Question
Hi Donna. I live in zone 5 (Decatur, IL). We have a round (10' x 10") circular bed that we just bought a Japanese maple (grows to 8 to 10' tall) for and planted it directly in the middle. I am looking for perennials that will be attractive in this bed. I would like something that flowers all year for the middle planting ring and for the outside ring, maybe a creeper of some kind. I don't want the plants in the middle planting ring to be too tall or plants that tend to look weedy-like. Also, these plants are in a full sun area now but years from now when the maple grows they will be in shade. Should I plant part sun/part shade, because I really don't want to redo the bed in a couple years. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Shelley

Answer
Hello Shelley,
I too am in zone 5a, and I experienced a situation very much like yours.  When the bed was initially established, it was in full sun, but as the years passed it became shadier. There are really many plants that fit your parameters. I have grown all of these under those conditions:

Alchemilla mollis (ladies mantle). A beautifully, low maintenance classic (and elegant) plant that spreads over time. It can handle full sun with some water but actually gets better with more shade. (Great edger).

Heuchera Firefly, which can be grown from seed, persists where many heuchera don抰, has bright red flowers and reblooms if the flowers are cut. (Great edger).

Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob抯 ladder), a beautiful blue that blooms repeatedly if cut back. I have it in both sun and shade, and it has the advantage of having foliage that look like a fern when out of bloom. It also comes in white.

Fragaria vesca reugen, or woodland strawberry. It clumps, rather than running like many strawberries, and is the most amazingly elegant plant. It forms beautiful little leaves with white flowers that turn into the most delicious little berries. It is also very easy to divide and move around the bed. I love to use it as an edger.

Japanese painted fern, or athyrium nipponicum var. pictum is a stunning fern that can handle sun to shade.

Dies this help? I wanted to get back to you as quickly as possible but if you would like more suggestions please let me know and I will add to the list.

Donna