shade plant question

[SE18]

I'm going to buy water plants this coming weekend and was wondering what plants do well in zone 7 (virginia) and do well in the shade. Any plants, submerssible, above water, floating etc etc etc; the other stipulation is that they can't be large lily pads as they're going in my canal and aqueduct which is about 18 inches wide and long

a bonus would be if the plants are invasive, meaning grow out like crazy

 

[C-Note]

I just did a quick search and found this handy website @SE18 :

http://www.bonniesplants.com/shade_tolerant_plants.html

I don't see much of anything listed for zone 7, but you may be able to experiment with some of the more hardy options?

 

[SE18]

thx; so far, I know string algae thrives here

I'll ask the garden ctr; hopefully someone can help me there, although most of them don't seem too knowledgable

wish I could grow some wasabi

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I believe Blue Flag Iris can grow in a relatively shaded environment, but not full shade. I've also seen Horsetail Rush growing in shade in the wild including in a woodland. With that being said I grow both of those plants in full sun so I suppose it just depends on the specific habitat. Sometimes mother nature allows plants to grow in places they normally wouldn't if everything is just right.

One plant that grows in wet habitats that I know can grow in shade is Jewelweed, also known as Touch-Me-Nots. They get around 3-4ft tall and spread by seed. They grow a pod that when it's ready, it will pop open and send the seeds flying if you touch it.

 

[MariaTeresa]

My pond is mostly shade and water lettuce does very well. It also multiplies like crazy! I think, though, it would depend on the kind of shade. I don't think it would do well in deep shade, it needs some light even if only reflected.

 

[SE18]

thanks! I'm writing these down when I go to the garden center (Merrifield in Northern Virginia) saturday. I'm writing these down to take with me. I'll ask about their return policy too. Here's a little guy enjoying the scenary from a flue above my aqueduct. The canal is at a lower level (3 lower levels) in the shade where the plants will be.

 

[sissy]

A shade plant that is pretty and can grow in shallow water conditions is caladium and it has so many pretty colors now .

 

[SE18]

forgot to mention; the shallows in the upper reaches of the canal have creeping jenny creeping into the water. The rest of the canal is even shadier but is deeper. Of course creeping jenny isn't thought of as a water plant but here's prooof that it is!

 

[SE18]

thanks, it's now at the top of my list, fellow virginian!

 

[Mmathis]

@SE18 Are you looking for taller plants, or lower, creeping-type plants? Are you looking for plants that grow in-the-water or just along the shoreline? You said "the more invasive, the better...." I'm trying to get a mental picture......

 

[sissy]

I like phlox but my pond is not made for creeping plants .I had creeping jenny in my waterfall pond before i rebuilt the pond but afraid it died on me .I guess it does not like to be moved .Chameleon plants are pretty and corkscrew rush and aquatic mint and the sensitive plant .i think a couple of ponders on here have them .I like the sweet potato vine but it is not good for fish to eat .I have pickerel rush and i really want the crushed ice plant but have not found it here yet

 

[SE18]

OK, just got back from taking pictures in the rain outside. The aqueduct goes over most of the canal. The canal is very shady under the aqueduct as you can see in 2 of the photos. On top of that, there's shade trees over the aqueduct. Clearance under the aqueduct arches is just about a foot at the top of the arch so no tall plants. However, the lower reaches of the canal empty into a pond, shown in one photo, which has some native plants I dug up from rivers. However, it has room for more plants and those plants could be tall. I'd love to fill in the area under the aqueduct with plants as that will provide some nice habitat for frogs and I guess clean the water, although the whole canal system is attached to the roof spout so every time it rains it replaces all the water. Sorry if this sounds complicated.Total depth in most areas is perhaps 8 to 10 inches with parts as shallow as 2"

 

[Mmathis]

I have some lemon bacopa that I like. Most places say it's not tolerant above zone 8, but some people have grown it to 7a. Grows in and out of the water.

 

[sissy]

Liriope takes over and spreads and so does hosta and hosta come in lots of colors and leaf textures .Never heard of lemon bacopa does it smell like lemons or is it the color it has .

 

[SE18]

Thanks! my list keeps growing!