THE COOL BUNCH: A Guide to Plants That Thrive in Shade

Let your garden’s dark side shine bright by adding hostas, begonias, and heucheras to your outdoor space. These shade-loving plants thrive in the cool embrace of dappled sunlight, offering eye-catching colors and textures to your landscape. Together, they form a dynamic trio that’ll add charm, beauty, and mysticism to any garden. So, why choose one when you can have the ultimate garden squad? Get your garden gloves on and dig into these expert growing tips.

Hostas

What’s to Love

Hostas, also known as the Plantain Lily, is a perennial plant that’ll steal your heart with their captivating foliage. Coming in a vast array of leaf colors, textures, and sizes, this garden darling offers endless possibilities to elevate your garden aesthetic. They also produce delicate flowers from early summer to early fall, adding an extra layer of beauty.

How to Plant

Choose an area with full to partial shade and prepare the soil with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil. Space the hostas out so that they have enough room to grow to their mature size. Then dig a hole, place the root ball inside and fill in around the root with soil and gently firm. Lastly, water thoroughly and add a layer of Miracle-Gro® Organic All Natural Mulch leaving a 1-inch gap from the base of the plant.

Growing Conditions

● Water: Give your hostas 1-1.5 inches per week; once established, they can also survive on rainfall in most cases.

● Sun: Plant your hostas in a spot that gets shade or morning sun and afternoon shade.

● Temperature: Hostas thrive 50-80°F weather and require a cold period for regrowth.

● Food: To encourage your hostas to grow stronger and more vibrant, begin feeding them in the spring with Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food as soon as the leaves start to emerge from the ground.

● Soil: Use a well-draining, nutrient-rich soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil.

Begonias

What’s to Love

Prepare to be smitten by this diverse and delightful group of flowering plants. With types ranging from the annual seeded Wax Begonia to the delicate Tuberous Begonia, there’s a begonia for every garden space and style.

● Wax Begonias – With their green or bronze leaves and pink, red or white flowers, this plant is perfect for mass plantings, adding bursts of color to your shady spaces.

● Tuberous Begonias – Known for their large, rose-like flowers, are a popular choice for both in-ground and container gardening, bringing elegance and charm wherever they’re planted.

How to Plant

Choose an area with full to partial shade and prepare the soil with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil. Space plants 10-12 inches apart, and dig

holes that are slightly wider and no deeper than the root ball of your begonia plants. Carefully remove the begonia plant from its container and set it in the planting hole. The top of the root ball should be level with the top of the soil. Gently backfill around the plants with soil and lightly firm it around the plant then water it thoroughly.

Growing Conditions

● Water: Give your begonias around 1 inch of water per week; water them at the base of the plant rather than overhead.

● Sun: Plant your begonias in a spot that gets shade in the afternoon and morning sun.

● Temperature: Begonias thrive in 60-80 °F; they love it warm and are sensitive to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.

● Food: To encourage your begonias to grow more vibrant and abundant blooms, nourish them with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Bloom Booster Flower Food every 1-2 weeks during the growing season (late spring to early autumn).

● Soil: Use a well-draining nutrient-rich soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil.

Heuchera

What’s to Love

A true gem to the gardening world, the heuchera plant (AKA coral bells) offers year-round beauty to gardens across a wide range of climates. Their foliage steals the show with a dazzling array of colors from gold and silver to red and orange. And like hostas, they also surprise with delicate bell-shaped flowers in late spring providing a feast for the eyes.

How to Plant

Choose an area with full to partial shade and prepare the soil with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil. Space plants 1-2 feet apart, and dig holes that are as deep as and twice the width of the container. Carefully remove the heuchera plant from its container and set it in the planting hole so the root ball is level with the top of the soil. Gently backfill around the plants with soil, and lightly firm it around the plant. Lastly, water thoroughly and add a layer of Miracle-Gro® Organic All Natural Mulch leaving a 1-inch gap from the base of the plant.

Growing Conditions

● Water: Give your heuchera 1-1.5 inches per week; once established, they can also survive on rainfall in most cases.

● Sun: Plant your heuchera in a spot that gets partial shade or where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade.

● Temperature: Heucheras thrive in 60-70 °F weather; they aren’t fans of extreme heat and humidity.

● Food: Heucheras don’t need a lot of plant food, so choosing a slow-release fertilizer is key.

● Soil: Use a well-draining nutrient-rich soil like Miracle-Gro® Organic Raised Bed & Garden Soil.

Happy Planting

So there you have it — armed with these gardening hacks, you’re ready to turn that shaded patch of dirt into your own little Eden. Whether you’re a total pro or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, there’s something magical about watching your garden come to life.