Shade Rock Gardens in Zone Five

Considerations

• Shade gardens typically receive less than six hours of sunlight per day. Most shade plants can't tolerate standing water so drainage is important, and soil needs to be average to loamy. Plants that thrive in USDA zone 5 must be able to tolerate an average annual low temperature of minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Rock gardens look best with the same kind of rock in various sizes and native to the area.

Woodland

• Ferns, hostas, colorful astilbes and spiderwort create a lush frame around the rocks used in a woodland setting. Protect the roots of any trees by planting 6 to 8 feet away from the base. As the plants grow, they'll fill in that space with foliage and soften the edges of the rock from spring through summer. A more subtle, single plant effect could be offered by the Ajuga "Chocolate Chip." This ground cover spreads between the rocks forming a deep-blue blanket from spring through the beginning of summer.

Inclines

• A shady slope is more beautiful and mow free when converted to a rock garden. Make sure at least one-third of the rock is buried in the ground. Create a backdrop with the rocks and shade-loving evergreens like the stunning dwarf Hinoki cypress or common yew, for year-round interest. Add coral bells in white, pink or red, and Jacob's ladder for its beautiful variegated leaves and blue blooms in early spring.

Deep Shade

• A deep-shade rock garden can be the brightest spot in your landscape. Mix the silvery-green leaves of Japanese painted fern, with the pale yellows of Allegheny foam flower and wild columbine for a sunny spring show. Leadwort is just 6 to 12 inches tall, but emerges in spring with light red leaves that turn green in summer and then rust in the fall. Hardy begonias, wintergreen and Virginia bluebells are all good choices for the deep-shade rock garden.