Foliage-driven Plant Combination for Shade Garden

Easy-care, compact shrubs for mixed border plant combination suitable for a small garden. A nice variety of foliage sizes creates textural interest. Fatsia 'Spider's Web' and Rhododendron williamsianum are evergreen, so they anchor the scene year-round. In spring pink flowers and the emerging foliage on the red maple provide color.  In spring, the new foliage on the dwarf rhody emerges reddish-bronze, echoing the dark foliage of the dwarf Japanese maple, Acer palmatum 'Shaina'. The low-growing, fine texture that is carpeting the ground beneath it all is Carex conica 'Snowline'.


Growing Conditions

Zone: 7, 8
Exposure: Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade, Part Shade
Water Needs: Average, Regular / Even

Design Considerations

Style: City and Courtyard, Northwest Eclectic, Woodland
Features: Fabulous Foliage, Four Season Appeal, Low Maintenance, Varied Foliage, Texture, and Form, Winter Interest
Focus: Efficient Use of Space, Small Space, Year-round Interest, Curb Appeal, Mixed Border, Pleasing Seasonal Flow, Privacy and Screening
Seasons of Interest: Late Fall / Early Winter, Late Spring / Early Summer, Late Summer / Early Fall, Year-round Interest, Three Seasons of Interest, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Care and Maintenance


Maintenance Level: low
Maintenance Tasks: Once-a-Year Care

Credits

In the private home garden of Darcy Daniels, creator of eGardenGo and designer with Bloomtown Gardens.



Plants In this Combo

  • Acer palmatum 'Shaina'

    Dwarf Red Japanese Maple, Shaina Japanese maple

    Type: Shrub, Tree
    Exposure: Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8

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  • Carex conica 'Snowline'

    Snowline Carex
    Carex conica 'Hime Kan-Suge'

    Type: Grass / Grass-Like, Perennial
    Exposure: Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9

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  • Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'

    Speckled Japanese Aralia

    Type: Shrub
    Exposure: Full Shade, Part Shade, Deep Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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  • Rhododendron williamsianum

    Rhododendron species

    Type: Shrub
    Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9

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