Shade Gardens ~ Central Florida

Hot, humid, sunny, and miserable will best describe Florida's weather this week.  Staying indoors all day is not an option for me, so I'm thankful for my shade gardens under the Live Oaks.  The largest of my shade gardens is filled with gingers, cordylines, hostas, caladiums and a variety of elephant ears.

This border is somewhat subdued in color compared to my other shady areas.  I've used mostly 'Miss Muffet' caladiums in here to keep it restful to the eye.

'Gold Dust' Ginger bloomed before it's leaves came out as it's part of the family of  'hidden gingers'.

The flower that preceded the leaves a few weeks ago...

Curcumas are also part of the 'hidden ginger' family, but they bloom after they leaf out.

Curcumas with this garnet striped leaf will have a deep purple bloom in a few weeks...something I'm look forward to.

A Peacock Ginger in front of the border and 'Pink China' Colocasia, with the red stems...one of my favorite elephant ears.

A variegated ginger lily with 'Costus Spicatus', or Indiandhead Ginger behind it.

'Freida Hemple' Caladiums, sharing a barrel with a 'Devil's Backbone' plant.

'Mojito' Colocasia, a dwarf Split-Leaf Philodendron,  Tibouchina, and a deep purple Cordyline.

As we leave this border and go to the other side of the yard, there's lots of 'Dark Heart' Coleus planted as a ground cover.

Tractor Seat, or 'Farfugium japonica' is between blooms now, but the big, bold leaves are still beautiful.

Around this Bleeding Heart Vine is where the color really begins.  There's a rainbow of coleuses and caladiums mixed with hostas, toad lilies, and curcumas.

   Coleuses come in a vast array of colors and shapes and if they reseed they're usually something altogether different from anything you initially planted.  In my zone 9 garden, they behave as an annual and have to be replaced each year.  They root easily in water or soil, so you can make many plants from one.

  

Caladium bulbs can remain in the ground year round in Florida, returning faithfully each spring.  Too many varieties to name, but that is 'Kathleen' planted in the pot.

  

I think my favorite caladiums are the ones edged with a contrasting border, like this group behind a toad lily.

The shade gardens seemed to get off to a slow start this year, or maybe I'm not as patient as I once was.  Before summers gone, most caladiums will be knee high. 

One last look at 'Pink Lady' in morning's first light.

Thanks for visiting.