I agree with you.....

I agree wholeheartedly!

Well, it's the contrast that creates visual interest - contrast in height, shape, texture, and color. I agree that a large planting of darker-leafed plants wouldn't show up well in shady locations, but a few strategically placed ones can add visual interest; imagine a dark-leafed plant against a brightly variegated or chartreuse one - they would play beautifully off each other.

Example: "Chocolate Wings" rodgersia underplanted with "Citronelle" coral bells -- even if/when the rodgersia loses his coloration during the season, the contrast in leaf textures and height is still visually interesting. Or "Plum Pudding" coral bells planted next to "Ice Dance" sedge (I actually have this combo but a different dark-leafed coral bells - I'm drawing a blank on the name right now).

The same issues applies to brightly-leafed/variegated plants in very sunny locations - the sun tends to wash out the coloration to the eye when planted as groupings, but a few variegated or brightly-leafed plants placed next to darker-colored plants (including rich greens) makes them both pop.

:0)

um..."wash out the coloration to the eye" --> isn't there a technical term for that? LOL! (hey, it's late...time for bed...)

Those dark colors and what really make the bright colors stand out. I add the dark to highlight and separate the light colors.

GC: Nice planting!

Great picture gc. You have captured dappled shade/sun perfectly.

This post was edited by rouge21 on Sat, Feb 23, 13 at 11:53

I've always thought gardening (design wise) was a bit like painting, except you are using living mediums. In art you need dark colors for shadow to show depth and to make the lighter colors stand out in contrast. Otherwise your painting can be a bit "flat".

Guess it depends on what look your going for in a shade garden too. I really do like the look of an all green "naturalistic" or "woodland" type shade garden. In some settings I would say this would fit much better than a shade garden with bright colors.

Personally though, I like a mix of foliage colors here instead of all green. For me that would be a tad dull after awhile ;-)
CMK

A great first sentence CMK...well stated.

Actually there are very few dark leaved plants that are truly for the shade. Heuchera, Actaea, Rodgersia, etc all will lose color without some sun. They shadier it is, the greener they will be. Also, most of the darker-leaved plants will lose vigor in shade as well.

And as stated already, there is the color contrast thing. Want to make a yellow Hosta pop? Back it with blue-green (Kirengeshoma comes to mind), plant something fine textured and dark or medium green to the sides (maybe Chasmanthium latifolium), and front it with dark-leaved Heuchera (obsidian, gotham, etc). That one yellow hosta will nearly hurt your eyes.

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