Calla Lily

I have 12 astilbe plants and last summer they all looked terrible! I watered and fertilized appropriately. Was it too hot? The plants face the north-west and are protected by shade with a spot or two of sun coming through all afternoon.

Astilbe species

Colchicum speciosum

Dryopteris erythrosora

Epimedium species

Will butterfly bush, lilac, dogwood, or other flowering trees and shrubs grow under a black walnut tree. The tree branches are within 12 feet of the proposed planting bed.

I live in Forestville, CA.  Can you recommend shrubs and flowers that will grow under the shade of our large oak trees? I don’t want to plant anything that will interfere with the trees’ roots.

Bergenia cordifolia

Geranium macrorrhizum

I have a very large evergreen tree in my backyard and I would like to have a bird and butterfly garden in that corner. What will grow under and around this tree that will attract birds and butterflies?

Rhodotypos scandens

Dicentra spectabilis

I have many large trees in my yard. I would like to add some ornamental trees or shrubs to brighten this shady portion of my northern Midwest landscape. Any suggestions?

Brunnera macrophylla

Actaea racemosa / Actaea simplex

Caladium bicolor, Caladium x hortulanum

This year I had a calla lily blooming with another one inside of it. Is this an oddity?

I love calla lilies, so I was disappointed when mine came up, but didn’t bloom this spring. I fertilized them well, but the bulbs are a few years old. Could that be the problem?

This spring I planted 10 calla lilies. The plants are beautiful but only one of them blossomed. They are growing in good dark soil with afternoon sun. What did I do wrong?

I have grown very tall red calla lilies in the garden. Can they stay in the ground over the winter? If so, what care do I provide? And lastly is calla pronounced like Kay or Cal? 

Tsuga canadensis

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris

I have a bush that blooms in the spring with small yellow flowers and fills the air with a wonderful cinnamon fragrance. Do you know what this is?

Solenostemon scutellarioides

My daughter has a problem growing grass in her Lutz, Florida front yard. It is in complete shade. We have hot, humid summers with temps in the 90s for about three or more months. She has seeded several times and nothing seems to grow. It is also an area that the children play in. Do you have any suggestions for her? The homeowner association is giving her flack and yet they have no suggestions for her. She is a single mother and finances are low. Is there something besides grass that would grow and withstand children running over it?

I have a dilemma—I can’t find flowers for our two planters that are in full shade. Making it more difficult, we live in the desert, so it’s hot during the day and cold at night. Do you know of container plants that will survive in these conditions?

Heuchera sanguinea

Geranium himalayense

Fritillaria imperialis

Narcissus species and hybrids

We transplanted three Daphne shrubs to our garden. Now, it looks like only one will survive. Can you give us some advice about how to transplant these fragrant shrubs successfully in our Midwest garden?

Lamium maculatum

I have an area on the east side of my home in NW Iowa that is covered by our roof eaves.  I don't want the garden to have anything too tall in it as it is right in front of some windows. The area is about 4' wide by 12' long. The last 4' of the long way does get a bit of sun... I did see something called a "yew" that I really liked and if that would work, I'd like to include it with other things.

Colocasia and Alocasia

Hedera helix

I’m a SE Wisconsin resident (zone 5) and would I’d like to plant ferns in my yard, but I’m not sure what types will withstand our winter weather.

I am looking for a flowering shrub for the north side of my home. I have Annabelle hydrangeas that are doing fine but want some additional shrubs for added interest.

Tiarella cordifolia

Dicentra eximia

Fuchsia x hybrida

Aruncus dioicus

Rhododendron 'Golden Lights'

I live in a wooded area and I heard you recommend using Golden Moneywort as a ground cover in shady areas.  Is it hard to control?  What about competition with other plants such as hostas, coral bells, bleeding hearts, etc?  We have over 50 varieties of hostas spread throughout the yard and would hate to lose them to a predatory plant.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'

Helleborus x hybridus

Hosta species

Impatiens wallerana

Arisaema triphyllum

Polemonium caeruleum

Anemone x hybrida

Kerria japonica

Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum'

Helichrysum petiolare

Ligularia dentata

I started a vegetable garden about 3 years ago that now has one partially shaded area. I have tried growing onions, beets and cucumbers without success. What will do well in only a couple hours of sun?

My vegetable garden is located near the canopy of some large shade trees. The daily allotment of sunshine is limited. I've been trying to grow tomatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, and a few other vegetables, but everything gets stunted or doesn't grow at all. What kinds of vegetables could I plant that thrive in limited sunshine in my Midwest garden?

Caltha palustris

Astrantia major

Podophyllum peltatum

We cut down some pine trees a few years ago and ever since, Meadow Rue has been coming up in the spring.

Aconitum spp.

Carpinus caroliniana

Impatiens 'New Guinea'

Chasmanthium latifolium

I am looking for a few shade tolerant ornamental grasses that will combine well with my hostas.

Pachysandra terminalis

Have you ever heard of a plant called the peanut butter plant? Supposedly, the leaves smell like peanut butter? My daughter-in-law received one from a lady that lived in Tennessee. Can you tell me more about the plant and offer any tips for how to find one?

Vinca minor

Lamium maculatum 'Pink Chablis'

What plants are suitable for growing in the shade?

I have a garden that once received full sun and produced beautiful roses. As my trees have grown the garden has become shaded. Now I am looking for some tall shade tolerant plants with large flowers.

Can you give me a list of shade tolerant plants other than hostas that will grow in zone 5?

Rhododendron species and cultivars

Ligularia 'The Rocket'

I have a shade-soaked culvert that runs through our property. Can you suggest an attractive ground cover that needs little maintenance and will help control weeds? 

Is there any type of Arborvitae that can be planted in the shade of 30-40 foot tall American Linden trees? I have beautiful Lindens, but they are all trunk. I would like some screening from the neighbor’s yard. Any suggestions of evergreens and/or shrubs that can tolerate shade would be appreciated.

What kind of flowers can I plant in a shady location with acid soil?

I have a shady slope under some trees where I can't get grass to grow.

We live in a pine forest, have a nice lawn and a large perennial garden. We would like to plant some shrubs as a screen on the east side of our home next to the driveway where we pile snow for the winter. The hydrangeas that are growing there are doing fine but not tall enough to create the privacy we need. Would lilacs do well here? We do not want anymore evergreens. Do you have any suggestions?

Do you have any suggestions for a screening shrub that will tolerate medium shade in zone 5?

Hydrangea arborescens

Every year, this plant springs up in my yard. It resembles a hyacinth, but has no scent. Can you help me with its identity?

What can you tell me about Star-of-Bethlehem?  A friend gave me a clump and I would love more.

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'

Lobularia maritima

Lilium lancifolium (tigrinum)

Begonia x tuberhybrida

Lilium martagon

Chelone lyonii

We have a Norway maple tree located in the center of our backyard. We love the shade it gives us. However, the roots are very exposed and grass does not want to grow under it. Do you have any suggestions for us to make the area a little more aesthetically appealing?

Could you please tell me what I can grow under a 40 year old pine? Do I have to do something special to the ground first? I heard that the pine needles put something into the ground that is not good for other plants.

I would like to make a small rock garden under our pine tree because nothing seems to grow there except two small bunches of creeping phlox. Do you have any suggestions?

Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 'Variegatum'

Lamium galeobdolon

Begonia semperflorens-cultorum

What kinds of wildflowers and plants will grow in woodlands—especially evergreen woods—where there is little or no sunshine? I’m especially interested in perennials.