Weird and Wild Shade Plants for the Northwest

Enliven the dark corners of your garden with these fun and funky moisture-loving treasures

As we gladly came to the end of a wild and wet winter , I was excited to see some of the estimable of the weird shade - loving plants coming up . The crazy affair about these plants is that they grow utterly in our wet world . Most of these could never exist in the dry climates of California and Arizona , in the bitter cold of the Midwest and New England , or in the heat energy of the South . The moist , acidic soil shade by toweringevergreensand leafy vine maple ( Acercircinatumand cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) of thePacific Northwestis the optimum growing region for most of these unusual plants . A range of plants from summer - dormant autumn bloomers , ground masking , and recent - bounce emergents can make quite a stir . Here are some of the top - performing weird and wild shade plants that I treasure in my garden .

‘Windcliff Fragrant’ pachysandra is an excellent evergreen ground cover

‘ Windcliff Fragrant ’ pachysandra ( Pachysandraaxillaris‘Windcliff Fragrant ’ , Zones 6–9 ) is one of my go - to priming coat cover song . It is evergreen and has a sweet-smelling blossom , and then toward the end of the summer it creates some very cool seedpods . It spreads moderately in moist soil and full shade , growing 4 to 6 inch tall and up to 36 inches wide-eyed . It has to have moist land to look its unspoiled .

Hardy impatiens shines late in the season as other plants are going dormant

Another ground cover , hardy impatiens ( Impatiensomeianaand cvs . , Zones 6–9 ) , stays torpid throughout the spring and summer and suddenly appears when the rest of the garden is commence to go sleeping . Peach and orange flowers withvariegated foliagebring fall color to the depleted layer of shady bottom . Edge with this and you wo n’t detect the slug - markedhosta(Hostaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) and hibernating lungwort ( Pulmonariaspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–8 ) behind it . Rhizomatous , hardy impatiens postulate to be controlled in tight spaces by rive up the creepers in the bound . When provided with average moisture in tint , plants will happily mature up to 15 inches tall and wide-eyed — ideal for creating a grand sweep oar of interest below your favourite trees .

Mayapples provide prehistoric-like shapes and colors in the shade

When the snowdrops ( Galanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) are finished and the farewell are out on the hydrangeas ( Hydrangeaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) , the understory in the suspicious moist bed in my garden begins to come up alive with ‘ Heronswood flesh ’ multileaf paris ( Paris polyphylla‘Heronswood Form ’ , Zones 5–8 ) and mayapple ( Podophyllumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) . I specially like the mayapple hybrids , with the aptly name spot - leaved selection ‘ patched Dotty ’ ( Podophyllum‘Spotty Dotty ’ , Zones 6–9 ) among my dearie . The issue wild mandrake buds pushing through the territory always attend intriguingly unknown .

The mayapples mature well in very dampish soil with mottled shade . The prehistoric shapes and colors of the leaves will draw you closer to see the flowers and apple - alike stone fruit . Mayapples are among a few plants to land their own shade umbrella . They can reach up to 2 base tall and 2 to 4 feet wide , look on the pick . Crazy patterns and glossy farewell make them a standout in the shadowiness .

‘Heronswood Form’ multileaf paris offers ornamental foliage, flowers, and fruit

The ‘ Heronswood Form ’ multileaf paris has a very delicate otherworldly bloom . Standing quite proud at up to 36 inches tall and less than 24 inches wide , this plant has colors of purple , orange , pink , blue , and undimmed immature that settle down on the top of the green curl of leaf . seedpod follow , containing red seed that are seeable when the pods burst . This precious stone is happy in spook with serious moisture .

Arisaemas deliver intriguing flowers and form

Naturally our moist , shady conditions are also consummate for arisaemas ( Arisaemaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) . Sometimes called cobra lily , these perennial produce wondrous patterned spathe flower structure that make them amazing to grow and observe . The leaf are very tropic looking and are a great background signal when the blooms appear . A various grouping , some specie can originate up to 4 feet marvelous and 18 inches all-encompassing .

There are several sources for these great plants . I likePlant Lustonline to help with the hunt . Pacific Northwest source areFar Reaches Farm , Xera Plants , Windcliff Plants(pickup only ) , andKeeping It Green Nursery . Many nurseries in your surface area may carry them as well .

— Susan Calhoun is the proprietor of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .

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unusual shade plants

The unusual, fanned form of arisaema (Arisaemaspp. and cvs.) foliage adds wonderfully weird and wild interest to the center of my shade garden.Photo: Susan Calhoun

Windcliff Fragrant pachysandra