Category: Shade tolerant
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Skimmia x confusa
This Genus contains all evergreen shrubs of dense rounded habit that usually don’t grow more than about a metre tall by as wide in about 10 years. This supposed hybrid will rarely grow even half as tall. They all like constant shade as direct sun can bleach or even burn the leaves. They are all
Stephen Ryan
Aeschynanthus garrettii
This showy epiphytic shrub comes from Thailand and is amazingly hardy considering it will grow well for me in less that tropical Mt. Macedon. It even belongs in the usually less than cold hardy African Violet family. I find that it will grow well in a semi-shaded border amongst Azaleas and Rhododendrons as well as
Stephen Ryan
Aucuba chinensis
I love plants with bold gutsy foliage particularly if they grow well in the shade and this evergreen shrub which obviously hails from China certainly does. It will grow to about 3metres tall and has glossy heavily veined leaves that can get to about 30cms. long and that at least for the time being is
Stephen Ryan
Abutilon megapotamicum ‘Variegata’
There can’t be a cheerier plant in my garden than this hardy scandent shrub nor one that pays its way more. If grown without support it will arch over and make a mound of spotty golden variegated foliage with yellow petalled flowers with dark stamens and a red calyx. However as the flowers hang down
Stephen Ryan
Hydrangea scandens ssp. liukiuensis
One hell of a name for a small deciduous shrub from Yakushima in Japan at least I hope that is what I am growing under this name! However what ever it is I am growing it is certainly a Hydrangea and one that we should all be growing in our gardens. It is deciduous and
Stephen Ryan
Halleria lucida
Attractive and interesting multipurpose evergreen shrubs are not that easy to find hence the proliferation of such abominations as the James Stirling Pittosporum grown in the thousands to annoy good gardeners everywhere. Were I looking for a quick growing shrub to 4 metres or so to hide my strange behaviour from them next door I
Stephen Ryan
Fatsia japonica ‘Variegata’
I love a tropical look in the garden even though I come from less than tropical Mt. Macedon! And this plant really floats my boat. It is not only cold hardy but grows well in dry shade to boot, what more could you want? Well it will also do well in a pot and makes
Stephen Ryan
Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum’
The whole Genus is stunning and worth collecting from the commonest old fashioned Solomon’s Seal to the rarest. Most are fairly hardy and require little more than a bit of shade and some winter, spring moisture to get things going. The form I am waxing lyrical about today is a fine example with its arching
Stephen Ryan
Smyrnium perfoliatum
This has to be about the best self seeding biennial or perhaps triennial I have ever introduced into my garden! It has only two seed leaves the first season then Italian parsley like leaves after that and then when it decides to flower it grows to about 60cms tall and looks like a cross between
Stephen Ryan
Anemone flaccida
The smaller anemones make great plants for semi-shaded aspects in moist soil and as such make good bed fellows with such choice things as Trilliums and Erythroniums. Certainly plant the European wood anemones of the nemorosa persuasion and don’t miss this little Japanese beauty. It flowers first every year for me so extends the season
Stephen Ryan