Once upon a time we had a garden under a camphor tree where nothing would grow. The soil wasn't great, it was dry and it was always in shade. The only thing that seemed to flourish there was Wedelia trilobata, an invasive spreading groundcover that can get out of control if not managed. We tried all sorts of plants in this little patch of shade, but nothing lasted. Over time we worked on amending the soil with regular mulching, and eventually we seemed to have a workable garden space. Still, nothing we planted there seemed to take. We were stymied.Finally we were able to get a few of the native Oak Leaf Hydrangias and Coontie to take hold, but the rest of the small garden sat empty and vexed us. In gardening, not everything happens all at once and some times it takes a while to find the right plant for the right place. This garden is a good example of patience rewarding us with something simple and lovely. We eventually ended up with two shade tolerant plants to fill most of the garden, and they seem to be doing just fine.
After years of frustration and frowning, we're calling this garden a win. Now, we have blooms in white and orange and foliage that is interesting! Also, both species that we planted are attractants for hummingbirds, which we spot year-round at MOSI.
Hosta
A common sight in northern gardens, the Hosta is a leafy perennial that blooms each year with lily-like flowers. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of cultivars- so Hostas can be quite variable in appearance. Hostas are native to Northeast Asia and like conditions from dappled sunlight to full shade.
For the transplanted gardener who has relocated in the South, Hostas are other one of the most mourned for plants. Along with Lilacs, Lily of the Valley, Forget-Me-Nots and Peony- Northerners just don't feel quite right about a garden without some Hostas in a shady corner. Sadly, most Hostas cannot survive without a winter dormancy and planting them south of Jacksonville used to mean your plant would only survive a year or two.
A recent hybrid, SunHosta, is able to tolerate the heat of Florida summer and seems to do just fine without much in the way of cold. These leafy old friends can now be found more often in Florida gardens, and transplanted gardeners can have one more reason to love Florida. No snow and Hostas seems a fine combination.The blooms of Hostas aren't attractive to butterflies, but they are well loved by hummingbirds.
Learn More:
Heliconias
There are some 200 accepted species of Heliconia, most of which hail from the tropical Americas and western Pacific. Almost the entire genus is known to be pollinated exclusively by hummingbirds, with assistance from the occasional bat.Learn More
Wow, very good article. Hostas are different from other plants. Hostas is an excellent perennial plant. Thank you for sharing about hostas.
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