You’ve probably been taught that plants need sunlight for photosynthesis; to nourish themselves and grow effectively. And while that is true, it’s not entirely explanatory. As a new gardener, you might destroy your plants if you place them out in the sun all day without knowing the amount of exposure to light that the particular plant needs. Surprising right? Not all plants need the same amount of sunlight. In fact, a lot of exposure to the sun will kill some of them.
When it concerns sunlight, plants can generally be categorized into 3 parts; the full shade plants, partial shade plants, and full sun plants.
Full Shade Plants
Most times, these sets of plants don’t want anything to do with direct sunlight. They thrive in the shade and would wilt away quickly under intense sunlight. Their daily intake should be less than 3 hours a day, and preferably under filtered light. For instance, a spot covered by much larger trees. Most preferably, make sure they get their daily dose of sunlight in the early hours of the mornings or late hours of the evening. At midday, the sun is too intense and would most likely damage them.
Partial Shade Plants
This category of plants is usually subdivided into partial sun plants and partial shade plants. Both plants are a lot similar. Except for the fact that partial sun plants can tolerate direct sunlight a lot longer than its counterpart. Still, you should avoid putting them in spots that expose them for more than 5 hours. Filtered sunlight or sunning them in the early mornings and late evenings is still very much useful . On the other hand, unlike the full shade plants, getting little sunlight, say, less than 3 hours daily will stunt their growth. There has to be a balance.
Full Sun Plants
It doesn’t take a soothsayer to tell you that these plants rely heavily on the sun’s energy. They need at least 6 hours under the direct heat of the sun every day. And can even tolerate the scorching mid-day sun. You barely have to worry about this one and it’s preferred by many gardeners because of its ease.
How To Plant Shade Flowers
Now that you have some knowledge about shade plants, and probably have a plant in mind that you’d want to get started with for your shade garden, the next thing is to know how to go about planting them. You know, things to look out for.
Where To Plant
Isn’t it obvious? The position of your shade plant is a matter of life and death, literally. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor garden, you need to survey the area to know the best suited place. This will come with experience. But if you are a rookie, getting advice from gardeners in your area would be golden. Usually, planting your shade plants under the canopy of a larger tree or against the walls of the building – noting the direction of the sun as the day goes by – is best. But basically, your decision of a spot should be based on the amount of sunlight the ‘spot’ receives a day. And also how much sunlight your plant needs.
Size of Your Planting Area
An important and sometimes overlooked part of growing a shade garden is measuring the size of the planting area. It’s important for a number of reasons. When plants are just seeds, they are small and easy to space. But as they grow, they require a lot more space. If there isn’t enough spacing between them, these plants get stunted, or one suffers for the other. This is why it’s important to take the size of your shaded area into consideration when planting. Something you can do to increase your planting area – when it comes to shade plants – is to build a canopy out of long leaves over your plants; a removable one would be a plus.
Consider Your Microclimate
You would agree that the temperature, humidity, wind, moisture etc. of the shaded region of your garden would be entirely different from the exposed parts. Firstly, it’d definitely be cooler. If the shade is from a larger tree’s canopy, then there’d be less moisture as well. The tree would suck up all the moisture in the soil, and the canopies may also prevent rain from getting to your flowers. There might also be less wind in the region. All these need to be taken into consideration when picking out a spot, and also when choosing what to plant. Don’t be afraid though, with some work, these conditions can be manipulated. If you’re persistent and consistent.
Plants to Use
Most people choose the plants before checking whether their garden supports the growth of said plant. But that is jumping the gun, don’t you think? When you move into a new apartment, you don’t quite feel at home until it’s fully furnished, do you? It’s the same for your shade plants. The conditions should be just right before you go ahead to put the seeds in the ground. Plant them according to the level of shade they need and also put their aesthetics into consideration. Plants flowers that would look good together. The look of your garden needs to be able to put a smile on your face.
Make Sure the Conditions Remain Favourable
Consistency is key! Treat your new plants like you would treat a newborn; keep checking in. It is very easy for conditions to change, especially in the outdoors. So you need to make sure that your plants are still within favourable condition, especially in the early stages. Immediately after planting, water the length and width of your shade garden. For the first seven days, you should water properly every day. And then subsequently, you could water two to three times a week. Depending on your flower’s moisture needs.
Best Shade Flowers to Plant for a Beautiful Garden
There is an abundance of flowers to make a pretty garden. You might even have one or two in your head already. But if you don’t (even if you do), feast on a list of the best flowers to add majesty and grace to your space.
Begonia Flowers
Looking to bring colour to your garden? Think no further than the bright colours of the Begonia flowers. They are an absolute marvel and go well with any green surface or grass. There are about 2000 different species of the plant and they each have a distinct colour. Meaning there is a wide range to choose from. From the yellow colours of the begonia cultivars – which come in a range of colours – to the amazing pink designs of the Begonia brevirimosa, these plants are sure to bring life and personality to your garden. The Begonia plant is monoecious; male and female parts are separate on the same plant. The leaves are broad and beautifully designed, growing up to 18 inches in height and 12 inches in width. The annual flower, native to tropical and subtropical regions, can tolerate a range of lights depending on the species. But it is best to give it 3 – 5 hours of light daily.
Touch Me Not flower (Mimosa Pudica)
The flower, native to South and Central America, is a wonder to the world of gardening. And has become popular over the years. Initially, gardeners planted it out of curiosity. When the leaves of the touch-me-not plants are touched, it reacts to the stimuli and folds up. Opening up 3 – 5 minutes later. It’s not the most beautiful plant on its own, but a lot of it in one place could bring pink goodness to the space. A strength in numbers kind of plant. Scientists also noticed that in darkness, the plant’s foliage closes and it opens up in light. It’s a wonder to have in your garden. They typically grow to a height of about 30 cm.
Azalea Flower
The red flowers of the azalea plants have become a common sight in many gardens for the colours they bring. They are extremely beautiful and bright, perfect as a gift for that special someone. The Azalea plant grows very well in partial or filtered shaded areas, meaning they need 3–5 hours of light daily. They prefer warmer weather; about 20–25 degrees Celsius is heaven for these plants, and they also thrive in acidic soil. Dwarf Azaleas grow up to 3 feet – which is the preferred type for most gardens – while some others grow up to 20 feet and even more.
Lobelia Plant
If you’re a fan of darker colours, the Lobelia comes highly recommended. Its deep coloured leaves (rich blue of Lobelia erinus in winter, and thick red of Lobelia Cardinalis in summer) are a sight to behold and would go well with a variety of other plants. The lobelia grows very well in rich, properly moist soil, and does not like a lot of sun. 3 hours of sunlight a day is enough for proper, healthy growth of the flowers. They grow up to 18 inches in height and 6 inches in width. And can survive in temperatures of about 20 to 35 degrees Celsius.
Hydrangea Flower
The blue clusters of the hydranegea flowers are not uncommon in many gardens around the globe. They look kind of like a bouquet of flowers. The deciduous shrubs grow very well in partial shade and can also tolerate direct sunlight for a little time. The Hydrangea flowers you see in most gardens usually range between 2 to 3 feet in height and width. But unbothered, the leaves can even grow up to 6 feet in height and width. They typically survive in acidic soils and need a lot of water, especially in the dryer seasons.
Hostas Flowers
The hostas plant grows up to 48 inches tall and 6 feet wide making it a monster plant. Even the ones in many gardens are bigger than most other flowers you’d see around (12 inches wide and 18 inches tall). The plant has six tepals that range in colour; from white to lavender to purple. And unlike most flowers, Hostas are usually scentless except for the white coloured Hosta Plantaginea (also called August Lilies because they bloom in late summer) which opens up in the morning and closes at evening time.
Pansy
Pansies are the kind of flowers that remind you of the summer. Running through a field of bright colours scents in the air, with the warmth of the sun touching your face? That’s exactly how it looks, and uncoincidentally, the leaves bloom in the summer. Although they can also bloom in the spring and fall.
The bright yellow flowers are very homely, and would be perfect around the walls of your building. Or in a spot where they can get few hours of morning or evening sun per day as they are not very keen on getting sunlight.
A mature pansy flower is around 12 inches tall and 3 inches wide. And comes in a variety of colours for a very pretty garden. A temperature of 40 – 60 Fahrenheit is standard for a pansy plant; anything beyond that is dangerous.
Bleeding Heart
Quite the epitome of beauty, this plant is native to Asia. They are decadent and bright, especially on a cool, rainy day. If you’ve ever seen them, then you probably already know why they call them bleeding hearts. If not, it’s because of the heart shape of their leaves with an extension beneath it that looks like a drop of blood. Mother nature is definitely the greatest artist.
The plant usually takes about four years to mature, so you have to be patient. Your wait will definitely be rewarded though when the flower blooms. You might never want to leave your garden.
It can grow up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet in width if the conditions are right; rich humus soil and consistent moisture. A little morning sun every day is enough for sugar synthesis.
Bottom Line
If you do decide to take some inspiration from this list of colourful flowers, your backyard would be the talk of the neighbourhood. Or at the very least, a place for you to sit, drink coffee and relax with a satisfied smile on your face.
Note: If you love gardening you need to know how to maintain garden take a some times to read this content to know how to maintain garden.