old fashioned common lilacs (syringa)*
hydrangeas (especially the peegee type)
mock orange (philadelphus - get the "Minnesota Snowflake" variety if you can!)*
virgin bower clematis (clematis virginiana)
sweet autumn clematis (clematis paniculata)*
serviceberry (amelanchier canadensis)
Russian olive (elaeagnus augustifolia)*
cherry elaeagnus (elaeagnus multiflora)*
white forsythia (abeliophyllum distichum)*
Hall's Honeysuckle (variety of lonicera japonica)*
forsythia (may need lots of pruning...)
rose-of-Sharon (hibiscus syriacus)
winterberry (ilex verticillata)
star magnolia (magnolia tomentosa or stellata)*
shrubby cinquefoil (potentilla fruticosa)
mountain rhododendron (rhododendron catawbiense)
azaleas:
swamp azalea (rhododendron viscosum)*
pinkshell azalea (r. vaseyi)
roseshell azalea (r. roseum or r. prinophyllum)*
shrub and old garden roses (many varieties - see Selecting Roses)*
staghorn sumac (rhus typhina)
smokebush, smoke tree (cotinus coggygria - purple and green leafed varieties)
flowering raspberry (rubus odoratus)*
perennial sweet pea (lathyrus latifolius)
hyacinths*
dahlias
peonies (paeonia)*
columbine (aquilegia)
tiger lilies (the parent of the modern day lily)
bergamot (monarda)*
smooth penstemon (penstemon digitalis)
black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia hirta)
purple, white coneflower (echinacea purpurea, e. pallida)
lavender hyssop (agastache foeniculum)*
butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa)
native grasses (see also Ornamental Grass):
coreopsis (coreopsis tripteris)
New England aster (aster novae angliae)
ferns
blue false indigo (baptisia)
sea holly (eryngium yuccifolium)
Joe Pye weed (eupatorium purpureum)
queen of the prairie (filipendula rubra)
meadowsweet (filipendula ulmaria)
compassplant (silphium laciniatum)
cup plant (silphium perfoliatum)
sedums
nasturtiums (tropacolum)
sweet peas (lathyrus odoratus)
angels trumpets, trumpet flower (datura metel)*
bachelors' buttons, cornflower (centaurea cyanus
love in a mist (nigella)
baby blue eyes (nemophila)
nicotiana *
four-o'clock (mirabilis jalapa)
toadflax (linaria)
sweet alyssum (lobularia maritima)*
annual lupine (lupinus)
tree mallow (lavatera)
candytuft (iberis umbellata)
morning glory (ipomoea)
California poppy (eschscholzia californica)
pinks (dianthus chinensis)*
Sweet William (dianthus barbatus)*
forget-me-not (cynoglossum amabile)
spider flower (cleome hasslerana)
rose moss, wax pink (portulaca grandiflora)
Wondering why peonies, columbines, common lilacs and other "antique" flowers are "in" again? It's because they are easy to grow! Most of these antiques are fragrant too, and require little care. The old farmhouses these plants once grew beside may be long gone, but the shrubs and clumps of perennials and self-sown annuals remain.
Most of these plants will also attract birds and butterflies to your garden and literally light up your life. We've pulled together a sizeable collection of tried and true "antiques" and native plants that are sure to make your garden sizzle - and let you enjoy the view from the shade.
