Wilson
Bros Nursery is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Shade
Garden Designs
Shade
Garden Under Tree
Rectangular Shade Garden
Plant descriptions
for designs on this page.
Name:
Blue
Star Creeper
Botanical:
Laurentia / Isotoma
Height
x Width:
1/2"
H - Space 15-18"
apart
Exposure:
Full Sun or Partial
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Blue
Bloom
Time:
April to Frost!
Water:
Low once established
Features:
Fast spreading, matt-forming
groundcover is excellent
for use betw.
Companions:
One of
the best steppables
Name:
Mahonia
'Grapeberry' or 'Leatherleaf'
Botanical:
Mahonia beali
Height
x Width:
4-5' H x 4-5'
W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Yellow flowers followed
by purple-blue berries!
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low
Features:
The
lustrous, bold, leathery
foliage is outstanding in
the landscape. Tassels of
yellow flowers are produced
atop the stems in Spring
and are followed by clusters
of berries resembling grapes.
Very low maintanence. Useful
as a foundation plant or
in shady isalnds or perennial
gardens.
Companions:
Azaleas,
Nandinas, Aucubas, Dogwoods,
Red Bud Trees, Hosta Lilies,
Perennial Ferns, Lecouthoe,
and many other shade loving
plants or trees.
Name:
Hydrangea
(French varieties)
Botanical:
Hydrangea
Size:
4'
h x 4' W
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Blue,
Red, Pink, or White
Bloom
Time:
Summer
Water
Needs:
Low to moderate
Features:
Masses of huge,
long-lasting, snowball-like
flower clusters are produced
through Summer.
Companions:
Other shade-loving
shrubs and perennials.
Name:
Astilbe
'Visions'
Botanical:
Astilbe
Height
x Width:
14" H x 18"
W
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Dark Pink to Pinkish Purple
Bloom
Time:
June to August
Water:
Moderate - provide adequate
moisture during drought
Features:
Bronze green foliage contrasts
wonderfully with the upright
flowers. A strong performer
in the South and an excellent
cut flower.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogwoods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Creeping
Jenny
Botanical:
Lysimachia
Height
x Width:
2"H
x 18"+W / SPace 18-24"
apart
Exposure:
Sun or Shade
Bloom
Color:
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low once esablished
Features:
Outstanding,
bright golden leaves on
this matt-forming, fast
growing evergreen. Useful
as a groundcover or between
stepping stones. A Wilson
Bros. Favorite!
Companions:
Use as
a groundcover in shady
or sunny garden or between
stepping stones.
Name:
Autumn
Fern
Botanical:
Height
x Width:
18-30" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage
Color:
Dark Green with Orange new
growth
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Most are drought tolerant
Features:
The young fronds
of this evergreen fern are orange-copper
colored and contrast nicely
with the green mature foliage.
Very adaptable and easily grown
in a wide range of weel-drained
soils.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Fern
'Japanese Painted'
Botanical:
Athyrium
Height
x Width:
18-24" H
x 18-24" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Foliage
Color:
Soft Grey edged in Dark Green
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low
Features:
Soft, light
greyish-white fronds contrast
nicely with plants around it.
Companions:
Combines
exceptionally well with Blue
Hosta, Pink Astilbe, Heuchera
Palace Purple, Oakleaf Hydrangea,
and Vinca Minor as groundcover,
as well as all other shade loving
plants and trees.
Name:
Southern
Wood Fern
Botanical:
Height
x Width:
24" H x 24"
W
Exposure:
Shade
Foliage
Color:
Bright green
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low to moderate
Features:
A
beautiful, soft-textured native
fern with bright green fronds.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Heucheras
Botanical:
Heuchera
Height
x Width:
12-18" H
x 12-18" W
Exposure:
Shade or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
More known for its colorful
foliage!
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Low once established
Features:
Heucheras are quickly gaining
in popularity as they add outstanding,
unique texture and color to
the shady garden.
Companions:
All other shade
perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Name:
Hosta
Lilies
Botanical:
Hosta
Height
x Width:
2-3' H x 2-3'
W
Exposure:
Shade
Foliage
Color:
Variegated, Blue, and Golden
Bloom:
White or Lavender in Spring
or Summer
Water:
Low
Features:
The bold foliage, textures,
and colors of Hosta Lilies make
them a must in every shade garden
in the South.
Companions:
Hosta
Lilies, Heucheras, Ferns, Helleborus,
Bleeding Hearts, Lamium, Vinca
Minor, Toad Lilies, Peonies,
Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Mahonias,
Nandinas, Azaleas, Dogwoods,
Redbud Trees, and other shade
plants and trees.
Name:
Hosta
Lily 'Sum and Substance'
Botanical:
Hosta
Height
x Width:
3' H x 3' W
Exposure:
Tolerates sun or shade well.
Bloom
Color:
Lavender
Bloom
Time:
Summer
Water:
Low
Features:
The most sun
tolerant Hosta we know of. Huge
leaves of lime green light up
the garden. As well as in the
shade garden we use this one
alot under low windows in partially
shaded foundation plantings.
A Wilson Bros. Favorite!
Companions:
Ferns,
Helleborus, Bleeding Hearts,
Lamium, Vinca Minor, Toad Lilies,
Peonies, Oakleaf Hydrangeas,
Mahonias, Nandinas, Azaleas,
Dogowwods, Redbud Trees, and
other shade plants and trees.
Name:
Magnolia
'Little Gem'
Botanical:
Magnolia grandiflora
-
Height
x Width:
23' H x
10-12' W
Exposure:
Full Sun to Partial
Shade
Bloom
Color:
White - Fragrant
Bloom
Time:
July to November
Water:
Dry to Damp
Features:
A dwarf
Magnolia excellent for
use as a screen, specimen,
or as espalier against
a wall. The highly fragrant
white flowers of 6"
in diameter are produced
from June thru November.
Begins blooming at 2'
height!
Companions:
Abelias,
Hollies, Junipers, Spireas,
Ornamental Grasses, Indian
Hawthorne, Lantanas, and
many nmore. Combine in
screens with Carolina
Sapphire Cypress, Leyland
Cypress, Wax Myrtle, Crytpomeria
Yoshino, Weeping Yaupon,
Pyramidal Hollies, Hetzi
Column Juniper, Hollywood
Juniper, and others.
Name:
Camellia
Japonicas - Spring Flowering
Botanical:
Camellia
Size:
5'+
H x 4'+W
Exposure:
Sun
or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red's,
Pink's, White's, and Bi-Colors
Bloom
Time:
Late
January to early April
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Outstanding
large flowers are produced
in abundance from late
January thru March. Very
handsome dark green glossy
foliage is evergreen.
Can be used in foundation
plantings or in islands.
A must in every southern
garden.
Companions:
Azaleas
and other plants that
prefer afternoon shade.
Name:
Camelia
Sasanquas - Fall Blooming
Botanical:
Camellia
Size:
5'+
H x 5'+ W
Exposure:
Sun
or Afternoon Shade
Bloom
Color:
Red's,
Pink's, White's, Bi-colors
Bloom
Time:
Fall
Water
Needs:
Low
Features:
Double
or single flowers are
produced in abundance
in fall. Handsome dark
green evergreen foliage.
Useful as espalier (against
a wall), in islands, or
as a specimen. Excellent
for tree-forming. A must
in southern gardens.
Companions:
Many
varieties of Camelias
are available at the nursery
- too many to name!
Name:
Elephant
Ears
Botanical:
Colocasia, Alocasia
Height
x Width:
3-5' H x
3-5' W
Exposure:
Shade or Partial Shade
- some take Full Sun
Foliage
Color:
Asoorted
Bloom
Time:
Water:
Prefers moisture retentive
soils but tolerates it
dry
Features:
Huge
tropical foliage resembling
elephant ears is outstanding
in the landscape. Some
prefer moisture retentive
soils and others will
tolerate it dry. A must
in every landscape!
Companions:
Yellow
Flag Iris, Horsetail Grass,
Bee Balms, Swamp Hibiscus,
Calla Lilies, Swamp Sunflower,
and other plants that
prefer moisture retentive
soils.
Name:
Vinca
Minor - Periwinkle
Botanical:
Vinca minor
Height
x Width:
2-4" H -
Space 18-24" apart
Exposure:
Shade
Bloom
Color:
Lilac
Bloom
Time:
Spring
Water:
Low once established
Features:
Ground-hugging,
trailing evergreen vine becomes
covered in Spring with lilac
periwinkle flowers. Useful as
a groundcover in the shade perennial
garden as Hostas will pop right
thru it in Spring, shady foundation
plantings, and under the canopy
of trees.
Companions:
All
shade loving perennials plants,
shrub, and trees.