I've researched a lot of different perennials and shrubs and I know quite a bit about how to take care of them...but I am TERRIBLE when it comes to combining them! I need some help finding some good perennial/shrub combos for an area that gets partial shade in the afternoon (some afternoon sun and some afternoon shade) but is otherwise a full sun area. Last year the area was cleared of weeds and amended with compost. Other than that though, we pretty much have a clean slate to work with, so I'm open to suggestions. The soil is predominantly clay (but my parents claim that the land used to be used for farming...a likely story) but in spring it will be amended clay because of all the organic matter that was added. I have no idea what the pH of the soil is but I'm guessing that it's either neutral or slightly alkaline (I wanted to plant rhododendrons but I don't think that will work).

One possible combo she outlines for part shade is Hydrangea quercifolia and Actaea (Cimicifuga) 'Brunette'. To that I might add Heuchera 'Green Spice' or Epimedium rubrum and perhaps Carex 'Ice Dance'.

Book should be in your library or local bookstores or you can order online.

By no means am I advanced with combos but here are a few I like in my garden. I'm just starting to work more perennials in the designs.

Ivory Halo Dogwood with Purplicious Speewell
Northern Accents Ole Rose with Mammoth Pink Mum
Summerwine Ninebark with stella daylily
Tardiva Hydrangea with strawberry candy daylily

tj

In the combination above, the bold, heavy texture of the hydrangea foliage is offset by the lacier, more delicate Actaea foliage. You also have the spreading mass of the hydrangea in contrast to the more upright, clumping form of the Actaea. The grass (Carex) adds still another form and textural contrast, while the smaller, rounder and spreading form of the heuchera or epimedium provides yet another textural effect. The hosta in tj's example does the same.

Much of the complimentary effect comes into play with the colors involved.......the deep maroon of the Actaea foliage compliments the deep green of the hydrangea and will accent the hydrangea as begins to turn into its fall colors. The heuchera picks up both of these colors, as does the painted fern or the epimedium as it puts out its new spring growth. And of course, all these plants enjoy similar growing conditions as well.

Because flowers are such a transitory aspect of a garden design, I tend to place less emphasis on combining specific flower types than I do on the foliage, but the above plants do offer a very nice combined flowering effect as well - the shape of the hydrangea blossoms is somewhat repeated in the spikes of the Actaea, plus the coloring of the coloring of the hydrangea flowers as they age will pick up the pinkish tones of the Actaea as well. And the heuchera or epimedium will offer an early and very delicate flower effect, repeated later by the hostas.

IMO, the best combinations involve at least three different plants and often, more. Less than that and you do not achieve enough contrast and compliment to make the combination really effective.