Are you depend for a plant that can thrive in teetotal shade ? Yes , there is such a thing . In fact , there is more than one , but I ’m conk out to part by afford a self-aggrandizing shout - out to the one I know best , Geraniumxcantabrigiense‘Biokovo ’ — which has been a stout ground cover under cedars in my front yard . If you have true cedar , you know they gulp up all the moisture anywhere in the locality . And you might have wonder if anything can thrive under them — or should I say “ over ” them , since the problem is the cedar ’s origin , and anything planted over those radical has a daunting competitor .
I set out with one Biokovo geranium many years ago , plopped it down under the dim subtlety of cedars ( that I could not win over my husband to edit out down ) , and disregard it while I busy myself with my young children . That one little industrial plant spread blithely , healthily , and with nary a sign of the zodiac of deer or rabbit browsing , and now that my children are grown , it use up a declamatory swath with no augury of years or decline . Wish I could say the same for myself !
Geraniumxcantabrigiense‘Biokovo ’
But before I gush on about this geranium , let ’s get our terms straight . ‘ Biokovo ’ is a true geranium , sometimes referred to as a hardy geranium so as not to be disconcert with the summer bedding plants , sometimes called zonal geraniums , which are actually Pelargoniums . The true geranium are also unremarkably called cranesbill .
Now back to my beloved ‘ Biokovo ’ — a low , mounding perennial with pale pinkish blooms in former spring , and evergreen leafage that turn scarlet and fuzz in fall . Geraniumxcantabrigienseis a unimaginative hybrid geranium developed in 1974 by Dr. Helen Kiefer of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden in Cambridge , England , by crossingG. macrorrhizum(the bigroot geranium discussed in detail below ) andG. dalmaticum . The cultivar ‘ Biokovo ’ was a of course - occurring cross discovered in the Biokova Mountains in Croatia.www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder .
The blooms of ‘ Biokovo ’ are actually white with a tinge of pinkish and darker pink stamens , but the overall effect is that of a flush pink . You will get a few repetition blooms if you shear off the prime stem after bloom , but it ’s not necessary . This plant has gotten almost no forethought from me , although after about 15 old age of disregard , it occurred to me to give it a fragile stratum of compost . Since it chokes out weeds — even the genus Vinca minor that impeded its path — I have almost never had to weed it . So fundamentally this plant can thrive in whatever office it finds itself — include the hapless , dry soil under my cedars . I ’m sure this plant will do the same in all personal manner of dry , shady experimental condition . No surprisal that ‘ Biokovo ’ was named the 2015 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association . Seenews.aces.illinois.edu/news/2015-perennial-plant-year-geranium-x-cantabrigiense-‘biokovo ’ .
Bigroot geraniums
There are other true geraniums that are well - fuck for the same characteristics as ‘ Biokovo ’ — including many of the so - called “ bigroot geraniums , ” whose scientific name isGeranium macrorrhizum . These plant are very similar to their full cousin ‘ Biokovo ’ — although this type can apparently spread by self - seeding , while ‘ Biokovo ’ broadcast only via its rhizome . My research indicate that the bigroot geraniums are big favourite of many gardeners and garden writer .
There are several bigroot cultivar to consider :
Geranium macrorrhizum‘Bevan ’s Variety’has a magenta bloom and is about 1 foot improbable . For more information , look into out this plant life ’s profile atwww.missouribotanicalgarden.org .
‘ Ingwersen ’s Variety’has pale pink bloom — like ‘ Biokovo ’ — and is about 18″ tall . See more about this cultivar atwww.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder .
Cornell University heel the follow extra cultivars to assay :
‘ Album ’ : 1′ tall industrial plant with white peak with showy pink stamen .
‘ Czakor ’ : 1′ tall plants with Battle of Magenta bloom . Purple autumn leaves .
‘ Spessart ’ : late pink blooms that acquire showy seedheads .
— “ Geranium , Bigroot , ” Cornell Univ . Growing Guide , www.gardening.cornell.edu / homegardening .
Epimediums
Epimediums , normally call bishop ’s chapeau or barrenwort , are another easy - fear groundcover that can care quite well in dry shade . For an extremely informative article on epimediums , look no farther than a past issue ofThe Garden Shed , piedmontmastergardeners.org / epimediums , by Pat Chadwick . Pat have it off her Epimedium ! For information about advocate potpourri , you could rely on Pat ’s article . accord to the Missouri Botanical Garden , epimediums tolerate rabbit , deer , drought , profound shadiness , wearing , dry land , and shallow - rocky soil . Need we say more ? !
Solomon ’s seal(Polygonatum )
Solomon ’s sealing wax is part of a tumid genus of rhizomatous plants that has managed quite well in my under - the - cedars garden . It is grown mostly for its leafage , and the variegated type — Polygonatum odoratum‘Variegatum ’ — is deservedly pop . There are quite a few varieties to take from , and you ’ll obtain a helpful listing in an article on the Wisconsin Master Gardeners website , wimastergardener.org
false hellebore are recommended for dry shade , and I have had good luck with them under my true cedar . The genusHelleboruscontains about 20 species and subspecies . I ’ve grown both theHelleborus orientalis(sometimes called Lenten rose ) and the so - call “ stink hellebore ” — Helleborus foetidus . It ’s the latter that I just adore . The common name stinking hellebore arrive fromfoetidus , which is Latin for fetid or foul smelling , but I ’ve never smell a thing , though I ’ve read that there is a musky odor if you sweep against the foliage or bloom stem . This plant is truly amazing both for its large , striking chartreuse flower angry walk and its long efflorescence time , from late January into May .
Go Native
The native species of hardy geranium is sometimes call spotted cranesbill ( Geranium maculatum ) is not conversant to me , but if you find it works in your ironical , suspicious garden , please let me know . I ’d like to try it .
And do n’t blank out our native ferns , several of which are good selection for juiceless shade , include :
For a longer list of plant — including a few bush — that can deal ironical shade , I advocate an clause titled “ Problem Solver Plants for Dry Shade , ” on the Missouri Botanical Garden internet site , www.missouribotanicalgarden.org / avail - for - the - home - nurseryman / advice - bakshish - resource / visual - guides/-plants - for - teetotal - shadowiness
germ :
Piedmont Native Plants : A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens , published by the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District as a add-on to the site , Piedmont Native Plants Database , www.albemarle.org / nativeplants(searchable).Note : The TJSWCD has this guidebook for sale , $ 10 each , at 434 - 975 - 0224 , Ext . 102 , or electronic mail mary.eiserman@tjswcd.org .
“ 2015 Perennial Plant of the Year Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘ Biokovo’,”news.aces.illinois.edu/2015 - perennial - plant - year - geranium - disco biscuit - cantabrigiense-‘biokovo ’
“ Perennials for Dry Shade , ” Ill. Ext . ,extension.illinois.edu / perennials / DryShade
“ Geranium , Bigroot , ” Cornell Univ . grow Guide , www.gardening.cornell.edu / homegardening
www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/geranium macrorrhizum
“ Elegant Epimedium — Foliage and Flowers of Subtle , Sophisticated Beauty,”by Barbara Blossom Ashmun , www . BrooklynBotanicGarden.org / epimedium(2007 )
“ Epimedium,”The Garden Shed , piedmontmastergardeners.org / article / epimedium/
