Plants for Shady Gardens in the Foothills ANNUALS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Begonia semperflorens Filtered sunlight; bright indirect “Always blooming”; blooms spring through fall; dark-foliaged species can take Fibrous/Wax Begonia light more sun if well watered; can live for years in mild climates Regular water Browallia americana Partial shade Browall, Swedish botanist and contemporary of Linnaeus; loves warm shade; Amethyst Flower Regular water violet or blue flowers about ½” long and across Fuchsia x hybrids Early morning sun; all day Fuchs, German Botanist; wide variety of color combinations, flower and leaf sizes Fuchsia dappled light Regular water Heliotropium arborescens Partial shade “Follows the sun” “tending to be tree-like”; clusters of tiny flowers with a sweet, Heliotrope Regular water delicate foliage; handsome foliage; needs well-drained soil Impatiens balsamina Light to full shade Touch-Me-Not refers to seed pod's bursting open and scattering seeds when lightly Balsam, Touch-Me-Not Regular water touched; aromatic; solid-colored or variegated, in many different shades/colors, many flower forms ANNUALS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Lobelia Light shade L’Obel, Belgium botanist; comes in many different colors; blooms early summer Lobelia Regular water to frost Solenostemon Strong indirect light; thin shade “Pipe stamens” “saucer or shield-shaped”; the more red pigment, the more sun scutellarioides Regular water tolerant plant tends to be Coleus Torenia fournier Partial shade Named for two botanists; flowers look like miniature gloxinias; stamens arranged Wishbone Flower Regular water in wishbone shape; blooms from summer to fall Tropaeolum majus Light shade “Trophy” (shape of flowers) “large”; leaves, flowers, and unripe seedpods all Garden Nasturtium Somewhat drought tolerant edible 2 BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Arum italicum Partial or full shade Calla-like flowers from tubers in spring to early summer, followed by orange-red Italian Arum Regular water during growth and fruits; will naturalize in favorable situations by volunteer seedlings bloom; does not need moisture during summer dormancy Chionodoxa Light shade “Snow glory”; one of first spring bloomers; blue, white, or pink flowers Glory-of-the-Snow Regular water during growth and bloom; may need some moisture during summer dormancy Convalaria majalis Partial shade “Of the valley” “May”; all parts are poisonous if ingested; good planted Lily-of-the-Valley Regular water between/among camellias, rhododendrons, etc.; multiplies Crocus Light shade “Thread”; early bloomer: late winter, early spring (some fall-blooming); range of Crocus Regular water during growth and colors; good planted in masses; naturalizes except in warm winter climates bloom Erythronium californicum Light shade “Red”; native to Northern California; good under deciduous trees; blooms in Fawn lily Regular water during growth; no spring; leaves mottled brown; creamy white or yellow flowers on 6-10” stems water during dormancy 3 BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Erythronium dens-canis Light afternoon shade From Europe; deep pink to purple flowers on 6-12” stems w/mottled leaves; needs Dogtooth Violet Regular water during growth; no year-round moisture water during dormancy Hyacinthoides Filtered sun; light shade Comes in blue, white, pink; propensity for reseeding; bulbs may cause allergic Bluebell, Wood Hyacinth Regular water till foliage dies; at skin reaction, same as hyacinths least some moisture in summer Ipheion uniflorum Partial shade “Single-flowered”; leaves smell like onions when bruised; will multiply Blue Star Flower Regular water during growth and Spring Star Flower bloom; prefers dry conditions during dormancy Leucojum aestivum Full sun during bloom; light “White violet” “of summer”; blooms late winter in Pollock Pines. Bell-shaped Summer Snowflake shade after in hot climates flowers w/green tipped segments Regular water during growth and bloom; some water during summer dormancy 4 BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Leucojum vernum Full sun during bloom; light “White violet” “of spring”; for colder areas of county, needs definite winter cold Spring Snowflake shade after in hot climates (below 20F) Regular water during growth and bloom; some water during summer dormancy Lilium Roots cool; tops in sun or filtered Many different types and hybrids; locating them among low-growing plants is a Lily (includes many light good way to keep roots shaded; have contractile roots that draw them down to cultivars) Need moisture year-round proper depth Scilla siberica Full sun during bloom; light Has flaring little bells; one of the harbingers of spring; typical color blue, but Siberian Squill, Bluebell shade after varieties in white, pink, etc.; will naturalize Regular water during growth and bloom; reduce when foliage yellows 5 GROUNDCOVERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Ajuga Partial shade “Without yoke”; spreads quickly by runners; will escape unless contained; most Carpet Bugle Regular water have blue flowers Bergenia cordifolia Partial or full shade von Bergen, German physician and botanist; “heart-shaped leaves”; “Pig Squeak” Heartleaf Bergenia Regular water (from noise produced by rubbing a leaf between thumb and finger); evergreen Pig Squeak except in coldest climates; good with ferns, hostas, hellebores; will endure neglect, poor soil, and some drought; typically blooms in spring Carex flacca Some shade “Weak, flabby”; foliage may be blue or green; evergreen only in mildest climates Blue Sedge Moderate water Ceratostigma Partial shade “Stigma like a horn”; blooms summer to late fall; striking in fall when blue plumbaginoides Moderate water; tolerates blossoms contrast w/red foliage; shear or mow annually before spring growth Dwarf Plumbago inconsistent water Chamaemelum nobile Partial shade “Dwarf” or “growing near the ground” “apple” “notable or showy”; aromatic Chamomile Moderate water composite; blooms in summer; not plant for chamomile tea; it can be mowed or sheared occasionally 6 GROUNDCOVERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Convolvulus sabatius Tolerates some shade “Twine around”; Sabbati, Italian botanist; small lavender-blue flowers early Ground Morning Glory Moderate water summer to late fall, 1 to 2 feet tall; soft, hairy, gray-green evergreen leaves; trim in late winter to prevent becoming woody Cotula squalida Partial shade “Small cup” (cupped area at the base of leaves) “stiff or rough, neglected, dirty”; New Zealand Brass Buttons Moderate water yellow-green flower heads, late spring to early summer Fragaria chiloensis Afternoon shade Latin for “strawberry”; native to Pacific Coast beaches/bluffs of North and South Beach/Sand Strawberry Regular water America; this is not the commercially grown strawberry; cut back annually to force new growth and prevent stem buildup Galium odoratum Partial or full shade Greek “milk,” referring to certain species used to curdle milk; “fragrant”; clusters Sweet Woodruff Regular to ample water of small white flowers appear above foliage in late spring/early summer; spreads rapidly and can become a pest if allowed to grow unchecked Houttuynia cordata Sun or shade Houttuyn, 18th century Dutch naturalist; “heart-shaped leaves”; spreads by Houttuynia Regular to ample water underground stems; heart-shaped leaves tinged with red, white, pink, or yellow, and flowers look like tiny white dogwood blossoms; can spread aggressively in wet ground; foliage emits odor like orange peel when crushed Lamium species Partial or full shade Typically have heart-shaped leaves, often marked with silver or white; clustered Dead Nettle Regular water flowers come in pink, white, or yellow; can be evergreen in mild-winter climates 7 GROUNDCOVERS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Mahonia repens Full sun or partial shade MacMahon, 19th century American horticulturalist; “spreading/creeping”; native Creeping Mahonia Little or no water from BC to Northern CA; good winter color; yellow spring flowers and dark blue berries in fall Pachysandra terminalis Partial or full shade “Thick male” (referring to stamens) “terminal position”; withstands heavy shade Japanese Spurge Regular water and is widely used under trees; spreads slowly but surely; small, white, non-showy flowers in spring Sagina subulata Partial shade “Fattening, nourishment” (belief that sheep fattened well on pastures where the Irish/Scotch Moss Regular water plant grows); “awl-shaped”; green forms called Irish Moss; golden-green, Scotch Moss; not a true moss and will not do well under conditions that suit true mosses Satureja douglasii Part shade David Douglas, 19th Century Scottish collector, “good herb”; native from LA to Yerba Buena Prefers moist soil but will take BC; plant for which SF got its original name; strong minty scent; white or lavender drought flowers; nice tea made from dried leaves 8 PERENNIALS Botanical Exposure Common Water Needs Etymology/Notes Acanthus ssp. Sun or shade “Thorn” “spine” “spike”; blooms in late spring or summer; can become invasive; Bear’s Breech Moderate to regular water dry summer regions will lose leaves if not watered but leaf out again when it rains Aconitum species Partial shade “Unconquerable poison” (all parts poisonous if ingested) “Monks hood” refers to Monkshood Regular water shape of the flower; does well under trees