There are bulbs that are for the spring and then, there are those that deal best with the elements of drought, humidity, and constant moisture. Sun-summer bulbs where my preference, until a recent purchase of a new home with shady sites, did I discover a completely new world. It’s not about the sun anymore gardeners. Shade is the new sun!

Can’t seem to find beauty, foliage, even color for your shady nook? Well, grab a pen and pad and jot down these lovely items to consider for your shady border. Though a shade garden can be somewhat tricky for the novice gardener, (at least I used to think), well, little did I know, that the sky was truly the limit. I know some of you are thinking, “the only thing I can have in my shade garden is green” but oh, contrary to popular thinking. That just is not true. Read on and become delighted, inspired, and quite surprised at the many selections made available through nature.

Caladium

Caladium is a perfect pick. This bulb of gorgeous, eye-perky foliage will provide early summer color and cool and calming effect when the temperatures begin to rise in your part of the world. They should be planted once the temperatures are consistently at 75 degrees in the daytime and their corms will require a certain amount of light in order to thrive. So, even though this is a shade plant, dense shade would not be beneficial for progressive growth and when its given its last showing of radiant foliage, make sure some other perennial has been planted nearby and will be large enough to curtain it (the caladium) off stage. In my Zone 9, it stops thriving about mid-October.

Hosta

A shade garden is most certainly incomplete without the King of the shady corner. The large monstrosity of hosta foliage can be the focal point of your shady garden. With lower light for photosynthesis in shade gardens, plants will grow much slower than in sun. Be not discouraged though because when it comes to the hosta, unlike flowers that die without sun and fade without constant maintenance, the hosta works until the day and season is done. Its variegated choices are perfect for partial and full shade. Let the lighter colors eliminate those creepy pockets of darkness. Should you be the one with mature trees everywhere in your backyard, heck even the front yard? Let the host of the shade garden, be planted in either fall or early spring and become the King of the Jungle.

Astilbe

Though introduced to America by a German gardener, it is native to Japan and China and its plumes of color are magnificent. It has a variety of colors to choose from as well, stemming from light hues of lilac to the deepest of tones of crimson red. It begins its blooming stage in the tropics early summer and can start much later into the summer further up north. Nevertheless, it is a woodland garden desire. So put some in your garden and if you’re into cut flower gardening as I am, (never would you have thought), there was a shade plant like this one that could be used in your flower vase too but there is; see, shady gardens can be respected and a cherish for a life time.

Lily of the Valley

This is another woodland garden exceptional that produces a lovely scent as well. How captivating? Quiet subtlety with solitary moments of thought-provoking images, all while inhalation of the sweet perfume of this luscious baby-with-bells. Yes, it has bell-shaped flowers that contend with the luscious foliage it contains. A fast growing plant that loves moisture and will grow in both partial and full shade compartments of the garden. The one downside is it only blooms for a month or so but with its carefree conditions; it has to be considered for your garden today.

Calla Lily

This most sought after rhizome of a plant is particularly the top choice for wedding celebrations. It will grow in partial shade as well as rich soil, so be sure to amend properly before planting horizontally in the soil. Its pre-Madonna existence comes in so many pastel colors, that it has become a focal point in my garden. Pastel colors are perfect for the shady garden due to the bright illuminating shades of color. Nothing is quite like pastels of pink, peach and white, to light up vivid imagery of color at sunset. Why not add a fountain or pond nearby and let the tinkle of water add to the nostalgia of the tropics far away and the calla lily will make any porch, patio or deck a tropical hide-way by planting some in ceramic type containers too.

Iris

The most popular besides the hosta, has to be the exotic iris, especially the African Iris. In the tropics, whether next to boring shrubbery or where snow topples tree limbs, this is an all-time favorite. This bulb takes sun and partial shade. Though it can survive in the partial shade, with its spectacular foliage flourishing, there would be no spectacular blooms to fixate your eyes. An example would be the Canna being planted in a shade garden. This is a design effect especially chosen in my garden simply because of the luscious foliage but in doing so, it must be understood that the flower will be sacrificed.

So you see, the shade border can truly become a sheltered retreat. No harsh sun, the flowers will linger too. There are no time-consuming tasks, as weeds are not prevalent in these grounds nor are annoying pests. Shade gardening is an upside dream come true for the gardener who wants a chance to sit and look at his garden. I hope I have inspired you to get out there and get to work.

These are just some of what is used in my shade garden. Though once a true advocate of sunny sites (because of all the selections, flowers, plants, colors and choices to choose from), a new home with several shady sites made me a believer of what a shade garden can be, if not more beautiful, as a sunny one. Suite these bulbs in your garden according to specific taste and hey, let us know how you used them in your garden on the bulb gardening forum. Hope to hear from you soon.