Just about every home garden has some sort of shade. Even if there are no substantial trees or shrubbery, there are northern walls of homes and garages, and they likely have eaves that extend their shadows a bit farther. Fences to the south create shade to the north. Gardens of modern homes are smaller, and surrounded by higher homes and fences, so are shadier than older gardens.
Those who enjoy gardening tend to enjoy more trees and substantial shrubbery than those who do not enjoy gardening, so generally contend with more shade. It is both and asset and a liability. Cooling shade makes outdoor living spaces more comfortable in the heat of summer, but limits what we can grow. With very few exceptions that are not worth mentioning, all plants need sunlight.
Fortunately, many plants need less than others. Of these, many are understory species, which live in the partial shade of larger plants in their natural environments. Not only do they naturally need less sunlight, many prefer to be in partially shaded or sheltered situation. Their foliage and bloom can be scorched by sunlight if too exposed, especially while the weather is warm, windy or arid.
Plants that prefer partially shaded and sheltered situations are characteristically different from those that prefer more exposure. Their leaves tend to be bigger and darker green to absorb more sunlight. Those that are sensitive to frost may prefer shelter from evergreen shade. To compete for pollinators with bloom above, flowers may be either bigger and more colorful, or more fragrant.
There are, of course, many exceptions. Ferns are probably the most familiar foliar plants for shade, but provide no bloom. Cast iron plant is comparable to fern for providing rich green foliage, but with insignificant bloom. Caladium, coleus and hosta are grown for lush foliage that is strikingly colorful instead of rich green. Hosta contrarily blooms with pastel flowers that are not even fragrant.
Kaffir lily, calla, hydrangea, azalea, rhododendron and impatiens provide more color for partial shade.
We have significant shady areas due to our neighbour’s massively overgrown and untended fir trees and it is a challenge!! The ground gets so dry so I’m constantly watering!
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So, to water the garden enough, you are also watering the offending trees and enhancing the problems. That makes it even more frustrating.
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Every little old house in the country is surrounded by big shade trees in the South. It was the only way to stay cool back in the day.
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Homes out in the hottest parts of the Mojave Desert look so ghastly because of the complete lack of trees. I can understand the lack of landscaping, since no one wants to go outside during the hot summer weather to do any gardening; but I would think that shade trees would be a priority. Unfortunately, not much can survive out there. In Trona, not only is the weather so extremely wicked, but the soil is so toxic with caustic minerals.
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It is amazing anyone can live there.
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It is more amazing that they ‘do’ live there. I happen to like the Mojave Desert, but I would not want to live there all year.
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Your description of large leaves made me think of paw-paw trees, which are always fun to discover in the woods this time of year, loaded with paw paws. Yum. Unfortunately, I haven’t been in the woods lately.
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Paw paw! There was an article about those recently! It seems that most in the East know them. It is a species that should be more popular outside of the native range than it is.
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The only reason it isn’t a commercial native fruit is that they are hard to ship and when they’re ripe, they’re ripe. They’re lovely, tropical looking things and grow in little understory groves. And the paw paws! Yum!
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‘Hachiya’ persimmon is like that. Only firm types are in stores.
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