Iowa gardeners shouldn’t be disheartened if most of their space doesn’t get enough direct sunlight. Here are 8 shade plants Iowa you can bring home to brighten your landscape. These can be planted in flower beds and boarders.
Shade plants Iowa
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley, or Convallaria majalis won’t mind if you put them in shady areas. As long as it gets enough light it thrives and spreads to neighboring regions. That said, it has the potential to be invasive, so you may want to contain it in a bed or container.
The woodland flowering plant is mostly known for producing dainty bell-shaped white flowers that have an amazing scent. The low-growing plant requires rich organic soil and regular watering.
Columbine
Make space for Columbine plants in your garden and you’ll be rewarded with intricate blooms that are shaped like hanging lanterns. It grows well in part shade to fully shaded areas as long as you don’t let the soil completely dry out.
Common Columbine flowers are white and purple but you can get one that produces yellow, red and pink blooms. It’s a perennial in the state of Iowa and can be grown in containers for adding indoor cheer.
Lungwort
Lungwort is a favorite among Iowa landscapers because it’s so easy to grow and thrives just about anywhere you put them. The plant gets its name due to the lung-shaped markings on the leaves.
It needs moist yet well-draining soil to do well, and can grow in zones 4 through 8. When it blooms you’ll see clusters of blue, white or pink and tend to stay for a long time. Size can reach up to 12 inches in an optimal environment.
Coral Bells
Need a stunning color in your patio? You can’t go wrong with Coral Bells. Both leaves and flowers add a nice variety and pop in your landscape. Plus, they’re hardy in zones 4 through 9 so planting them in Iowa shouldn’t be a problem.
Flower hues range from coral to red, as well as white and pink. The upright and bell-shaped blooms beckon for you to stay a while and watch it sway in the wind.
Anemone
Anemones are also called windflowers due to how they move. The plant shows off cones of bright-colored flowers on delicate stems. You can choose the color in shades of red, purple, blue, white or pink.
The plant grows in zones 3 through 10 and depending on the species. It can thrive in partial shade as long as the medium is rich and constantly moist. Bloom time is spread through three seasons (spring, summer and fall) and it can grow up to 4 feet in length.
Virginia Bluebell
Virginia bluebells have a curious habit of showing up once to display its blooms, then appearing dormant the rest of the growing season. The leaves assume an alternative form and start out as purple in the spring, then transforming to light green as it expands.
You’ll have to wait until mid-spring to see the flowers, but you won’t miss them as they appear in droves. The buds start purple-pink then open up and become sky blue as the day goes by. It exudes a sweet fragrance and might attract beneficial pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
When caring for a Virginia Bluebell you don’t need direct sunlight. Just plant them in rich soil and don’t forget to water every now and then.
Bleeding Heart
Chances are that you’d spot a Bleeding Heart in most Iowa homes and gardens, which stand as a testament to how they thrive in the state. The plant’s foliage alone is worth your time- it’s delicate and seemingly floats above thin stems.
Bleeding Heart flowers by late spring to early summer, then goes into dormancy a few weeks after. It thrives in the shade and in zones 3 to 9, and requires well-draining soil that’s constantly moist.
Hellebore
Hellebores are called Christmas Roses and tend to bloom earlier than other plants. The plant works very well in the shade and produces uncharacteristically large blooms in white, green, cream, pink or burgundy.
The shade-loving plant can grow up to 12 inches tall and is rabbit- and deer-resistant. You can forego a watering or two which Hellebores won’t mind, but constant watering is best so it grows full and healthy.
Shade plants Iowa: Conclusion
The above list will add color and texture to your yard and are perfect for shaded areas.
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