Woodland Perennials

Family:  Ranunculaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: Europe
Soil: Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Sun to Part sun
Height: 24"
Bloom Time: March to May
Attributes: Deciduous.  Tall wispy stems above deep green palmately lobed foliage.  Numerous, bright yellow double flowers with a bit of green in the center.
Notes:  Makes great cut flowers.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Zone: 5-8
Natural Range: China, Japan, Korea
Soil: moist, humus rich
Light: part sun
Height: 32 - 48 inches
Attributes: Deciduous.  Billows of small white flowers.  Red new growth slowly turning bronze and chocolate then to greenish.
Notes:  This form has luxurious red new growth in the spring.  Plant among other larger foliage plants.  According to two of my fellow growers and plant enthusiasts this is the best foliage form of Rodgersia that they grow.  Keep growing it they say.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Zingiberaceae
Zone: 5 - 9

Natural Range: Nepal
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich, well drained

Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 10”
Bloom Time:  June to August
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes:  Deciduous. Compact foliage with red stems and large red flowers resembling an orchid.
Notes:  According to some sources was introduced in the early 1980s, but according to John Grimshaw was actually introduced as late as 1992 by Oxford University’s Ganesh expedition. This scarce beauty is only now becoming available in the US.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 3 - 9
Natural Range: Eastern North America
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Part shade-sun
Height: 6"- 8"
Attributes:  Deciduous, summer dormant.  Double white flowers in spring.  Blue green kidney shaped lobed foliage.
Notes:  The blooms on this form last longer and are showier than the single flowered form.  When planted in full sun and allowed to go dryer the foliage will go dormant in the summer.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Saxifragaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range: Japan
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: part shade
Height: 12"
Bloom Time: May to June
Attributes: Evergreen, scalloped green leaves with silver markings between the veining.  Numerous white flowers.
Notes:  From Gotemba Nursery in Japan.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Saxifragaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich
Light: part shade
Height: 12"
Bloom Time: May to June
Attributes: Evergreen, scalloped green leaves with silver markings between the veining.  Numerous white flowers.
Notes:  Collected in China by Dan Hinkley.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

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

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: China
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light:  Part shade, sun
Attributes:  Deciduous, 15" tall.  Light purple - lavender blooms in spring.  New growth is purple - red with silvery - gray veins. 
Notes:  A fantastic dwarf meadow rue that does not over take its neighbors and is a great companion to other woodlanders.

Pot Size:  1 Gallon 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:  1 Gallon 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:5 - 9
Natural Range: Taiwan
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 27" - 31"
Bloom Time:  August to September
Attributes: Deciduous.  Yellow leaf margins.  Reddish purple to blue violet speckled blossoms.
Notes:Excellent perennial for late season color to the shade garden.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Liliaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Taiwan
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height: 27" - 31"
Bloom Time:  August to September
Attributes: Deciduous.  Clumping with spotted purple foliage with dark highlights.  Tall, upright stems with white and reddish purple spotted flowers.
Notes:This form flowers earlier than most.

Pot Size:  Medium 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:  Medium 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

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:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Colchicaceae
Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: Eastern US
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part sun, shade
Height:  8" 
Bloom Time: April to May
Attracts: NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  Wiry stems with small green leaves edged with creamy yellow.  Yellow bell flowers in spring.
Notes: Selection discovered by plantsman Darrel Probst

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average to must humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Shade, part shade
Height:  12" - 18"
Attributes:  Deciduous, three lobed leaves with up to thirty white flowers with petals that stick back.
Notes:  This is an Epimedium relative that looks very similar.  In a moist garden they will form large colonies over time.  Best given room from smaller perennials or divided regularly.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: Southwestern Oregon and Northern California
Soil:  Moist to summer dry, humus rich, well drained
Light: Shade - part sun
Height: 12'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Evergreen. Glossy leaves turning bronze in more sun.  Inside-out, white flowers.  Stoloniferous.
Notes: Not as dense growing or fast to spread out as Vancouveria hexandra.

Pot Size:  4" Band 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