I have an area in my yard that is approx. 36 feet by 13 feet. In the middle is a huge, old river maple. Needless to say, this is a shade, part shade and full sun area because of the tree. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to plant in this area. I would like things that bloom at different times so I will always have flowers and I'm not real excited about planting anything that has to be dug up for the winter. I do have two bleeding hearts and a burning bush there but am at a lose on what else to put there. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I believe its area 5. Thanks for your help!! (I'm not real good at gardening.....lol)

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Remember....any day above ground is a good day!!

I love researching these types of questions. Hope something I find will be of use to you.

Acanthus spinosus - Bear's Breeches: Some types of bear's breeches are hardy to zone 5. Just be careful to get the right ones. The flowers are white with purple hoods. If I remember correctly dads bloomed in August.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum'- Maple, Japanese: these are my favorite trees and they grow so slow that they are more like a shrub. And the leaves are so great that flowers aren't necessary. Or at least that's what I think.

Monkshood: blooms from mid to late summer. Comes in a variety of blues and whites.

Lady Bells

Bugleweed: These are grown covers for shady areas that you might like. I love the darker ones.

If you can put a trellis up this is a nice vine Chocolate Vine

Anemone crispa - Parsley Leaf

Windflower: Many of these will grow in partial shade

Japanese Anemone: Many of these will grow in partial shade

Columbine: These come in every color imaginable and bloom spring and fall.

Sea Thrift

Asters

False Spirea: Multiple colors

Masterwort: multiple colors

False Indigo: Multiple colors

Blackberry Lily

Pigsqueak: All shades of pink

Chocolate flower

Bellflower: I have some of these in my garden and can't wait for them to bloom.

Red Valerian

Quince: I love quince and it usually beat the lilies of the valley for early blooming when I lived in washington state. But they do have big thorns and they do travel.

turtlehead: multiple colors

Lily-of-the-Valley: comes in pink and white

Tickseed: nice variety of colors and shapes

Dogwood, Redtwig: the stems provide winter interest.

Corydalis

Winter Hazel

Daphne, Winter Variegated

Dutchmen's Breeches

Foxglove

Evergreen Solomon's Seal

Shooting Star

Dragonhead

Alpine Willowherb

these are just a few of the flowers that will grow in diffent amounts of shade. I also grow miniature snapdragons in partial shade and they don't seem to mind at all. Maybe later I'll list some more for you to look at.

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Your welcome

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