Astilbe 'Red Fanal' 

Astilbe x arendsii Fanal

An elegant new Astilbe with incised bronze leaves and the brightest red flowers of the genus. It grows to 2 feet, topped by dazzling 1-foot spikes entirely clothed with massed flowers. Blooms over a long period.  Excellent for the shaded border, producing feathery flowerheads all summer that, if left uncut, provide winter landscape interest. Also splendid for dried arrangements. The foliage is deeply incised and graceful  Plant 8 to 12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Fanal requires plenty of water and mulch in hot, dry weather. Zones 4-8.

Astilbe 'Rhineland' 

Astilbe x arendsii Rhineland

Lovely, dense inflorescences of clear pink, as refreshing as a summer morning. The plant is 12 inches tall and its flower height is 18 inches.  Excellent for the shaded border, producing feathery flowerheads all summer that, if left uncut, provide winter landscape interest. Also splendid for dried arrangements. The foliage is deeply incised and graceful, in rich green or bronze.  Plant 8 to 12 inches apart in a deep, rich, moist soil with plenty of organic matter. Fanal and Rheinland are among the most beautiful, but require plenty of water and mulch in hot, dry weather. Zones 4-8.

Astilbe 'Sprite'

Astilbe simplicifolia Sprite

Astilbe 'Sprite' is absolutely stunning with arching, open flower clusters of a delicately pleasing apple blossom pink color. The secondary flower spikes prolong the bloom season. The flowers are plume-like, and can be used either fresh or dried as a cut flower.  The simplicifolia hybrid group are generally compact, low-growing varieties which bloom in mid-season and feature narrow, arching flower panicles and narrow, ovate, 2-ternate leaves.  Sprite is a dwarf variety which features a foliage mound to only 10" tall of slightly glossy, dark bronze-green leaves and drooping panicles of shell-pink flowers on arching stems typically rising 12-18" tall in early to mid-summer.

Fern 'Japanese Silver Painted'

Athyrium nipponicum Pictum

Often difficult to locate and always in demand, Japanese Painted Fern is a miniature treasure for the partly- to fully-shaded garden. Just 18 inches tall, it bears lush, finely-cut foliage of rich green, each frond marked with a central stem of bright crimson and silvery markings. The effect in a dark corner of the garden is quite dramatic.  Easy to grow, this fern needs only moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Over time it forms substantial colonies, increasing the color show with each passing year in zones 3-8.

Fern 'Ostrich Plume'

Matteuccia struthiopteris

A medium upright deciduous broadleaf perennial, Ostrich Ferns, in the wild, are found in wooded river bottomlands and swamps in neutral to alkaline muck where they can reach five to ten feet in height. They are native to central and northern North America from Newfoundland to Alaska and south to Virginia, Europe and Asia.  Ostrich Ferns can be grown in shade to semi-shade, tolerating more sun in swampy conditions.  Fronds arise from a tufted, woody rootstock that is visible above ground, and the fern spreads by underground rhizomes. 

Fern 'Japanese Shield'

Dryopteris erythrosora

The Japanese Shield fern is a rare evergreen species from China.  The bold, deeply cut fronds are rosy-brown when young, turn rich, glossy green as they mature, decorated with scarlet spore capsules on the undersides.  Grows approximately 2 feet tall through zone 4.

Hosta 'Royal Standard'

Hosta plantaginea grandiflora Royal Standard

Stately in bearing and hardy, this magnificent Hosta plantaginea grandiflora hybrid with glossy green foliage has successfully weathered temperatures of -10.  It grows perfectly in full sun in the north, partial shade in the south.  Showy, fragrant white flowers top strong, 18- to 20-inch stems in the late summer.  It forms a clump 36" wide.

Hosta 'Ryan's Big One'

Hosta Ryan's Big One

Ryan's Big One is a very tall, 3-4 foot plant, with deeply puckered, thick bluish-green leaves.  The leaves on this extra large giant, can reach up to 18 inches in length and over a foot wide -- much larger than sieboldiana hostas.  A strong grower, it forms impressive clumps up to 5 feet in diameter.  The flowers are white.

Hosta 'Glacial Lake'

Hosta sieboldiana Glacial Lake

Glacial Lake (often mislabeled as Glacier Lake), is an upright mound of INTENSE blue leaves, reaching a height of 32" and spreads about 52".  The leaves are very large and round (about 10" in diameter) with glaucous, corrugated texture.  It was introduced in 1998 by Walden West.  Glacial Lake prefers shade or early morning sun.  Hardy from zones 4 - 9.

Hosta 'Gold Standard'

Hosta sieboldiana Gold Standard

Attractively ribbed, golden-yellow leaves rimmed with blue-green edges adorn a plant that attains its richest color in full shade.  This intense golden-yellow coloring becomes more pronounced throughout summer.  Its unique stature and large size make it superb for the back of the shaded border; it reaches 2 feet tall and 2½ feet wide when mature.  A Eunice Fisher Award Winner the plant sold for $85 in 1976 -- the highest price ever paid for a Hosta, at that time.

Hosta 'Elegans'

Hosta sieboldiana Elegans

Elegans sports large, blue heart shaped leaves with white flowers that appear in late June and early July. It is very showy from spring to late fall. Foliage height is 24". Unequaled for their beautiful foliage, low care and many landscape uses. Hostas provide bright color in the shade with handsome broad, ribbed foliage in many colors.  Excellent for shade, sun or partial shade...they don't need dividing and can be grown even in moist locations.  Zone: 3-9

Hosta 'Mr. Big'

Hosta sieboldiana Mr. Big

Reportedly the BIGGEST hosta to date. A Walden-West intro, from Sieboldiana x Montana,  with very big blue-green seersuckered foliage that can reach 6' across and purple flowers. Reports of it being auctioned on E-bay for $50.00 a division just goes to show you how much this plant commands attention.  Prefers shade to morning sun. Zones 4-9.

Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

Hosta sieboldiana Sum and Substance

Introduced in 1980, one of the most impressive hostas with deeply veined, large glossy chartreuse leaves. The foliage itself reaches 30" tall; the lavender flower spikes extend to over 3 feet tall. According to the grower in Holland, "The leaves are so strong you could park your bicycle against them."   Considered to be one of the finest hostas ever introduced, this giant chartreuse clump is a knockout.  Each rounded leaf can reach two feet across, while clumps average 6' wide for good gardeners, and may reach over 9 feet; great for neighborhood bragging rights.

Variegated Japanese Sedge

Carex siderosticha 'Island Brocade'

Regrettably, most shade plants bloom in spring.  For the remainder of the season try substituting an explosion of foliage forms. ‘Island Brocade’ will give you a bold, tropical look all season long.  The broad, evergreen, arching blades are margined creamy yellow, providing a manifest point of focus in an otherwise amorphous shade area.  Its strap-like blades contrast well with the foliage of Hosta, Epimedium, Hellebores and Bergenia.  Zone 6

Lenten Rose

Helleborus Orientalis

Hellebores are destined to supplant even Hostas as the premiere carefree perennial for shade (and partial sun).  Uniquely superior for its wide range of sumptuous colors (purple, red, near-black, white, green, pink and even yellow) captured by 2-inch flowers with overlapping petals. Produces flowers for nearly 5 months, from winter through spring.  A gardener's "dream plant", each will develop into sturdy, long-lived clumps 18 to 24 inches high and 2 to 3 feet across. Totally tolerant of heat and humidity, and even periods of drought, if given well-drained, moisture-retentive soil.

Lenten Rose 'Royal Heritage

Helleborus 'Royal Heritage'

After 50 years of dedicated English breeding and 10 years of collection and ongoing, we excitedly offer our patrons the very finest perennial introduction of the decade. Royal Heritage Hellebores are destined to supplant even Hostas as the premiere carefree perennial for shade (and partial sun).   Uniquely superior for its wide range of sumptuous colors (purple, red, near-black, white, green, pink and even yellow) captured by 2-inch flowers with overlapping petals. In our garden the strain produces flowers for nearly 5 months, from winter through spring. Cut and floated, they make an excellent centerpiece, lasting up to two weeks.  Zones 4-9.

Pachysandra 'Green Sheen' 

Pachysandra terminalis Green Sheen

An exciting new variation of one of the most valuable and carefree evergreen groundcovers, with foliage so unbelievably glossy that each leaf shines like a little green mirror -- while a dense stand glints and sparkles to light up any shady corner.  Each plant grows only 10 to 12 inches high, and over a 2 to 3-year period will spread to evenly carpet a 3-foot space.  Plant in light to full shade; tolerant of wide range of soils from moist to dry.  Superb in combination with ferns and hostas.

Purple Leaf Japanese Parsley

Cryptotaenia japonica Atropurpurea

A wonderful new ornamental grown primarily for its lovely dark maroon foliage. This perennial is a great companion to golden-leafed Hosta or variegated grasses. Grow this exotic, clump-forming plant in semi-shade, in rich, moist soil. Closely related to Parsley, the leaves are edible and make a great garnish. The pale pink flowers in mid-summer are rather insignificant, but the dried-out flower heads persisit.

 

Sarcococca (Sweet Box)

Sarcococca hookeriana 'humillis'

This compact, stoloniferous Sweetbox is a Chinese native slowly growing 12 to 15 inches high and 2 feet wide. Its tufted growth, glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers, and blue-black fruit offer long-season interest as a ground cover or shrub for underplanting. Ideal for winter arrangements too!    Sarcococca are low-growing, evergreen shrubs with dark, lustrous foliage that are seldom seen in American gardens. Allied to the Boxwoods, their sweetly fragrant flowers appear in late winter and early spring. Extremely tolerant of dry shaded areas that are often so difficult to fill, Sarcococca makes an outstanding ground cover. Also tolerates a wide range of growing conditions! Zones 5 (with protection) - 9.

Stephanandra Crispa

Stephanandra incisa Crispa

  Stephanandra incisa Crispa packs a lot of interest into a small package. This shade loving dwarf shrub boasts delicate, fern-like leaves and white flowers in spring. But the fun is just beginning! The foliage is its main attraction, both in summer and in the fall, when it turns a brilliant reddish-purple. And when you think you can't take anymore, exotic bare branches provide winter interest.    Crispa seldom grows over 2 feet high and spreading to 4 to 5 feet, it makes a fine ground cover. Or if you like, planted 12 inches apart, this tiny treasure makes an excellent low hedge. Crispa is also ideal for planting on banks as it is effective in preventing soil erosion. Thrives in shade. Zones 3-8.
 

Thorndale Ivy

Hedera helix Thorndale

Thorndale is a super hardy English Ivy. It creates a shiny 6 to 8 inch evergreen carpet in difficult places.  Large, veined, sub-zero hardy leaves spread fast but don't become a nuisance (1st year it sleeps, 2nd year it creeps, 3rd year it leaps).   It is also splendid as a climber that needs no support.