Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—South

See regional picks for variegate plants for shade , and record the article by Andy Brand for even more ideas .

“ While the nerveless , shady area have provided me with the opportunity to raise some of my preferred genus , they also have stage me with a fair share of challenges . One of the sly issues is figuring out how to brighten the border growing under a dense canopy or in those gloomy corner . plant with splashy blossom are an obvious solution , but normally their effect is transitory , and all too often flowering is lessen with too much shade . An even better choice is to incorporate industrial plant with variegated leafage and let their leave of absence of white , cream , gold , and green bring light to the shade . ” Read more inPlants That Shine in the Shade .

View the whole collection .

1. ‘Spider’s Web’ Fatsia

Fatsia japonica‘Spider’s Web’

Zones:7–10

Size:5 feet improbable and wide

Conditions : Partial to full tad ; prefers rich , moist , acidic soil but abide grit or clay

Native compass : Japan

This fatsia has the traditional sheer - textured leafage of the species , but with the incentive of a bright and beautiful variegation on each leaf . Because it ’s creamy ashen , it obviate looking like it ’s greensick or ridden with wanderer mites , and the diversification brightens up tincture containers or any fly-by-night nook — even if those nooks have tough dirt such as guts and wakeless sozzled or dry Henry Clay . Also , deer do not seem to get at it much . For all those reasons , and because it ’s evergreen , ‘ Spider ’s World Wide Web ’ gets an instant spot on my go - to plant leaning .

2. Morning Sun Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior‘Asahi’

Size:3 ft tall and at least 30 inch wide with a slowly expanding clopping habit

experimental condition : Partial to full shade ; adaptable to a full compass of grease

aboriginal chain : China and Japan

‘ Asahi ’ gives me another reason to have sex cast - Fe plants , which are known as “ implant them and forget them ” plants . This cultivar is slightly smaller than the species , but it ’s equally as problematical and far more spectacular , with aesthetic creamy white variegation that bet like an elegant brushstroke bug out at the tip of the folio and going down . Two words of caveat , though : it does not like to be grow in container , and it does not like fertilizer .

3. ‘Shiro Shima’ Dwarf Japanese Solomon’s Seal

Polygonatum humile‘Shiro Shima’

Zones:4–9

Size:3 to 9 inch tall and 12 to 18 in wide

condition : fond to full spook ; average to smashed , fertile stain

aboriginal range : Eastern Europe and Western Asia

This is a extremely unusual , extremely variegate , highly adorable Solomon ’s seal . Dwarf and very slow ontogenesis , it has pick - and - white - streaked leave that will stand out at the front of any fly-by-night border . The familiar but enchanting ashen bell - determine flowers delicately dangle from the leaf axil in spring . If you find it , you should buy it , since it ’s not frequently extend . found it in a slightly damp garden spot and it will apace become one of your favorites .

4. ‘Ito Fukurin’ Japanese Ardisia

Ardisia japonica‘Ito Fukurin’

Size:6 to 12 in tall and wide-cut

atmospheric condition : fond to full shade ; moist , humusy , well - drained soil

Native range : China , Japan , and Korea Japanese

Ardisia may be unfamiliar to some , but you should get to know this semi - to - fully evergreen ground cover . When give adequate wet , Nipponese genus Ardisia thrives in those challenging partial - shade place with a pile of root rivalry . Spreading by cloak-and-dagger rootstalk , ‘ Ito Fukurin ’ has a thin white blood that march each light greenish leaflet . There are some pale pinkish flower , but they are small and are only a means to the vivid red berries that appear in autumn .

— Amanda Bennett is frailty president of horticulture and collection at the Atlanta Botanical Garden .

Get our latest tips , how - to articles , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—California

Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—Northwest

Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—Mid-Atlantic

Regional Picks: Variegated Plants for Shade—Northeast

Join Fine Gardening for a free engaging hot webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …

When I spotted a special backbone dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I know I was in trouble . With a delightful color design …

When we only prioritize plant we want over flora our landscape motive , each season is meet with a never - terminate tilt of chore : pruning , pinching , lachrymation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Photo: millettephotomedia.com

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you infix the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a brace …