Zone 7 Shade Plants for Foliage Interest
American alumroot (Heuchera americana), also known as coral bells, is a lovely woodland plant native to North America. It is mostly grown for its attractive foliage, but it does produce small flowers. The plant is popular for use as a groundcover or in borders. Numerous varieties are available, including several with unusual foliage colors or with silver, blue, purple, or red markings on the leaves. Other foliage shade plants for zone 7 include:
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) Hosta (Hosta spp.) Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) Gray’s sedge (Carex grayi) Galax (Galax urceolata)
Flowering Zone 7 Shade Plants
Pineapple lily (Eucomis autumnalis) is one of the most unusual flowers you can grow in partial shade. It produces long stalks topped with striking flower clusters that look like miniature pineapples. The flowers come in shades of pink, purple, white, or green. Pineapple lily bulbs should be protected with a layer of mulch in winter. Other flowering shade plants for zone 7 include:
Japanese Anemone (Anemone x hybrida) Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema dracontium) Solomon’s Plume (Smilacina racemosa) Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) Lenten Rose (Helleborus spp.)
Zone 7 Shrub Plants That Tolerate Shade
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a great shrub for shade because it adds interest to a garden year-round. Large clusters of white flowers appear in late spring or early summer, then gradually turn pink in late summer. The large leaves turn a wonderful reddish purple color in the fall, and the attractive bark is visible in the winter. Oakleaf hydrangea is native to southeastern North America, and varieties with single or doubled blossoms are available. Other shrubs for shady spots in zone 7 include:
Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) Ogon spiraea (Spiraea thunbergii)
