Shade Loving Plants

Many shade loving plants from outside the high desert regions of the United States actually prefer dappled shade rather than pure shade. But in the high desert where sunshine levels are intense, those same plants will often adapt to pure shade with bright indirect light. And because sun and heat are so intence here, many other plants that usually require full sun can do well in part shade or morning sun.

Our Reno nursery has a large section devoted to shade plants. The varieties change with our moods, so it's a good idea to come visit to see what we have at any given time.

Here's a partial list of plants that do well locally in shade:

• Beacon Silver Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)
• Beesia (Beesia deltophylla)
• Black Negligee Snakeroot (Cimicifuga ramosa)
• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
• Bowles' Common Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
• Brunette Snakeroot (Cimicifuga ramosa)
• Columbine (Aquilegia flabellata)
• Hardy Fuchsia (Fuchsia)
• Hosta (Hosta x)
• Hydrangea (Hydrangea)
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
• Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

This list of native ferns are used by the Nevada Department of Transportation in roadside landscaping:

• Adiantum capillus-veneris (southern maidenhair fern)
• Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair fern)
• Aspidotis densa (rock brake, cliff brake, Indian's dream)
• Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort)
• Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern)
• Cheilanthes gracillima (lace fern)
• Cystopteris fragilis (fragile fern)
• Woodwardia fimbriata (chain fern)

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation

An oasis is defined as a cool, green place away from the sun in the desert, made possible by a pure water.