only within a few miles of my current setting), I know that marginal zone hardy plants have fared much better with minimal to no winter damage than I would have expected at my former residence. Will they necessarily experience no winter cold damage long term? Probably not, just as any marginal zone hardy plant may experience occasional winter cold damage in any zone. But if a plant survives without issue 9 out of 10 years, then I consider it appropriately winter hardy for that specific area. Average winter lows for Victoria BC, generally recognized as having the mildest winters in Canada, is only 3C (calculated over a period of years from 1981-2010) or around 37F, most definitely fitting the zone 9a classification.

I am working on my woodland garden. It will be my first. Hopefully ready by spring this year. I need color! If anyone can recommend flowers for heavily wooded borders. Also looking for some taller wildflowers for this area. I am zone 7B and the area is mostly shaded with some dappled light in the afternoon. I would love to trade or see what you might have. Please let me know. :-)