Woodland plants hold a special place for gardeners and anyone that enjoys the peace and tranquility associated with secluded settings. We love them too and have been busy collecting special forms of many different types of shade garden plants from around the world.  Here are some of our recent favorites.

Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’ is a hardy and dependable garden plant that combines some of the best features of various species into a single plant. It can form robust patches of large, star-shaped leaves with green, gray, silver, and bronze highlights that look good throughout the season. The bright pink flowers are produced under the leaves and are always a surprise for curious garden visitors.

Podophyllum pleianthum lacks the dramatic emerging foliage coloration of P. delavayi but makes up for it with the size of its extra glossy leaves. This plant can reach nearly three feet tall and wide, with some forms boasting leaves nearly 20 inches in diameter. The large flower clusters beneath the leaves resemble grapes but are malodorous. Easily grown, this plant needs shade to thrive.

The star of the Mayapples is Podophyllum difforme.  As its scientific name suggests, there is great variation in leaf shape, size, and coloration. Our favorites are from a group we received from famed plantsman and former Longwood alumnus Barry Yinger. Plants of his “Starfish Strain” can develop into large, bold clumps that truly look like a sea creature as they emerge in the early spring.

Variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) is a well-known and durable garden plant, but only represents the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the variation in this group of plants.  An exciting selection we found in Japan is called ‘Kiyosumi Nishiki’, which is noteworthy for its yellow and green streaked leaves highlighted by red stems. It’s as easy to grow as standard Solomon’s seals.