Perennials and Bulbs

Family:  Malvaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part shade
Height:  36"
Bloom Time:  May to July
Attracts:  Butterflies, Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Rosettes of small glossy palmate leaves.  Vibrant pink flowers on tall spikes.
Notes:  Great for pollinators.
 
Pot size:  4" Pot

Family:  Stemonaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  China, Japan
Soil:  Average, moist, humus rich
Light:  Part shade
Height:  4'
Bloom Time:  July to August
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Vine like perennial with whorled leaves.  Green-yellow flower with purple stamens. 
Notes: Used medicinally.
 
Pot size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Asteraceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: China, Japan
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 2' tall foliage, 6' tall flower stems.
Bloom Time:  June to July
Attributes: Deciduous.  Unusual umbels of upward facing pink, and white flowers.  Silver, pubescent new growth.  Mature foliage can be more than 1' across with deeply toothed, narrow foliage.  Toothed segments are finer and more serrated than S. palmata.
Notes: This woodland composite is a must have for the foliage enthusiast.  In early spring the foliage emerges from the soil looking like Shaggy Mane Mushrooms.  One of three species of Syneilesis.  S. aconitifolia over time will form a sizeable patch, creating an invaluable focal point in the shady garden.  I have found that S aconitifoia can take a more sun than s. palmata but needs to kept cool and moist. One of my top five favorite foliage plants

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: China, Japan
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light:  Part shade, shade
Attributes:  Deciduous, foliage is 24" tall bloom spikes are up to 7' tall.  Blooms in summer. Unusual umbells of upward facing pink, and white flowers.  Silver, pubescent new growth.  Mature foliage can be more than 1' across with deeply toothed, narrow foliage.  Broadly toothed segments. 
Notes:  This woodland composite is a must have for the foliage enthusiast.  In early spring the foliage emerges from the soil looking like Shaggy Mane Mushrooms.  One of three species of Syneilesis.  S. palmata over time will form a sizeable patch, creating an invaluable focal point in the shady garden.  I have found that S. palmata takes shade better than s. acontifolia but needs to keept cool and moist.  Syneilesis palmata is reported to adapt well to a moderately dry shaded garden.  One of my top five favorite foliage plants.  Rare but becoming increasingly popular with collectors.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Gesneriaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  Japan, Taiwan, China
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light:  Shade, part sun
Height:  12" - 24"
Bloom Time: September
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Tuberous rhizome.  Fuzzy foliage.  Fleshy stems with bright yellow flowers and red center.
Notes: Native to damp forests and cliffs and is found growing with orchids ferns and Arisaema.

Pot size: Large Band Pot

Family:  Saxifragaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: North America;  PP#15948
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part shade
Height: 12"
Attracts:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Bright green-yellow foliage with interesting brown flowers.
Notes:  Spreading ground-cover for a shady moist garden.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade
Height: 12" - 24"
Bloom Time: Late summer into Fall
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Tall stems with white flowers with reddish-purple spotting.
Notes: A Japanese cultivar.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range:  Hybrid
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade
Height: 12" - 24"
Bloom Time: Late summer into Fall
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:Deciduous.  Tall stems with white flowers with purple spotting.
Notes: A Japanese cultivar.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 27" - 31"
Bloom Time:  September to October
Attributes: Deciduous.  Vase-shaped cum with upright stems.  Creamy white, lily-like flowers with burgundy-purple spots.
Notes:A popular selection in the cut flower industry in Japan.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: Hybrid
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 12"-24"
Bloom Time:  August to September
Attributes: Deciduous, Fall blooming.  Foliage is heavily spotted with purple.  Tall, upright stems with lavender flowers spotted purple.
Notes: One of the best Tricyrtis for spotted foliage.  In the wild they grow on rocky cliffs in forests and woodlands.  Work well and look good in a hanging basket.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: Japan, Taiwan
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 3'
Bloom Time:  September to October
Attributes: Deciduous. Pale lilac flowers with green spotted leaves.
Notes:Nice spotted leaves

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:4 - 9
Natural Range: China, Japan
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 12"-24"
Bloom Time:  Fall
Attributes: Deciduous, Fall blooming.  Yellow bell shaped flowers with red spotting.
Notes:  In the wild they grow on rocky cliffs in forests and woodlands.  Work well and look good in a hanging basket.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 12"-24"
Bloom Time:  August to September
Attributes: Deciduous.  Clumping with heavily spotted purple foliage.  Tall, upright stems with yellow and brown spotted flowers.
Notes: One of the best Tricyrtis for spotted foliage.  One of my favorites for always looking great and ease of cultivation.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Melanthiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW; Oregon, California
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade
Height: 14"
Bloom Time:  March to May
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Large mottled foliage.  Early spring blooming.  Sessile blooms that are white in color, or some times pink at the base.
Notes: Great foliage.  One or two more years to bloom.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Melanthiaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Eastern US
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade-shade
Height: 12"-20"
Bloom Time:  April to June
Attributes:  Deciduous, Trifoliate leaves with purple, red -  brown mottling.  Yellow blooms in spring.
Notes: Like all Trilliums, this is the first plant that comes to mind when thinking shade garden.  Trilliums will add both foliage and blooms to the early spring shade garden.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family: Melanthiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW; Washington, Oregon, California, BC
Soil: moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: part shade, shade
Attributes: Deciduous.  12" - 18" tall. White spring flowers.  Trifoliate foliage.
Notes:  In the wild Trillium ovatum grows in cool moist ravines and woodlands from sea level to alpine forests.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Zone: 3 - 8
Natural Range: Eastern North America
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade, shade
Height: 12" - 16"
Attributes:  Deciduous, 1" - 2" long yellow flowers in spring, blue - green foliage.
Notes:  A rewarding spring bloomer that forms a large clump over time.

Pot Size:  Quart Size Pot

Family:  Brassicaceae
Zone:  3 - 8
Natural Range:  Japan
Soil:  Average, moist
Light:  Part sun, shade
Height:  12"
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Semi-evergreen mounding habit.  Glossy, rounded leaves with prominent veins.  White flowers in spring.
Notes:  Does best in cool climates.
 
Pot size:  Quart Pot

Family: Asparagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Vietnam
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun, shade
Height: 8"
Bloom Time:  February to March
Attributes: Evergreen, clumping.  Low growing foliage radiating from a central point.  Fragrant, white flowers rising above the foliage.
Notes: This is a collection made by Dan Hinkley from Vietnam.  Smaller growing than thibetica.  Tidy perennial that in the wild can be found growing on shady mossy rock faces or in damp meadows.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family: Asparagaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Average
Light: Part sun, shade
Height: 8"
Bloom Time:  February to March
Attributes: Evergreen, clumping.  Low growing foliage radiating from a central point.  Fragrant, white flowers rising above the foliage.
Notes: Tidy perennial that in the wild can be found growing on shady mossy rock faces or in damp meadows.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot