I have a strip of ground that needs to be landscaped. It is mostly shade with a little filtered sun. It's about 30 feet long and about 6 feet deep. It's close to our lake and when we get a week or two of rain, it can be covered with water for a day or two. I would like some unique perennials planted there with beautiful color. The back of it is a wall of railroad ties. Right above the railroad ties are two white crab trees and under them are lots of hostas, surrounded by rocks. We plan to have our yards/flower gardens on the Garden Walk in our town next summer. I want easy to no care things. I am having joint, hip and back problems at my age of 71, so I need beauty that is easy to care for. Would you please give me a long list of things that would work in that area and would be unique, beautiful and easy care? I don't want anything that will spread into our grass yards and need to have dug up. I live in Iowa, Zone 5, and we do get cold winters if snow and ice and below zero weather. I can't dig things up for winter storage. I would appreciate your help with this project. Thank you in advance.

Answer #1 · Gardenality.com's Answer · Hi Linda,

Not sure I can provide you with a long list for a unique situation such as you have in Zone 5 with the shade and boggy soil, and with plants that don't spread too much, but here's a few suggestions to add to your list.

Carex - Sedge
Acorus - Sweet Flag
Clethra barbinervis
Red Twig Dogwood
Fothergilla 'Mt Airy'
Glossy-leaved Aster
Turn Of The Century Hibiscus
Inkberry Holly
Turkscap Lily
Cloud Nine Switchgrass
Pollia japonica
Umbrella Plant - Darmera peltata
Solomon's Seal - Polygonatum
Juncus 'Big Twister'
Mazus reptans - Does spread but great groundcover for shade in boggy soils
Bellium minutum
Green and Gold - Chrysogonum

Okay, so a fairly long list. I'm sure there's more but these are all I can think of and know about.

Hope this list is helpful and let us know if you have any other questions.

Brent)