EP: 03. Choosing the Right Shade Plants: Featuring Heuchera and Design Tips
The Shade Gardening PodcastShow Notes
In this episode of The Shade Gardening Podcast, we explore plant selection for shade gardens, with a special focus on the versatile and colorful Heuchera, also known as Coral Bells. Marcus explains how to choose the right plants for different types of shade, from full to dappled, and how to use foliage, texture, and even flowers to create a vibrant and dynamic garden in low light.
Discover the best Heuchera varieties for your garden, how to care for them, and tips on using them in garden design. Plus, we’ll share some practical advice on keeping your shade garden healthy and thriving. Whether just starting or looking for new plant ideas, this episode will teach you how to build a beautiful, low-light oasis.
More from The Shade Gardening Podcast
Why can one gardener grow magnificent heucheras, hostas or brunneras while another repeatedly watches the same plants struggle and disappear?
There comes a point in late summer when some shade gardens seem to lose their way. The spring bulbs have disappeared, the hellebores finished months ago, the foxgloves are fading and even the hostas and ferns may be looking tired. Autumn hasn’t quite arrived either, leaving the garden caught somewhere between two seasons.
This extraordinary summer has left many established shade gardens looking almost unrecognisable. Hellebores have collapsed, astilbes have disappeared, hostas have fried around the edges, and even dependable ferns and hydrangeas have struggled.
Have you ever planted something that you later wished you hadn't?
Dry shade is often described as one of the toughest places to garden. Beneath mature trees, alongside hedges, or in those forgotten corners where sunlight is limited and the soil always seems dry, many gardeners simply give up.