Part shade perennials

jallen76

We built a new house and are SLOWLY working on the landscaping.  We put sod in a few weeks ago and are now working on the beds.  The front of our house is North facing and recieves part shade, and we are zone 5.  I like coral bells and barberry, the maroon color in them looks well with the house.  Do you think coral bells would work in part shade to mostly shady?  Probably not.Is there another shade to part shade perennial that has some height you can recommend?  Also...it has to be deer resistant and would like the "maroon" color. 

 Any other recommendations for part shade to shade perennials to plant.I don't want hostas.  Could be a bush as well.  Thank you!!!

glitterfart

Sorry, I answered your other post without reading this first. So no hostas.

My coral bells are on the north side and are definitely partial shade to shady. I have these planted in groups of three in  the same bed along with lenten roses, solomon seal and bergenia.

krisandgrace

I have a post on shade perennials in my blog. Besides the ones mentioned above another you might really like because of the color is cimicifuga- black snakeroot.

LaurLaurLaur

I have my coral bells in a spot that only sees sun from about 4pm to Sunset and they look better than when I planted them.

 

pdxmouse

If, like suggested on the other post, you go with a mixture of plants, you'll want to think a little about contrast. I love maroons too, but they're going to show up best if you give them something to play off of. Just maroon plants will soon become a murky blur. But if you have something like snakeroot with bright lime coral bells, especially in a shady spot, it'll really pop. Throw in some shrubs so that when other things like the snakeroot dies down for winter you still have some interest (maybe some daphne or oooh blue fothergilla). 

pdxmouse

Oh, and sites like Fine Gardening or Sunset (in the West), have pretty good plant finder. You put in your zip code or zone and what you're looking for (shrub, perennial) and the requirements (shade, drought, etc) and out pops a list to peruse. I think BHG has one too, but for some reason their site makes my computer freeze half the time. 

Ginger Le Coeur

I have a small garden that is very shady. Coral Bells have done well for me. I have also had good luck with Astilbe, various ferns, and Lenten Rose. (Just planted to more Lenten Rose today!)

I went to our local nursery yesterday and they recommended mountain laurel as well. 

Solomon's Seal is fun, and I had very good luck with that out front, but in my back garden it has not worked... : (  I like the height it provides in my front garden.

I know you are looking for perennials, but I always have good luck with coleus for some maroon colors and what I love is there are so many variety they work really well. I also like Caladium... but again, they are annuals...