Deep in the shade

[redant]

OK, I did a great job getting a canopy, so good in fact that all the grass is dying off. While many say hooray too that, this is leaving me with an awful lot of ground to do something with. Some of the drier areas are well covered with pine needles that keeps the weeds down and looks nice when I keep the pine cones off but what to do with all this barren space? I have some crotons doing well and bromeliads, some creeping purple stuff in the following picture. Some of the big oyster plants have taken over some areas, remnants of the previous owners. But I’m still looking for ideas for areas that were once weedy grass and now just dirt?

[Mandrew968]

Plant palms. I would...

[Patricia-CR]

That's like having a new canvas to start a paint! Hostas, Zamias, Fuschias, Calatheas, Caladiums, Peperomia, agleonemas, Cordylene, Colocasia, Abutilon, Rhododendrons, more bromeliads and crotons, and more, shade loving smaller palms...

[Moose]

Sounds perfect for a varied group crotons. They like shade, love pine needle mulch and would bring some beautiful variegations of color! Throw in some nice Licualas and it would look spectacular!

[Eric in Orlando]

Crotons, Ti plants, Graptophyllums, Strobilanthes, and Sanchezia !!!

[redant]

Crotons, Ti plants, Graptophyllums, Strobilanthes, and Sanchezia !!!

I do use all of the above other then the Strobilanthes, which I had but got so leggy i cut it way back and it never returned. I should try it again. Sanchezia nobilis is great but always dies back at anything below 40, it's looking a little parched right now. The Jamaican croton seems to suffer the same problem but at a bit lower temp. I guess I should propagate more of these and spread them around come spring.

[redant]

Sounds perfect for a varied group crotons. They like shade, love pine needle mulch and would bring some beautiful variegations of color! Throw in some nice Licualas and it would look spectacular!

I have had bad luck with Licualas, out of about 6 1 is left from the past 2 winters. Right now it looks great. I recently bought 2 Licuala peltata var. sumawongii, when they get bigger they will go into the ground. I was told they have a better cold tollerance.

[redant]

That's like having a new canvas to start a paint! Hostas, Zamias, Fuschias, Calatheas, Caladiums, Peperomia, agleonemas, Cordylene, Colocasia, Abutilon, Rhododendrons, more bromeliads and crotons, and more, shade loving smaller palms...

Some great suggestions I'll have to look into. Some I have or have tried and unfortunately they go on vacation in the winter, some do return in the spring

[ariscott]

If you put cordylines in the deep shade, they won't colour up & the same with bromeliads. Can you grow anthurium? Or big leaves Spathiphyllums. That's what I planted in my deep shade.

Regards, Ari

[redant]

If you put cordylines in the deep shade, they won't colour up & the same with bromeliads. Can you grow anthurium? Or big leaves Spathiphyllums. That's what I planted in my deep shade.

Regards, Ari

I had Spathiphyllums at my previous house, I'll have to try them here. Anthurium don't seem to do well, they are expensive and seem to wither away after a cold winter never to return. To bad as they are so nice.

[Eric in Orlando]

Sanchezia is that tender for you ? Ours die back at around 31-32 but come back. I saw them yesterday, tips were wilted but otherwise ok.

[redant]

Sanchezia is that tender for you ? Ours die back at around 31-32 but come back. I saw them yesterday, tips were wilted but otherwise ok.

We had 38 here and mine are toasted on the outside, still ok on the inner leafs

[Jeff Searle]

The Sanchezia's do burn when it gets below 40F. Mine in the nursery are now showing some damage. Crotons should work good, great for color, and also Aglaonemas like mentioned above are fantastic. I have several varieties in groupins around the yard and they can't be beat. All in all, their pretty tough with the cold weather too. Another group to consider would be Calatheas. Some will show damage, others are bullet proof, even taking mid to low 30's. I also have many different ones growing and you can't beat them for giving you that tropical feel. many will thrive in deep shade. Don't be afraid to try some this spring, get them established. Good soil and watering is a must though.

[redant]

Wher does one find Aglaonemas and Calatheas? I have seen one variety of Calathea at the big box store but thats it. The Aglaonemas really look great.

[DoomsDave]

There are many ankle-biter palms that will grow in a place like yours, too. The trees will provide shade and shelter from the cold.

Chamadoreas up the wazoo, though don't use turkeheimii (too tender). Guihaia, chuniophoenix, and many others.

Fuchsias might be tough in Florida, though, but prove me wrong . . .

There are many ferns of all sizes, and don't forget bromeliads and orchids.

If you want low low LOW maintenance, there's always Aspidistra, the Cast Iron Plant, but I'd only use those if all else fails.

[Jeff Searle]

Wher does one find Aglaonemas and Calatheas? I have seen one variety of Calathea at the big box store but thats it. The Aglaonemas really look great.

I always have a nice selection of Calatheas at the Extravaganza Sales. And every year, there seems to be another one or two new introductions being offered. As far as Aglaonema goes, I sometimes have a variety or two, but not always. Both are highly, highly recommended.

[redant]

Anyone know which varieties of Heuchera and Heucherella might survive in S FL ? They are very nice looking plants as well.

Edited January 9, 2012 by redant

[Eric in Orlando]

Heuchera and Heucherella will not grow as perennials in SoFL. They don't even survive up here. We have grown dozens of each. They grow well in winter and spring but die out by early summer. It just stays too hot at night for too long a period. Hosta is the same way.

[Eric in Orlando]

Others to consider are Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar' and Ctenanthe lubbersiana. Both are widely available and very easy to grow. Both also are very colorful.

[redant]

Others to consider are Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar' and Ctenanthe lubbersiana. Both are widely available and very easy to grow. Both also are very colorful.

I have an area that I have Ctenanthe lubbersiana planted. It has done well spreading out. I had planted it from cuttings I bought but the new plants no longer seem variegated like the parents where?

I also have a couple of Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar' which I have had mixed results with, probably due to my poor soil. A great looking plant though. Any idea on how to propagate this one? I tried cutting the long pieces that shoot way out from the plant from time to time with no luck. It's an expensive plant to buy a big grouping of these.

Couple of pics, Ctenanthe lubbersiana non variegated, Sanchezia after 38f, and a bonus part shady pic.

Edited January 9, 2012 by redant

[bahia]

Stromanthe sanguinea is very easy to propagate as cuttings once it starts to form those bunches of "branches" at the tops of tall stems, just separate them and pot them up. The plain leafed form is quite cold hardy here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it easily takes temps down into the low 30'sF without complaint, and will return from the roots at slightly below freezing temps. I've had it rooted up within 6 weeks time after potting them up in perlite in summer. I'm not sure if the variegated form is as cool/cold hardy, I should try this one as well.

Are you looking for lower growing massed foliage or walk-on ground covers for shade as well? I would think that things like Ophiopogon japonicus could be used as a lawn substitute, and some of the variegated Chlorophytum comosum should do well for you and add some filler color in fairly deep shade. Aechmea gamosepala makes a great massed planting in shade here too. Sorry can't think of anything that would replicate the look of Heucheras and takes high summer heat and humidity, not a condition we ever see here in Berkeley or San Francisco.

[redant]

Stromanthe sanguinea is very easy to propagate as cuttings once it starts to form those bunches of "branches" at the tops of tall stems, just separate them and pot them up. The plain leafed form is quite cold hardy here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it easily takes temps down into the low 30'sF without complaint, and will return from the roots at slightly below freezing temps. I've had it rooted up within 6 weeks time after potting them up in perlite in summer. I'm not sure if the variegated form is as cool/cold hardy, I should try this one as well.

Are you looking for lower growing massed foliage or walk-on ground covers for shade as well? I would think that things like Ophiopogon japonicus could be used as a lawn substitute, and some of the variegated Chlorophytum comosum should do well for you and add some filler color in fairly deep shade. Aechmea gamosepala makes a great massed planting in shade here too. Sorry can't think of anything that would replicate the look of Heucheras and takes high summer heat and humidity, not a condition we ever see here in Berkeley or San Francisco.

Some good suggestions, I can't wait until spring to get started.