Spring in Minnesota = Planting season! Several of our customers have shady ponds and were wondering which plants need sunlight. So, here are a few shady-pond-plant tips!
Plant early spring blooming perennials.
The plants come up and flower before the trees have their full leaf canopy.
- Marsh Marigolds, Caltha palustris- The bright gold of marsh marigolds is so cheerful after the brown of early spring!
- Blue flag iris, Iris versicolor- also an early bloomer, gorgeous flowers in varying shades of purple. (I would steer away from the yellow iris though- it is invasive in MN.)
Use plants with variegated foliage to brighten darker ponds.
- Sweet flag, Acorus calamus variegatus is the go-to plant for hardiness.
- Golden Japanese sweet flag, Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ is the smaller version of sweet flag and has more yellow and green striped leaves. Probably best to use it as a tender perennial in MN.
- Taro, Taro Colocasia esculenta- From deep purple ‘Black Coral’ to bright green and white, taros offer a lush, tropical foliage plant to pond owners. Foliage plant- Sun to part sun. These can get 3 ft tall!
- Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia, a trailing, chartreuse green plant that looks lovely cascading over rocks or covering unsightly parts of the pond.
Other plants that work in light shade:
- Blue eyed grass, stout Sisyrinchium angustifolium- has pretty purple flowers with yellow centers
- Obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana- a member of the mint family which has pink flowers all summer.
- Hardy Water lilies– Water lilies will bloom best in full sun but can offer flowers even with as little as 6 hrs of sunlight. Fertilize them well!
- Water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes- Floating plant with a rosette of fuzzy green leaves.
Part shade to full shade plants:
- Lizard’s tail, Saururus cernuus- has many, tiny fragrant white flowers. Known for blooming even in shady locations!
- Golden Bowles Sedge, Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’- Spectacular chartreuse grass like leaves! Sun to shade.
- Fairy Moss, Azolla caroliniana- Tiny floating fern about 1/2 centimeter in size! Frilly, rich green color. Turns purple with cooler weather. Sun to shade.
- Umbrella Palm, medium or dwarf, Cyperus alternifolius, Tropical plant with fun whorls of leaves topping sturdy green stems. Gives an “Egyptian” look to your pond! (bonus- these never seem to be bothered by bugs or disease that I’ve noticed.)
- Floating Island Planters– Planters come pre-planted with mixed shade tolerant flowering annuals giving you color even in shady spots! Plus, they are super easy to use- drop in, anchor in place, and enjoy!