Perennials for Morning Sun/Afternoon Shade & Black Plastic Mulch Q&A

Follow-up to a 75-ft border design: which perennials tolerate morning sun only, and does black plastic shed rain?

Perennials for 4–6 hrs Morning Sun (Then Shade)

From the original list, these perform well:

• Foliage stars: Hostas, Ferns, Artemisia, Heuchera, Hakonechloa (Japanese forest grass)
• Bloomers: Astilbe, Dicentra (bleeding heart), Pulmonaria, Tiarella, Helleborus, Geranium (cranesbill), Veronica (some), Ligularia
• Grasses: Carex (sedges), Chasmanthium (northern sea oats)
• Spring bulbs: Daffodils, Grape hyacinth, Scilla, Chionodoxa

Full-sun plants (Russian sage, lavender, sedum, daylilies, bee balm) will stretch, flop, and bloom poorly.

Black Plastic & Water

Plastic does not shed rain from planting holes. Water enters cut "X" flaps and infiltrates laterally. Key: cut holes 3× root ball width. Plastic conserves moisture—reduces watering by ~50%.

Shade Plant Resource

Shady Oaks Nursery – massive shade perennial selection with cultural info.

Experiment: move non-bloomers after 1–2 years. Plastic keeps beds moist, not dry.