What is a pretty plant for a really shaded area outside in NY(The East)?

Question

I am looking for a good plant that is attractive for my front yard. It's really shaded and the dirt is kind of sandy.

Answer 1

I'm assuming that you are about zone 5.



There are a ton of good shade plants you can go with. It depends on if you want trees, shrubs, perrennials, or annuals. I'm gonna give you mostly shrubs and perrennials for the list, and a good link that you can do some further investigating for your zone.



Shrubs:

Azaleas (all varieties)

Rhododendrons (all varieties)

Kerria (japanese rose)

Acuba (may get too cold, but worth a try)



Perrennials:

Periwinkle (vinca minor) *not the annual bedding plant*

Ostrich fern

Robust male fern

Hostas (all varieties, and there are a lot of them)

Japanese tassel fern

American Maidenhair fern

Liriope (all varieties)

Frosty curls sedge (carex)



A few good trees would be:

Dogwood

Redbud

Japanese maple.



Those are just a few suggestions. See the link below and stop by your local garden center, they will know way more than I.



Good Luck.

Answer 2

I like Japanese Privet (Ligustrum) which stays green year round in the Mid Atlantic states and forms nice hedges. But I've read lately where some gardeners consider it to be an "invasive plant" in North America. It doesn't have flowers to speak of, but would form a nice background to a flower bed in front of it. It seems an especially hardy plant even when grown in the shade, and my soil was sandy when I got my experience with it.

Answer 3

imapatiens are a very beautiful, hearty plant that do well with very little sunlight. you may want to add a few bags of top soil and some kind of fertilizer to the soil.