Native Shade-Tolerant Plants - Ask Extension
Can you provide suggestions for plants for a pollinator garden in a mostly shady area? I live in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Hoping for plants...
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Native Shade-Tolerant Plants #862393
Asked March 24, 2024, 3:00 PM EDT
Can you provide suggestions for plants for a pollinator garden in a mostly shady area? I live in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Hoping for plants that bloom at different times through spring, summer and fall. I started with native seeds last spring and would like to continue with plant plugs this year. Also, where can I buy these plants?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
There is shade and then there is deep shade.
You will want to consider height, set taller plants in back, shorter ones in front (by the way, as you move forward, things get lighter giving you a different variety of plants)
Also plants that do well in shade have an amazing spectrum of colors regardless of whether they flower; coral bells, varigated hosta, pulmonaria, epimedium come to mind.
In general hostas flower late, most of the non hostas flower early.
Some legal plants should come with a 'you will be sorry' label. Vinca, Lily of the valley. They are invasive and hard to eradicate.
Some ideas
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/gardening-shade
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2021-08/Shade%20Garden%20template_acc%20%281%29%20with%20logos.pdf
https://www.prairiemoon.com/native-wildflowers-for-shade#/?resultsPerPage=24
There is shade and then there is deep shade.
You will want to consider height, set taller plants in back, shorter ones in front (by the way, as you move forward, things get lighter giving you a different variety of plants)
Also plants that do well in shade have an amazing spectrum of colors regardless of whether they flower; coral bells, varigated hosta, pulmonaria, epimedium come to mind.
In general hostas flower late, most of the non hostas flower early.
Some legal plants should come with a 'you will be sorry' label. Vinca, Lily of the valley. They are invasive and hard to eradicate.
Some ideas
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/gardening-shade
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://bwsr.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/2021-08/Shade%20Garden%20template_acc%20%281%29%20with%20logos.pdf
https://www.prairiemoon.com/native-wildflowers-for-shade#/?resultsPerPage=24
Steve,
Thank you for your comments. I am specifically interested in Minnesota native plants that perform well in shade.
James Lind
On Mar 24, 2024, at 2:58 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Thank for writing back.
As you will note, the Prairie Moon site that I sent you is a local dealer of NATIVES FOR SHADE.
The second link that I sent you is all natives for shade.
Another resource for you is the MN Native Plant Society. https://mnnps.org/
Happy gardening.
As you will note, the Prairie Moon site that I sent you is a local dealer of NATIVES FOR SHADE.
The second link that I sent you is all natives for shade.
Another resource for you is the MN Native Plant Society. https://mnnps.org/
Happy gardening.
