Perennials for partial shade

Alchemilla mollis, known as lady's mantle, is an indispensable perennial for anyone who wants to bring harmony and softness to the garden. Its home is the moister environments of mountain meadows and light forests, making it a very adaptable plant that will survive even severe frosts without problems in our climate. The 'Irish Silk' cultivar is prized for its vitality and abundant blooming, where clouds of tiny, yellow-green flowers float above clumps of gray-green leaves. It is precisely this neutral color that can work wonders in a flower bed – it softens overly sharp contrasts between other flowers and beautifully unifies the entire composition. Besides its ornamental function, lady's mantle also has practical uses. Thanks to its clumping growth and ability to quickly fill in, it is ideal for edging pathways or as an underplanting beneath taller shrubs and roses. Water droplets catch on its leaves, creating a magical spectacle in the garden. If you enjoy making bouquets, you will love lady's mantle as versatile filler greenery that matches almost anything. It will last beautiful for about ten days in a vase, and its inflorescences can also be easily dried without losing too much of their color or shape. Moreover, it is a magnet for pollinators, and its young leaves are even edible, so it also finds use in a natural kitchen.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can liven up and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Whirlwind is a historical variety bred in 1887 in the USA. It has a semi-double pure white flower, often with inner twisted petals, and compact, strictly upright growth. The flowers are very durable.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They are usable for vases only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower in an upright position. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Double Ellen White is an almost pure white, double-flowered hellebore. The petals are slightly wavy and the bottom row of petals is lightly tinged with green.

A dense hemispherical shrub with smooth fresh green leaves that are lighter on the underside. Flowers in convex to hemispherical inflorescences with a diameter of 15–30 cm gradually change color from pale green and cream to pure white.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. 'Lorelei' has semi-double flowers in a tender light pink tone.

The largeleaf brunnera comes from the moist mountain forests of the Caucasus, where it forms dense undergrowth. It is an ideal perennial for shady and semi-shady corners of your garden, where it will thrive in humus-rich, moist soil. It resembles classic forget-me-nots in appearance, but don't be fooled, its leaves are much larger, heart-shaped, and rough to the touch. Thanks to them, it acts as a great groundcover plant that sprouts early in the spring and reliably covers bare soil with its leaves until late autumn. It thus forms a natural contrasting background for the delicate, tiny flowers. Tiny sky-blue flowers appear in April, May, and June, creating a beautiful delicate veil over the green carpet of leaves. The flower clusters are also suitable for cutting into spring hand-tied bouquets, where they look very tender. Just watch out for snails and slugs, who like to feast on the juicy leaves of the brunnera, so it's a good idea to check the plants regularly. It is a long-lived and hardy perennial that handles severe frosts without problems and will bring you joy in one place for many years.

Great burnet is a native meadow plant that naturally grows in wet meadows, where it forms dense clumps of dark green pinnate leaves. In the middle of summer, tall, richly branched stems grow from them, topped with tiny dark red to burgundy flower heads that gently sway in the breeze. This perennial is absolutely indispensable for the life cycle of the rare scarce large blue butterfly, which it will reliably attract to your garden with its flowers. In perennial beds, it stands out especially in naturalistic compositions, where in combination with ornamental grasses it creates an airy and light effect. The inflorescences are also an excellent material for florists, adding an unusual structure and color accent to bouquets, while staying fresh for seven to ten days in a vase. If you don't harvest them fresh, you can dry them for winter decorations, as they hold their shape for a long time.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten up late summer and autumn flowerbeds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also appreciate their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Königin Charlotte is a massive taller variety bred as early as 1898. It has strong, firm stems and semi-double large violet-pink flowers. The outer sides of the silky smooth petals are colored violet.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten up late summer and autumn flowerbeds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also appreciate their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Andrea Atkinson is a tender cultivar of autumn anemone with white petals.

Hesperis matronalis, commonly known as sweet rocket, is popular for its rich inflorescences in purple and lilac shades, which appear from May to July. This robust plant grows up to one meter tall and functions in gardens as a short-lived perennial or biennial. Its flowers are a magnet for pollinators, especially nocturnal ones, which are attracted by its specific fragrance that intensifies after dark. It looks very natural in flowerbeds and perfectly complements perennial compositions, where it often self-seeds in suitable spots. If you love creating floral arrangements, sweet rocket will not disappoint you. We cut the stems the moment the first blooms open, and they will bring us joy in a vase for up to a week. A specific feature of this plant is that even after cutting, the stems can still grow slightly in water, which adds an interesting dynamic to bouquets.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually carry four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They can be used in a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Picked earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Double Ellen Red is a double-flowered hellebore with rounded petals of a dark burgundy red color with a lighter undertone on the lower row of petals.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually carry four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and early spring. They can be used in a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Picked earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The semi-double flowers of the Double Ellen Picotee hellebore take on white and light pink hues with a purplish-burgundy edging.

Panicle hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs native to China and Japan, where their bark was used, among other things, to make paper. We grow them for their impressive conical inflorescences. They are undemanding and abundantly blooming plants suitable for planting in flower beds and larger containers. Limelight has inflorescences up to 30 cm large. The color changes from greenish-white through white to bright pink.

Mountain cornflower brings to our gardens the charm of wild meadows and bright clearings of central and southern Europe, where it has its natural home. Thanks to its mountain origin, it is an exceptionally resilient and undemanding plant that can easily handle harsher conditions and severe frosts. Its unmistakable blue-purple flowers appear from May to July and reliably attract bees and other pollinators, for whom they are a valuable food source. In the garden, it is best utilized in natural plantings or rural submontane gardens, where it looks great in the company of other robust species. If you like to decorate your home with fresh flowers, you will be pleased to know that it is suitable for cutting and lasts about a week in a vase. It is a rewarding plant that easily self-seeds in a suitable location, creating natural, wild-looking nooks.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten up late summer and autumn flowerbeds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will also appreciate their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn anemones as the perennial of the season for 2022. They last 7 days in a vase. Serenade is a tender and vigorously growing cultivar. The flowers are semi-double, light pink with a center formed by distinct yellow stamens. The stems are firm and upright; it does not tend to lodge.

Bloody cranesbill is a vigorous and undemanding perennial suitable for sunny spots. In addition to the flowers, the finely divided leaves have ornamental value, coloring up spectacularly in autumn. Elsbeth stands out with deep purple-pink flowers and red autumn foliage in sunny locations.

Anemones come from the same family as buttercups. With their elegant flowers on long slender stems, they can enliven and brighten late summer and autumn beds. They stand out against the darker background of shrub groups and will be grateful for their partial shade. The Czech Perennial Association chose autumn Anemones as the perennial of the 2022 season. They last 7 days in a vase. Anemone 'Robustissima' is a proven, vital, vigorous, and richly flowering species bred in 1900. It forms strong clumps and blooms with light pink, large flowers in late summer to early autumn. 'Robustissima' is, as the name suggests, one of the most resilient autumn Anemones and spreads very well and vigorously.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. Stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, as early as late winter and the beginning of spring. They are suitable for vases only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Before that, they tend to wilt and the stems cannot hold the flower in an upright position. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The flowers of Hellebore Double Ellen Purple are semi-double to double, deep purple in color with contrasting white stamens. As the flowers mature, the dark color fades and the edges of the petals remain distinctly colored.

Sweet rocket is a plant that should not be missing in any cottage garden. It originally comes from moister forest edges and meadows, so it thrives in humous and well-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. It is rather a short-lived perennial or biennial, but in a suitable location, it reliably maintains itself by self-seeding. It stands out with its captivating fragrance, which fully develops only with the arrival of evening, thereby attracting moths and other pollinators. This pure white variant adds elegance and freshness to flowerbeds. It is perfectly suited as a companion plant to roses or as an undergrowth beneath taller shrubs and trees, where it creates a brightening element. If you grow it for cutting, harvest the stems the moment the first few blooms open. Bear in mind that even after cutting, the stems can grow a bit more in the vase, which is good to consider when arranging. It will last five to seven days in water.

Panicle hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs originating from China and Japan, where their bark was used, among other things, to make paper. We grow them for their impressive conical inflorescences. They are undemanding and richly flowering plants suitable for planting in beds and larger containers. The large inflorescences of the Silver Dollar cultivar gradually change color from fresh green to white. In autumn, they turn only subtly pink.

The 'Nora Barlow' columbine variety is a historical gem, discovered in Cambridge in the 1980s by the granddaughter of the famous Charles Darwin. This unique plant is characterized by non-traditional flowers, whose coloration smoothly transitions from dusty pink through white to delicate greenish tones. Naturally, columbines occur in light forests, so they are best suited to a partially shaded location with well-draining loamy soil full of humus. They are versatile flowers suitable for rustic cottage gardens as well as natural compositions. Their charm lies not only in the flowers attracting bees but also in the early-sprouting green leaves. Beginners can handle their cultivation, the plants survive even extreme frosts, and they willingly self-seed in the garden. Just remember that columbine is poisonous, and it is good to occasionally check it for aphids, slugs, or powdery mildew. The stems blooming during May and June will add lightness to the flowerbeds. They are ideal for cutting, bring joy in a vase for about seven days, and serve beautifully for drying as well.

Cantabrigiense cranesbill Cambridge is an invaluable perennial that will reliably conjure up a dense and fragrant green carpet in the garden. It naturally originates from the crossing of mountain species coming from the Balkans and Southern Europe. Because of this, it is exceptionally tough and adaptable. It thrives best in full sun or partial shade, where it is perfectly happy with standard well-draining loamy soil. It is a low-maintenance plant that handles summer droughts and severe frosts wonderfully. From the received potted seedling, a compact cushion growing to a height of thirty centimeters will soon grow after transplanting. It will serve as a versatile groundcover perennial. From May to July, striking purple-pink flowers on upright stems emerge from the aromatic foliage. The garden will come alive thanks to them, as they reliably attract bees and butterflies. The flowers are also great for cutting into summer bouquets, where they beautifully complement other species. The Cambridge variety will also delight you with a beautiful autumn transformation. With the arrival of cold days, the green leaves change to impressive red tones. It does not suffer from pests or diseases, and caring for it is a joy even for beginners.

Burnet is a native meadow plant that naturally occurs in moist meadows and along stream banks. In the middle of summer, branched stems topped with tiny flower heads grow from a dense clump of ornamental pinnate leaves. The 'Pink Tanna' variety boasts a delicate shade of old rose, which brings a romantic and airy element to the flowerbeds. Its inflorescences gracefully sway in the wind, creating constant movement in the garden. This long-lived perennial is vital for the rare dusky large blue butterfly and attracts other pollinators as well. In garden architecture, it is excellently suited for naturally styled plantings, prairie beds, or as an accompaniment to ornamental grasses. The flowers are excellent for cutting, lasting 7 to 10 days in a vase and adding lightness to bouquets. You can also dry them for winter arrangements.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly spreading clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. Stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, already in late winter and early spring. They are usable for vases only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Earlier, they tend to wilt and the stems do not hold the flower in an upright position. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Double Ellen Pink Spotted has double, soft pink flowers with dark burgundy spots.

Hellebores are evergreen perennials that form slowly expanding clumps of leathery, dark green leaves. The stems usually bear four to five flowers. They bloom very early, already at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. They are usable for a vase only after conspicuous seed pods form in the center of the flower and the flower matures. Earlier, they tend to wilt, and the stems cannot hold the flower upright. All parts of the plant are poisonous. The 'Double Ellen Yellow Spotted' hellebore has light yellow-green semi-double flowers with striking, dark burgundy spotting.

Delicate decorative, long-lived shade-loving perennials with pinnate leaves and magnificent feathery inflorescences. They originate primarily from East Asia, but also from eastern North America. They look best in large-scale plantings. Due to relatively late sprouting, it is good to combine them with early-flowering bulbs. They last 4–10 days in a vase. We harvest as soon as half of the inflorescence is in bloom. They are very sensitive to ethylene released from ripening fruit. Europa blooms light pink.

Fluffy deep pink clouds of flowers are the main distinguishing feature of this meadowsweet. The 'Kahome' cultivar is a compact perennial reaching a height of around 40 to 50 centimeters, making it a great addition to the foreground of damper flowerbeds. The entire plant, including the dark green leaves, smells pleasant, and the flowers also spread an irresistible honey aroma around them. It is a rewarding and low-maintenance plant suitable even for beginners, you just need to keep in mind that it requires plenty of moisture for its happy growth. It is perfectly suited for waterlogged parts of gardens and the edges of ponds, where it naturally thrives. You can also use the inflorescences in summer bouquets; they will stay fresh in a vase for about seven days.

Panicle hydrangeas are beautiful shrubs originally from China and Japan, where their bark was used, among other things, to make paper. We grow them for their impressive cone-shaped inflorescences. They are undemanding and abundantly flowering plants suitable for planting in flower beds and large containers. The cultivar Phantom is an airily built shrub. The cone-shaped inflorescences keep their creamy white color throughout the flowering period, turning light pink only at the very end.

This species of knotweed originates from the Himalayas and China, where it grows in scrub and on mountain meadows along streams at high altitudes. It forms sturdy clumps of fresh green, pointed leaves. Above them, upright, narrow, candle-like inflorescences composed of individual tiny flowers appear from summer onwards. It is a very popular perennial, recently bred into many cultivars and used in Western Europe in larger park and garden landscaping. It excels with a long flowering period in late summer and good durability in a vase. It was voted Perennial of the Season 2023 by the Czech Perennials Association. The Speciosa cultivar has deep pink flowers.

Veronicastrum is a native perennial of the eastern part of North America, where it grows in damp meadows and in bright forests. Its flowers, arranged in upright branched spikes, are impressive. They are a great attraction for insects and butterflies. After flowering, the plants are decorated long into winter by durable seed heads. These impressive perennials last about 7 days in a vase. Album is more compact than the original wild species. It blooms with elegant pure white flowers with apricot-colored stamens. The buds are white-green.