Brunnera, Ligularia & Hellebore

Brunnera, Ligularia & Hellebore

Garden Clippings for May 17, 2025

Hostas will always be king of the shade garden. Hostas are extremely hardy and require little maintenance. The variations of colour, sizes, and leaf shapes are endless, offering bold foliage that looks great in any garden.

But they are Hostas. And too much of a good thing may not be a good thing. Hostas are so dominant, so plentiful that good gardeners miss out on some really cool shade-loving plants that are fun to grow.

Brunnera, often referred to as Siberian Bugloss, is a delightful perennial with interesting colour and delightful blue flowers that resemble Forget-me-nots. Foliage is heart shaped with detailed variations of green and white. ‘Jack Frost’ is the most popular variety, with leaves that look frosty when viewed from a distance.

Plant Brunnera in good soil in a location that offers partial to deep shade. I often recommend planting Brunnera near the house where the interesting leaf pattern is frequently appreciated. Plant Hostas further from the house where their heavy texture speaks for itself.

Ligularia is a little-known perennial with striking golden yellow flower spikes and heavily toothed green leaves. Ligularia normally grows about half a meter high and wide, but when flower spikes are added, the plant measures a metre or more. A good option for those who are tired of Hostas.

Plant Ligularia in rich soil, protected from hot sun. Ligularia is fond of water and will wilt dramatically if soil is too dry. At my former home I broke the rules and planted 3 Ligularias on the sunny west side of the house. They managed just fine provided I watered during prolonged dry spells. A thick layer of mulch at the base of the plant will help retain soil moisture.

Hellebore, more favorably called Christmas Rose is one of the earliest perennials to bloom. Without blooms, the plant is not terribly showy, but the early blooms make Hellebore a worthwhile companion in the shade or partially shaded garden. Rose type flowers appearing in pink, burgundy and shades of white are wonderful surprises in the spring garden before the rest of the garden comes to life.

Other shade-loving perennials include Bleeding Heart, Astilbe, Perennial Geranium and Columbine.

In next week’s Garden Clippings we will look at shade-loving ground cover perennials.