Gardening in the shade has always felt a bit like painting with a limited palette—but as any good artist knows, that’s where creativity really shines. This past weekend, I finally had a chance to dig into my shade garden and add a little seasonal flair with some annuals and one lovely new perennial.
Let’s start with that perennial: I added a single Caramel Heuchera just beneath one of our cedar trees. It’s a bit of a test—both for the plant and for me. I’m curious to see how it handles the conditions under the cedar’s canopy, especially since soil and moisture can be a bit tricky in that spot. The rich caramel foliage brings a soft glow to that shaded nook, and I’d love to add more varieties of Heuchera as budget and time allow. But for now, this little experiment will help me know where future ones might thrive best. I’m learning to “spot test” before I invest in larger plantings, especially in this challenging shady terrain.
In the meantime, a few annuals have found their way into the garden as well. I picked up a couple of coleus—beautiful foliage plants that absolutely glow in low light. Unfortunately, like so many plants at the big box stores these days, they came without variety names on the tags. This seems to be more and more common, which is frustrating for plant-lovers like me who enjoy knowing exactly what they’re growing. Still, coleus in general are fast-growing and colorful, and even without names, they bring that lush vibrancy shade gardens often lack.
I also added a Caladium, again tag-less, but no less lovely. These heart-shaped leaves with their painted patterns thrive in dappled light and bring a tropical softness to the space. Both coleus and caladium are treated as annuals in my zone (8A)—they’ll grow beautifully through the warm months, but won’t survive our winters. Still, I appreciate their seasonal beauty and the texture they bring.
Another plant I added for the season is a bit unexpected for a shade border: Tabasco peppers (the plants were a little too small to see in photos.. Sorry!!). While they’re not shade lovers, I’ve tucked them into the sunnier edges between young perennials, where they can fill in and offer color and usefulness while those slower growers get established. Tabasco peppers love full sun, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil. They produce small, upright fruits that ripen from green to bright red—and yes, they’re edible and quite hot!
Aside from culinary uses, peppers (including tabasco) have an interesting benefit in the garden: they can help deter deer. The capsaicin in the fruit and leaves is unappealing to browsing animals, making them a great companion plant for tender ornamentals and young hedges that are still getting established.
I’m also letting nature lend a hand this season. While some gardeners cringe at the idea of plants “popping up” in the wrong place, I welcome self-seeders. They may not return to the exact spot I planted them, but their natural distribution helps fill in bare spaces, creating a more organic, woodland-style look. Letting the wind and weather guide their placement is like collaborating with the environment—it’s one less decision for me and one more surprise to enjoy.
As for an overall garden update: most everything is thriving! The coleus perked up immediately after planting, and the caladium settled in without fuss. The Caramel Heuchera is holding its own under the cedar, and I’m watching it closely. The only hiccup was with the tropical milkweed, which suffered a bit of transplant shock—but it’s bouncing back nicely after some extra water and shade protection.
There’s also a little something exciting coming soon: a water feature is in the works. I won’t say too much just yet, but I can already imagine the soothing sound of trickling water drawing in birds, frogs, and pollinators. It will be a welcome focal point in the shade garden, and I look forward to sharing more as it takes shape.
That’s all from the garden for now—planting, testing, watching, and enjoying the subtle progress each day brings. Whether perennial, annual, or surprise seedling, each plant has its part to play in this little woodland retreat.
Want to see my weekly walk-through? Here’s a video version with photos – enjoy~
Did you like my little dragon solar garden light in the video?
You can find one at Amazon! (this is an affiliate link – see my disclosure)
