Shade is Beautiful

Many homeowners complain to me that all they have is shade in their landscape.  I guess that means the gold standard is full sun.  This area is predominantly oak-hickory forest, meaning that much of the landscape will be shady, with all the plant communications that can be found under those deciduous trees.

Shade gardeners have many options, including Florida Anise (Illicium floridatum) pictured above, a fragrant evergreen shrub with burgundy flowers in the spring.  Other shrubs that grow in shade include Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Clethra, Mapleleaf viburnum and many azaleas and rhododendrons.

You can also create a "fernary" comprised of many beautiful native ferns.  The photo below shows a natural collection of ferns and other woodland plants (North Chickamauga Creek Pocket Wilderness). Notice how natural plant communities cover the woodland floor -- no mulch needed!