Sun Exposure: Shade

Shade is an important category in PNW gardens. Towering trees block out the sun and let woodland plants thrive. High overhead shade is a category where you can fudge a little bit. Often its shady enough for those that shun bright sunlight but is bright enough for plants that require sun. Shade is characterized by 6 hours or more of indirect sunlight. Plants that require shade will burn almost instantaneously if exposed to brilliant, hot sun. Plan ahead when you plant trees and site structures. Trees will inevitably grow and cast more and more shade. One trick if you are free of a tree canopy is to plant shade lovers on the north side of walls, houses, trees. This is often just enough sun protection for these plants to thrive until the overhead canopy fills in.

Climate Adapted Plants for Gardeners in the PNW

Vaccinium ovatum ‘Tillamook Formal’

A form of evergreen Huckleberry that is found on the north and central Oregon coast. The leaves are slightly longer and curve a bit and have a fine but noticeable serration. This is a slightly bolder form that is very handsome and somewhat formal in appearance from the species. Forms a shrub with large canes that grow in earnest and then arch.. White flowers are slightly larger than  normal and appear in spring form slightly larger than normal black sweet fruit, about the size of a caper. Plant more than one shrub to increase pollination and fruit set. Full sun to full shade in humus rich, highly organic soil . Mulch for the first several years. Irrigate to establish for the first year or two then it should have a large enough rootball to resist summer drought.  Otherwise light summer irrigation speeds growth.  New growth is salmon orange and turns to shades of yellow before settling to dark green. Very pretty native shrub that demands more irrigation and mulch in full sun.  Makes a wonderful informal hedge in time. This form has a pronounced arching shape.  Excellent hedge material as this is cutting propagated and will maintain a uniform habit.  Wonderful form from the northern Oregon coast. To 8′ x 8′ in 10 years.  Prune if needed in Autumn.    Oregon native plant.

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Eurybia radulina

Rough leaf Aster or also referred to as False Aster. The  description of a rough leaf is apt and you can immediately identify this inhabitant of dry woods throughout western Oregon and north more sporadically into Western Washington by a rub of the scratchy leaf.  It even makes an appearance in the Ochoco Mountains of Central Oregon. My experience with this sprawling, late blooming perennial  was as an under story component of black and White Oak woodland in the southern Willamette Valley.  At higher elevations it can be found in Fir/Pine woodlands.  It is a profuse follower of fires and will quickly occupy recently opened space. Simple white minimalist daisy blooms appear in large clusters from August to October. An established plant is incredibly drought adapted as long as it is out of full sun. The scratchy leaves become smaller near the flower truss .  To about 2′ tall but decumbent (trailing) in most circumstances, Adaptable to clay soils that dry in summer. An excellent late season pollinator plant for shade/dry shade. Water regularly the first season in sightly enriched soil in part shade to high overhead shade . Not the showiest perennial but it does its job well. Hardy perennial . Does not compete well with invasive grasses -protect.  Best with clumping native grasses primarily  California Fescue Festuca californica . Expect this semi-evergreen to flop and accomodate that- 2′ x 2′ but never full.  Very easy to grow. Plant with Symphyotrichum hallii Hall’s Aster’ and  and Achillea millefolium ‘Willamette Gray’ in a dry understory.  Accepts regular summer irrigation as well.  Oregon native plant

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Vancouveria hexandra ‘Xera Wine’

I found this remarkable form of our native Inside Out flower in southern Oregon,  I wiggled off a tiny piece and put it in my pocket, the parent plant was unharmed.  Its taken years but we are ready to offer this beautiful form of our native Vancouveria hexandra with new foliage that is deep wine colored and then matures to green with a red edge. In early summer this spreading perennial sports upside down white flowers on 4″ to 6″ above the foliage. A spreading ground cover that shows remarkable tolerance to drought once established.  Amend the soil  with compost and mulch, water consistently for the first year or two. Let the soil dry between watering. Leaves rise 6″ and forms spreading colonies.  Winter deciduous, it disappears completely – all the better to showcase the deep burgundy new growth. Fall color is yellow and brief and the plant remains decompose over winter.  Not the first plant to be devoured by deer/ rabbits but I would protect for the first few years.  Deep burgundy foliage remains showy before morphing to deep green  with a red edge. This is a member of the Barberry family (Berberidaceae) and is related to Epimedium and has the same applications. Combine with gold leaved perennials for the most contrast and drama. Hakenochloa macra ‘All Gold’ , ‘Campanula garganica ‘Dicksons Gold’, and Golden baby tears , Soleirolia soleirolii ‘Aurea’ . Very good in containers as well. Spice up a native garden. This perennial makes a great cover for native bulbs –  Brodiaea  and Fritillaria lanceolata, Calochortus tolmei,- are excellent companions, fading just as the Vancouveria  is emerging and bulking up. Enriched soil, regular water to establish, this dweller of the forest floor appreciates an annual mulch.  Oregon native plant 

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Amelanchier alnifolia

Service berry, Saskatoon Berry, is a widespread shrub to small tree in the northwest. In western Oregon it occupies every biome from the high Cascades to coastal bluffs. Deciduous  to 15′ tall most often with multiple trunks. Trees in poor soil with less water can grow as very low shrubs , in rich  soil,in the Willamette and Umpqua Valley’s it achieves small tree status. Long lived with round small leaves with fine serrations on the edges. They emerge after bloom with a downy pubescence and fresh green. The leaves toughen up and turn blue green by summer. Always in April the limbs  become flocked in clusters of pure white wispy petals-after several weeks they become small drupes that mature to dark purple  by mid summer. They look and taste like very miniature plums when ripe. They are seldom larger than a caper. These are heavily  coveted by wild life and that is part of its strategy of distribution. In the Willamette Valley it is primarily an understory or margin of the forest tree. Its a favorite of old mans beard moss (Usnea) and its common understory companions are Oso berry (Oemleria) Ocean Spray (Holodiscus) and Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus).  and Oregon Viburnum ( Viburnum ellipticum)  Water once a week for the first summer, let the soil dry between irrigation . Give the plant good air circulation and it will produce clear yellow foliage for an extended time in October/November. Adaptable to any soil, including drought tolerant in heavy clay and will only grow slower and stay smaller in poor conditions but not die. Deep rich, clay soil is its preferred habitat. Rose family protect from Rabbits and deer when small. Seed raised only. Slow growing. Best planted when small. Oregon native plant.

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Vaccinium ovatum ‘Boldy’

A very handsome version of one of our best native broadleaved evergreen shrubs . I spotted this form with larger leaves that are thicker and convex in the coast range of Douglas County.   It gives the shrub a  much more substantial appearance . The thick leaves emerge tinted salmon pink before settling to its permanent deep lusterous, dark green. To 6′ tall x 4′ wide in 6 years. Very dense habit is reminiscent of boxwood. This is a very useful and handsome form of Evergreen Huckleberry. This cutting propagated form will have a very uniform texture  and habit. In late spring small pink to white urn shaped flower transform into deep black purple tasty fruits. Plant more than one shrub to increase pollination and fruit set. Rich soil high in humic content with regular water in summer.  Mulch annually. Allow it to dry between watering. Plant on 3′ centers for a tidy fast hedge. Full sun to quite a bit of shade. Not bothered by deer. Almost formal appearance. Prune after flowering if needed.  Oregon native plant.

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Mahonia euryobracteata ‘Narihira’

A fantastic selection of a species that has many fine attributes. ‘Soft Caress’ is one popular iteration and we grow a blue leaved variety  with much larger foliage. This form has the finely dissected leaves of ‘Soft Caress but about one scale larger. The new growth emerges maroon and indeed it keeps that tint for most of the year. In December-February spikes of gold/yellow flower light the dark of winter.  While some selections in this species can be tender to extreme cold and  primarily subfreezing wind- this is a hardy variety with few problems with cold. To 5′ tall and 3’ wide forming a pillar of gorgeous fine, pinnate leaves. In time it can take very dry shade positions as well as sun with a bit more water. Full sun to deep shade. Not palatable to deer but loved by rabbits. Protect when young. Very tough but elegant evergreen. Mix with winter blooming and dry shade accommodating Sarcoccoca  for similar culture.  Regular water to establish.

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Pileostegia (Hydrangea) viburnoides

Rare self clinging evergreen vine that has just been placed in the genus Hydrangea. A moderately fast plant that gains speed with age and size. In summer above the 3″ leathery deep green leaves foaming ivory colored flowers are in big branched trusses and are lightly fragrant. Excellent almost formal looking cover for an appropriate surface. It clings tightly growing hold fast roots, not for the wall of a house. Part shade to high overhead  and rich soil with regular summer water. Regular summer irrigation also speeds growth and it can take a bit before it adheres to its subject. Excellent emblazoning the trunk of a tall Douglas Fir, also good in sheltered shady court yards. Avoid direct exposure to subfreezing wind which can burn the leaves. Avoid full hot sun and dusty, dry conditions. Long lived native to SW China. Foliage is layered and handsome year round.  To 20′ tall and half as wide. Very good on shady rock walls.

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Paxistima myrsinites

Oregon boxwood or mountain lover, the first name is more descriptive even though the second is also true. This formal looking evergreen is most often seen above about 3500′ in the Cascades, on very steep slopes in humus rich soil. where it forms a common understory beneath conifers.  It can also be found in the cool coastal zones and the higher peaks of the Coast Range In eastern Oregon it follows the Ochocos up into the Blue and Wallowa mountains . This is a widespread shrub that is seldom seen in gardens, even in its natural range. This is not a fussy plant but it does have exacting requirements. Amend the soil heavily with compost and water faithfully for the first few years. This formal looking evergreen averages 3′ tall on average and can range a bit wider. It takes some pruning but it does require regular summer water to become established. In the Celastraceae Oregon boxwood is most closely related to Euonyous. This can be seen in the simple 4 petal tiny red flowers that cluster in the leaf axils in spring. Very cold hardy to -30ºF and it ranges far into Canada. One of the best native evergreen shrubs for formal appearance. Plant with Vaccinium ovatum for a similar cultural and textural effect. The small berries are eaten by wildlife. Tolerates extreme snow and ice, not bothered by subfreezing wind.  Moderately deer resistant.  Associated plants in the wild are Cornus canadensis and Mianthemum stellatum and Mahonia  nervosa Pronouncd puh-KISS-ti-muh – or can be remembered as Pa kissed Ma.  Oregon native plant.

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Osmanthus decorum ‘Baki Kasapligil’

Osmanthus are incredibly handsome and useful shrubs/trees and turkish Osmanthus fits that trend  Renowned for fragrance this tough species excels at its tidy and uniform look year round. Long pointed deep green leaves are exceedingly handsome and immediately one thinks of this 8′ x 8′ shrub as an ideal  hedge subject and it is. In mid spring small tubular flowers crowd the leaf axils and emit a vanilla aroma that is detectable many meters away. Moderately fast growing evergreen for full sun to quite a bit of shade it is adapted to most well drained soils, including heavy clay. Exceptionally tolerant of drought when established  and very long lived. In time, sans pruning, it will achieve small tree status. Cold hardy to 0ºF and not terribly sensitive to subfreezing wind. Not often bothered by deer- protect young plants with age and familiarity they will leave it alone.  Very good replacement hedge for voracious and invasive cherry laurel or disease riddled Photinia.  Somewhat formal appearance.  Lovely no water/low water shrub when established.  Prune after flowering- blooms on old wood This is one of the parents of Osmanthus x burkwoodii. .This form was selected from the wild in  Turkey/Anatolia.

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Heracleum maximum

Cow parsnip is a widespread bold perennial;that can be found around western North America. Its a familiar large plant of the west side of the Cascades where it can be found in just about every biome in cool moist soil. This and other members of this genus have sap that can cause a rash, avoid exposure to skin. Larger in rich conditions it can exceed 6′ tall with ample moisture The leaves become enormous  up to 18″ in favorable conditions. Adapted to clay soils as well and this large perennial is common under the drip zone in the shade of oaks in the Willamette Valley. The plant erupts out of the ground in very early spring and then extends to reveal large (6″) wide pure white umbels of flowers. Best to place this native away from paths, It is a integral pollinator perennial as well as food source for  butterflies. Long lived deep rooted perennial. Goes deciduous with true heat and can leave a candelabra of dead stems through winter  Very competitive with  invasive grasses. Blooms May-July. Associated plants are Quercus garryana, Fraxinus latifolius, Viburnum ellipticum, Delphinium trollifolium.  Oregon native plant.

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