Thriller Filler Spiller Part 3

Shade/Part Shade- Before I post my favorites in the shade category, let me say that you won't find as many flower options here. Impatiens and begonias are pretty much it. Now, you can find several colors of impatiens, but for the last few years, impatiens have been susceptible to downy mildew. Plant breeders have yet to figure out a way to prevent it in the common bedding plants. We did acquire a new variety at Bates this year that has been heralded as being resistant to the disease; they are called 'Bounce' impatiens. You're still ok to plant the other ones in pots, since you'll likely be changing out your potting soil every year. But if the downy mildew gets into the ground, it will affect all of your other plants, and anything you plant there for the next few years. Buyer beware! When I put together pots for shade, I tend to focus on texture and foliage color as opposed to lots of blooms. Also, I like to throw some perennials into the mix. Remember, these are just MY suggestions and favorites, and there are other plant possibilities. 

Thrillers: Caladiums are quite showy, and you can get them in all shades of reds, pinks, whites, and greens. They grow to about 2 feet tall. Elephant ears will work in the shade pretty well. Dracaena will work in both sun or shade. Perennials I like to use for height are ferns and Solomon's Seal. Japanese Forest Grass is both bold in color and graceful in structure.

Fillers: Like I said earlier, impatiens and green leaf begonias are great as fillers. New Guinea impatiens have bigger blooms and leaves than the common bedding plants do. You can get fancy begonias like dragon wing or baby wing, or double blooming tuberous ones. There are some stunning Rex begonias out there with lots of color in the foliage. One of the most common fillers for shade are coleus. These come in a variety of colors. And though you don't really want to encourage blooming, since that makes the plants tall and spindly, they will send up a bloom spike, mostly purple-blue blooms. Perennials that I love to use as fillers are hostas and heucheras. Both will put up spikes of blooms, but the heuchera blooms are pretty insignificant. Astilbes also make good fillers. I know I mentioned ferns in the thriller category, but some of the lower-growing ones can also be used as fillers.

Spillers: The same spillers I mentioned for the full sun pots will also work in shade, with the exception of the sweet potato vine, petunias, scaveola, or calibrachoa. And it will work ok, it just may not grow as abundantly as it will with more sun. If you want something that will bloom, bacopa or lobelia love some shade. Bacopa blooms in white, pink, or pale blue. Lobelia blooms white or a beautiful sapphire blue.

Here are some examples of pots I've put together in my own yard:

My thriller is 'Venus' Huechera. My fillers are

red and white impatiens and 'Pineapple' coleus. 

My spiller is Wandering Jew. 

My thrillers are 'Gingerland' caladium and Solomon's Seal.

My fillers are 'Apple Court' Japanese Painted Fern and 

'Golden Tiara' hosta. My spiller is variegated vinca vine. 

My thrillers are 'Venus' Heuchera and 'Fannie Munson' caladium.

My fillers are red and white impatiens, 'Pineapple' coleus,

and asparagus fern. My spiller is golden creeping Jenny. 

The asparagus fern will pull double duty, as it also tends to be drapey. 

 My thrillers are dracaena spike and Japanese Forest Grass.

My fillers are 'Apple Court' Japanese Painted Fern, Rex begonia,

and red and white impatiens. My spiller is golden creeping Jenny.

My Thrillers are dracaena spike and 'Carolyn Warton' caladium.

My fillers are red and white impatiens, asparagus fern,

and 'Pineapple' coleus. My spillers are Rex begonia vine

and 'Sea Urchin' sedum.

My thriller is 'Marvelous Marbles' Heuchera. My fillers are 'Dragon Eyes' hosta,

'Apple Court' Japanese Painted Fern, 'Escargot' Rex begonia, and 'Mainstreet Wall Street' coleus. My spillers are golden creeping Jenny and Wandering Jew.