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bromac_gw

moist acidic shade

bromac
16 years ago

We have recently moved into a new house where the front of the house faces north and is covered by full shade. The beds in front of the house were bare so I have a new canvas to start with but the soil is moist and acidic due to the pine trees in the front. What can I plant that will give some color to the front of the house. I have some ferns that I brought from our old house and would like to plant some annuals or perennials that would do well in the soil. Any suggestions?

Comment (1)

  • mommyfox
    16 years ago

    If there's any way to raise the bed a bit to improve the drainage, azaleas would work - it sounds like just the sort of conditions they like, moist, shady and acidic! Same with mahonia and loropetalum. For flowering plants, I'd try columbine, oxalis, sweet violets, caladiums, wandering jew, ferns, turk's cap and gingers.

    If there's no way to improve the drainage, and it's going to stay moist all the time, your choices are a little more limited. You might just have to try stuff and see - getting plants at the swaps would be a good start, to see what will grow well. If it's REALLY wet there you might look into bog plants, like pussy willow and arrowhead plants.