SHADE PLANTS A-D

ACTAEA

One of the changes in the plant and animal worlds is that as scientists improve their skills, they find they have erred in some previous name registrations and they have to start over. It's nice to get things clarified but in a strange way, some of us seem to be confused forever. Sometimes we cannot make ourselves change old habits and the first names we learned are those we stick with.

Gail was quite familiar with Actaea long before me but today I wouldn't be without it in the garden. When I first was introduced to the plant, the name was Cimicifuga and the first variety I met was atropurpurea. Cimicifuga atropurpurea. Now that was a mouth full and some folks got all confused just looking at the words.

A few years back Cimicifuga became Actaea. Plant suppliers aren't quick to change and it was and still is listed both ways. I was familiar with a Vermont wildflower named baneberry that has bright red, white or pink berries and as soon as I saw the cimicifuga-actaea name change, I walked out to the garden to compare plants. One look at the baneberry leaves and the identification became obvious.....and finally correct!

Actaeas are very striking, architecturally interesting plants that lend texture, color and height to your garden. Stem and foliage color ranges from bronze-green to the blackest of blacks with some dark purple in the midst of the spectrum if you can follow my color continuum. Although the plants are eye catchers all season, August in Vermont is when they begin to reign supreme. They produce bottle brush-like blooms that start straight up on tall, strong scapes and then as they age, the scapes bend like the necks of big swans. The bloom color continuum spreads from white to creamy white to soft pink depending on the variety.

These plants have fragrance, some good, some not so good, that lures butterflies, night moths, hummingbirds and various bees. It's best not to plant them near an entry door or near an unscreened window because their lure for insects is strong. As the wind blows, they sway musically so a location you can enjoy is best.

Actaeas have a shallow root system for the size of the mature plant. They are easy to transplant but should not be allowed to dry out during the process. One year Gail dug up an atropurpurea and planted it in a 30 gallon clay pot. When fall arrived she planted it in a well amended hole thinking she'd move it to a permanent spot come spring. Spring came and went and the Actaea grew and grew to over nine feet tall. Most varieties are in the 4.5 foot range which makes them perfect for a backdrop or specimen planting, mixed with dwarf conifers. Some varieties, especially the darkest ones, are pricey but we can't think of another plant that offers what these do. We usually offer five or 6 varieties at the nursery and they seem to sell out as fast as we can keep them growing. If you chance to stop by, take a look.

PICTURE	NAME	DESCRIPTION	$ EACH
	ACTAEA RAMOSA	Green leaves and tall slim stems, white bottle brush flowers joined by flowers from side branches later on. 4 to 5.5 feet tall.	$12.75
	ACTAEA RAMOSA ATROPURPUREA	Great background plant, 6-7 feet tall, sometimes taller with amended soil and regular moisture. Purple green leaves with bronze hue. Draws bees, hummingbirds and night moths. Try with tall Oriental lilies, or Lilium superbum for August contrast.	$15.50
	ACTAEA RAMOSA 'BRUNETTE'	4 foot tall, dark purple leaves, almost black stems. Offers great contrast with gold, lime and green hostas and with ligularias. Foliage is excellent in arrangements and doesn't need to be "hardened" before use.	$25.00
	ACTAEA RAMOSA 'JAMES COMPTON'	Gail says "Outstanding!" Very dark purple foliage on 3 foot plant, a bit shorter than other dark varieties. Late, fragrant, bottle brush pink-white blooms draw in the butterflies.	$25.00
	ACTAEA RAMOSA 'PINK SPIKE'	Deep, dark purple foliage with pink bottle brush bloom on +4 foot plant.	$25.00

ARUNCUS

Here's a plant George picked up years ago, and on and off we have had different varieties. Eventually we'll bring back large swaths of all those we have had before but for now here are three that are available at the nursery this year and for limited Internet sales, confirmed first by an email. They have become very popular as woodland garden plants but their adaptability has brought them attention.

First glance makes gardeners think they are looking at an unusual astilbe, but really these are from two different plant families all together. They are commonly known as goatsbeard but the difference between the small aethusifolius and the 5.5 foot tall dioicus adds to the confusion with the astilbes.

The plants like moisture and partial shade although we have had them at the old nursery for years growing in full sun in poor soil. They will grow quite well in clay but do best in soil that's well amended with organic conditioners.

In our days of trying new deer control techniques George once planted a number of Lilium superbum and some Lilium 'Bellingham Hybrids' bulbs around some Aruncus dioicus. The deer never touched the Aruncus and the lilies came up beautifully through the light green dioicus leaves--and then the deer ate them. Have to admit lilies are sometimes a challenge but Aruncus is easy! Try some but leave a little space.

PICTURE	NAME	DESCRIPTION	$ EACH
	ARUNCUS AETHUSIFOLIA	A compact 12" mound of interesting cut foliage in a green- brown tone. The June blooms are creamy white and 10" tall. Although it prefers partial shade, we grew one for years in full sun until it grew over 3 feet wide and needed to be divided. A great rock garden plant that also does well under and in front of the various Actaeas.	$12.50
	ARUNCUS DIOICUS	Creamy white, long, showy plumes above medium green cut leaf foliage. Stems wave in wind and hold seed heads through winter. Does best in filtered light and a moist area although we have some in full sun. When you see a plant a couple years after planting, you'll know you got a great deal. This is what garden architecture is about!	$12.50
	ARUNCUS DIOICUS 'KNEIFFII'	A more compact dioicus, still with creamy plumes but half the size. A good contrast when layered in front of the larger variety and the Actaeas.	N/A 2011

ASTILBOIDES TABULARIS

George likes plants with big leaves and he continues working on a display garden where he won't be tempted to sell all his stock. He is not doing well at all with Astilboides tabularis because he charges too little and thinks more of happy gardeners than growing on some good stock plants for us to divide. We are including this dramatic perennial here for web reference only. Sales will be very limited this year and only at the nursery--sorry no mail order.

Astilboides tabularis is an outstanding specimen for the woodland setting or partially shaded area. Huge dark green leaves, often 2 to 3 feet across grow on plants up to three feet tall. Scapes with creamy blooms rise above the leaf height as they produce quantities of seed.

Although George always recommends these for the perimeter of woodland and bog gardens, they require damp soil that doesn't dry out. They do not do well in wet soils but will do fine up on streambanks. Click on each picture to get an idea how the leaves grow from spring groundbreaking until mid-July. These aren't for everyone but as George says, "big leaves build big garden architecture".

BRUNNERA

Heartleaf, Siberian Bugloss

Several years ago now, Gail and I took a turn onto Shady Plant Lane and have been spending time there ever since. The Lane is fictional but we have become occupied with plants that compliment each other growing in and about shaded areas. For a few years Gail kept adding Brunneras to her shopping lists only to cross them off before final order time because of price or fear that they wouldn't do well here. I cannot remember when she made the decision to try some but one year the crew potted up some Variegata and some Jack Frost when I was away and that was the start of history.

Brunnera are one of those plants that comes from a family of confusion. The flowers look like forget-me-nots for good reason but the large clumps of broad leaves mature at 15" X 15" and continue on as a groundcover of merit. With hostas and ferns and pulmonarias along side, they make you stop, especially in spring when the flowers, a continuum of white to blue depending upon variety, brighten the still-cold gardens.

This is a garden plant more for northern climates. It prefers moist soil and works well along bogs, ponds or streams, not in the water but where the area is humid and the soil is damp. It doesn't care to dry out and if it does the event is disclosed by the rust of fungus displayed on the leaves.

A good goal would be to have a number of these well established in our new shade garden but until we can get ourselves better organized it will apparently be one new variety a year, available until sold out with the exception of what Gail wants to squirrel away in her own gardens. This year we are offering Mr. Morse, a Brunnera with a nice story. There may be a few pots of other varieties at the nursery that didn't make it to the inventory last fall so ask if this is a plant you are interested in.

PICTURE	NAME	DESCRIPTION	$ EACH
	BRUNNERA 'MR.MORSE'	George says he knows three Mr. Morses. One was named Rudy and he chaired the Vermont Parole Board for years, one is Burr Morse, a sugarmaker and author from Montpelier, and one is Tim who lives up the hill from us. All fine Vermonters. Brunnera 'Mr Morse' comes from Belgium thanks to hybridizer Chris Ghyselen. This dark green brunnera has a frosted overlay which gives the leaves a crackled appearence. The flowers are white and the plant is special. Like it lots? Go to http://plantspotters.com and enter "Mr Morse" in the search bar. You'll learn how Chris developed the plant and you will want to take one home.	Display

DARMERA

Darmera peltata is known as Umbrella Plant and occasionaly as Indian Rhubarb. To George, it's another in the "Jurassic Park" collection of bold leaved plants that gardeners use to enlarge their landscapes, focus attention, and bring woodland shade gardens to sunnier perimeters.

Umbrella Plants break through the cold ground in early May here in Marshfield and a flower scape with a top cluster of star shaped, pinky-white flowers appears. The leaves follow in a week or so and unfurl as the plant grows to 3 to 5 feet depending on its maturity. Often the flowers get nailed a time or two by frost here but as with Hosta 'montana aureomarginata', recovery is guaranteed.

Partial shade works but more sun is better in a state like Vermont that is so shady to begin with. Constant soil moisture is best but if a suitable location is difficult, supplemental watering will bring the leaf masses to maturity. As summer progresses the Darmera leaves darken, providing a very nice contract to overhead poplar or maple tree leaves or to a base surrounded by light green and yellow hostas of varying heights.

Although the plant produces a quantity of seed each year, it spreads underground and must be controlled. Despite its bad habits, George still likes it. He also tries to mention Darmera during his discussions and lectures of obnoxious, insideous, not-so-good plants. Planting in a large animal watering trough or tub usually will serve to maintain or at least slow the root spread. If you need something "big and leafy" and want the challenge of maintaining this type plant, give it a try.

DICENTRA

Bleeding Heart

In late springtime 1950, if you walked into a New England flower garden, chances were excellent that you would encounter a bleeding heart. Sometimes you'd find two or three plants accompanied by a walking commentary from the owner. They were popular then and have experienced renewed interest. George thinks this is probably because baby boomers are finding their way back to homesteads to deal with aging or passing parents, but maybe it's just a renewed marketing effort by the industry.

As we moved to our new nursery in 2008, we tracked the things people asked for but we didn't offer. Bleeding hearts were on the list. We carry these five varieties which are only available at the nursery. They seem to sell quicker than we can grow them so visit early. Sorry, no mail order.

PICTURE	NAME	DESCRIPTION	$EACH
	DICENTRA EXIMIA 'AURORA'	Smaller than D.spectabilis but has wider use. Blue green foliage lasts later into the summer here. Quite vigourous, rhizomatous plants. White blooms.	$12.75
	DICENTRA EXIMIA LUXURIANT	All D. eximia prefer slightly alkaline and light, damp soil. Wet soil will cause loss by root rot. Luxuriant is probably the most popular of the dozen D. eximia varieties. Red blooms.	$12.75
	DICENTRA EXIMIA 'STEWART BOOTHMAN'	This one is deep pink and is fast to spread. All are about 12"-14" tall.	$12.75
	DICENTRA SPECTABILIS	3 feet tall over time with arching stems with 8-12 pendent hearts. 4-5 eyes. Brought to North America from China in 1847. Goes dormant by August here. If used as a cut flower, sear the stems with a flame. Sap has an unpleasant aroma.	$15.50
	DICENRTA SPECTABILIS 'GOLD LEAF'	Same characteristics except golden yellow foliage. Works well in partial shade to full sun and on woodland perimeters as a backdrop to smaller hostas so missing foliage is not so obvious when plant goes summer dormant.	$17.50

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