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Tag: Trillium

  • Perennials for a Shade Garden: Our Favorite Native Species and Hardy Flowering Plants

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    All week, we’re revisiting the most popular stories of 2025, including this one from July.

    A shade garden is a green and contemplative refuge. It can also be a botanical calendar, with flowers signaling the change of seasons. Well-chosen perennials for shade provide texture and pattern, flowers, and sometimes even fruit. They offer an indispensable layer of interest alongside the architecture of shrubs and trees, and the seasonal excitement of shade-loving annuals. Perennials are plants that return every year after a dormant period and they usually bloom for a few weeks. Choosing perennials whose bloom-time is staggered over the growing season gives us that gift that gardeners, in particular, enjoy: anticipation. Our favorite perennials for shade work harder, though, and are about more than flowers—their foliage or form is interesting even when the plant is not flowering. Here are 13 of our favorites.

    Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia

    Above: Foamflower thrives in pots or in-ground.
    Above: Foamflower creates frothy carpets of flowers in early spring.

    Foamflower blooms in early spring, creating frothy pockets of brightness in the garden. This species of Tiarella propagates itself, establishing new plants from skinny surface-runners, making it a perfect naturalizer for shady path edges and woodland floors. When not in bloom, its maple-shaped leaves create a softly textured quilt. This Eastern native is hardy from USDA zones 4 (and possibly 3) to 9.

    Doll’s eyes, Actaea pachypoda

    Above: The graceful flowers of doll’s eyes are deliciously-scented

    Perhaps one of the best-scented perennials for shade, doll’s eyes are also known as white baneberry, thanks to the plants’ Halloween-ready, toxic white fruit on blood-red stalks in late fall. But in spring, they are all sweetness, with lemon-scented white flowers. This woodland native relishes full shade and blooms in mid-spring above prettily toothed leaves. Doll’s eyes are hardy from zones 3 to 8.

    Wake robin, Trillium species

    Above: Woodland elegance—Trilliums in mid-spring.

    The understated elegance of native Trilliums belongs to a woodland spring. Planted under deciduous trees in soil rich in leaf humus or compost, they bask in spring sunshine and shelter in early summer shade. They are especially effective planted in groups with companion plants that fill out when the Trilliums are dormant, from summer onwards. Different species have blooms that may be white, yellow, or red, with erect or nodding flowers, and most are hardy within zones 4 to 7.

    Meadow rue, Thalictrum species

    Above: The white flowers of native tall meadow rue in a pot on my Brooklyn terrace.
    Above: Meadow rue (native to Asia) has purple flowers.

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  • Ngọc Minh Ngo: An Interview With the Garden Photographer and Author

    Ngọc Minh Ngo: An Interview With the Garden Photographer and Author

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    Ngọc Minh Ngo ís to plant photography what Annie Leibowitz is to celebrity portraits or Ansel Adams is to American landscapes. This is not hyperbole. With her immense gift for telegraphing a flower’s spirit and finding the poetry in a landscape, she creates images that are works of art, and in fact, her photos have exhibited at the Museum Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakesh as well as Wave Hill Garden & Cultural Center in New York. Last year, Ngoc received the Larry Lederman Landscape Photography Fellowship at the New York Botanical Garden. 

    We’re longtime admirers and have covered three of her photography books here on Gardenista, most recently New York Green, in which she captures and writes about the best parks and gardens that her city has to offer. So we’re incredibly honored to have her answer our Quick Takes questionnaire here. Read on to learn “the most moving and inspiring” garden book she’s ever read, the plants she loves for her shade garden, and more.

    Photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo. 

    Above: Ngoc is actually a self-taught photographer(!). She studied landscape design at Columbia University.

    Your first garden memory:

    When I was a child in Vietnam, I was allowed to stay up one night to watch the flowering of a Night-blooming Cereus. It was magical, not least because it was so out of the ordinary, both the flower and the occasion. It was a flower like no flower I had ever seen. That the flower only lasted one night made it seem unreal. The whole experience felt like a dream.

    Garden-related book you return to time and again:

    Derek Jarman’s Garden. It remains the most moving and inspiring book about a garden for me since I first encountered it nearly thirty years ago.

    Instagram account that inspires you:

    @rootprojectuk, @phoebe_cummings, @edmunddewaal.

    Describe in three words your garden aesthetic.

    Wild. Personal. Painterly.

    Plant that makes you swoon:

    Above: Trilliums are great for shade gardens.

    Almost all of them, but especially spring ephemerals like bleeding hearts, columbines, star flowers, trilliums, bloodroot. And flowering trees, like American dogwood, magnolia.

    Plant that makes you want to run the other way:

    Impatiens.

    Favorite go-to plant:

    All plants with a scent.

    Hardest gardening lesson you’ve learned:

    For years I tried to grow all sorts of flowers that were not happy to be in my shady garden.

    Gardening or design trend that needs to go:

    Overbred flowers.

    Favorite way to bring the outdoors in.

    I like to cut flowers from the garden to have by my bedside in all seasons.

    Favorite hardscaping material:

    Gravel.

    Tool you can’t live without:

    A good secateur.

    Favorite nursery, plant shop, or seed company:

    Sadly, my favorite local nursery, Gowanus Nursery, closed. More far-flung favorites are Snug Harbor Farm, Annie’s Annuals, Flora Grubb, Petersham.

    On your wishlist:

    A real garden where I can have fruit trees and vegetables.

    Not-to-be-missed public garden/park/botanical garden:

    Above: In Ask the Expert: Photographer and ‘New York Green’ Author Ngoc Minh Ngo on her Favorite NYC Green Spaces, Ngoc cites the Naval Cemetery Landscape as one of her fave parks to visit.

    Every garden and park in my book New York Green, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, Naval Cemetery Landscape, Wave Hill. In the UK: Prospect Cottage, Derek Jarman’s garden at Dungeness; Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex; Rousham in Oxfordshire. Rohuna in Morocco.

    The REAL reason you garden:

    For the beauty of it all.

    Future projects?

    I’m excited to release my latest book into the world next year. Roses in the Garden, to be published in March 2025, delves into a subject that has been very close to my heart. The culmination of many years of thinking and reading about and photographing roses, the project allows me to explore both the nature and culture of this timeless flower, through a series of gardens spanning the globe.

    Thanks so much, Ngoc! (You can follow her on Instagram @minh_ngoc.)

    For our full archive of Quick Takes, go here.

    (Visited 4 times, 2 visits today)

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  • The Best Perennials for Transforming Shaded Landscapes

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    Shaded areas in your garden need not be dull and lifeless. With the right choice of perennials, you can transform these dim corners into vibrant and inviting spaces. In this blog post, we will explore the best perennials to grow in shaded landscape areas, including beloved favorites like Hellebore, Hosta, and Astilbe, as well as lesser-known gems like Solomon’s Seal and Trillium.

    1. Hellebore (Helleborus)

    Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses, are a must-have for shaded gardens. They produce elegant, drooping blooms in a range of colors, from white and pink to deep purples. These hardy perennials thrive in partial shade and add a touch of early spring beauty to your landscape.

    1. Hosta

    Hostas are renowned for their lush foliage, making them perfect for shaded areas. With a variety of leaf shapes, sizes, and colors, you can create a striking contrast in your garden. From the classic green varieties to variegated and blue-hued Hostas, there’s one to suit every taste.

    1. Astilbe

    Astilbes are prized for their feathery, plume-like blooms that rise above their fern-like foliage. They come in shades of pink, red, white, and lavender, brightening up any shaded corner. These perennials thrive in moist, well-drained soil, making them an excellent choice for gardens with challenging growing conditions.

    1. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

    Coral Bells are known for their stunning foliage, available in various shades, from rich burgundy to lime green. They also produce delicate, bell-shaped flowers on tall stalks in late spring and early summer. These adaptable perennials can tolerate both partial shade and full sun.

    1. Brunnera

    Brunnera, often called “Siberian Bugloss,” is prized for its heart-shaped leaves and tiny blue flowers that resemble those of Forget-Me-Nots. These perennials thrive in shade and will form a beautiful ground cover, adding texture and interest to your garden.

    1. Ajuga

    Ajuga, also known as Bugleweed, is an excellent choice for ground cover in shaded areas. Its low, spreading habit and vibrant foliage add a splash of color to even the darkest corners of your garden. In spring, it produces spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers.

    1. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

    Oakleaf Hydrangea is a stunning native plant that thrives in shaded locations. It boasts large, showy panicles of white flowers and striking oak-like leaves that turn vibrant shades of red and purple in the fall, adding year-round interest to your garden.

    1. Ligularia

    Ligularia, also known as the “Rocket,” features bold, toothed leaves and tall spikes of yellow or orange daisy-like flowers. These perennials enjoy moist, shady conditions and provide a pop of color in late summer when many other shade plants have finished blooming.

    1. Ferns

    Ferns are the quintessential shade-loving plants. With their graceful, feathery fronds, they add a touch of elegance and a lush, tropical feel to your shaded garden. Varieties like the Japanese Painted Fern and Ostrich Fern are particularly striking choices.

    1. Viola

    Violas, with their cheerful, delicate flowers, are perfect for adding color to shaded areas. These perennials come in a variety of colors and bloom from early spring to fall, creating a continuous display of beauty.

    1. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)

    Toad Lilies are unique perennials that thrive in the shade. They produce intricate, orchid-like flowers in shades of purple, white, or pink, often speckled with darker markings. These exotic-looking blooms add a touch of whimsy to your garden.

    1. Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra)

    Bleeding Hearts are beloved for their heart-shaped flowers that dangle gracefully from arching stems. These perennials thrive in shade and come in various species and cultivars, each with its own unique charm.

    1. Pulmonaria

    Pulmonaria, or Lungwort, is a shade-loving perennial known for its attractive silver-spotted leaves and clusters of tubular flowers that change color as they mature. They are excellent early bloomers, providing a splash of color in early spring.

    1. Trillium

    Trilliums are native woodland plants known for their distinctive, three-petaled blooms and elegant foliage. They thrive in moist, shaded areas, and their understated beauty adds a touch of the wild to your garden.

    1. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

    Lily of the Valley is a classic perennial that thrives in shady spots. Its dainty, bell-shaped white flowers emit a sweet fragrance that perfumes the air in late spring. These perennials spread quickly, creating a charming ground cover.

    1. Caladium

    Caladiums are renowned for their striking, colorful foliage. These perennials are ideal for adding a tropical vibe to your shaded garden with their large, heart-shaped leaves in shades of red, pink, and green.

    1. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)

    Solomon’s Seal is a graceful, arching perennial with distinctive, dangling white or greenish-yellow flowers. Its variegated leaves add an artistic touch to your shaded landscape.

    Transforming shaded landscape areas into thriving gardens is a rewarding endeavor. By choosing the right perennials like Hellebore, Hosta, Astilbe, and others, you can create a stunning, low-maintenance oasis that bursts with color and texture throughout the seasons.

    With these shade-loving perennials in your garden, you’ll enjoy a beautiful and vibrant outdoor space, even in the shadiest of corners.

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    Tiffany

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