Made in the Shade: How to Turn Your Yard’s “Dark Side” into a Jungle
Hello neighbors, Jeremy Klice here.
We all have that one spot in the yard — maybe the north side of the house, or under that massive maple tree where you’ve tried to grow grass three times and it keeps dying. In Jamestown, our humid summers can make these shady corners feel like a steam room, but some of the coolest plants on earth absolutely love them. Here are my top picks for Zone 6 shade gardens that actually enjoy our humid weather.
The “Reliable Roommates”
1. Hosta: The King of Foliage. Famously easy to grow, with thousands of varieties from teacup sizes to massive monsters with leaves spanning four feet. Warning: deer think Hostas are a salad bar.
2. Bleeding Heart: The Early Riser. Classic pink, red, or white heart-shaped flowers that dangle along arching stems in early spring. They often go dormant and disappear in summer heat, only to magically return next spring.
3. Astilbe: The Feathery Showoff. Tall, feathery plumes of flowers in pink, red, and white. Unlike plants that rot in humidity, Astilbe thrives in moist soil — the only way to kill them is to let them dry out.
The “Year-Round” Color: Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coral Bells are grown for their leaves, which come in colors from deep burgundy to caramel, purple, and lime green. They’re semi-evergreen, keeping your garden looking sharp long after the snow flies.
The “Expert” Tip: Not All Shade is Created Equal
Most people think “Shade” = “Wet.” True on the north side of your house, but shade from a giant tree usually means Dry Shade — the tree acts like an umbrella and its roots drink up the groundwater. If you plant a thirsty Astilbe under a Maple, it will be crispy by August.
The solution is Barrenwort (Epimedium), also called Fairy Wings — tough as nails, one of the few plants that thrives in dry shade, with delicate heart-shaped leaves and dainty flowers. It’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
Stop staring at that patch of dirt under your tree and let’s get something growing there. — Jeremy
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