by johnah on November 19, 2020
Shade Loves Shrubs: Zone 1-3
The first thing you need to know about shade loving shrubs is that they are not only popular among gardeners but also with homeowners. They provide a nice effect in gardens and landscaping. However, there are some drawbacks associated with them too.
1. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Zone 1-3 – Low Maintenance
As mentioned above, these plants require little care and don’t require any special watering or fertilizing. You may even forget about them if you do not have other plants which depend on them for their survival. However, it is best to keep your garden well watered at all times so that the leaves stay green and healthy.
2. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Zone 2-4 – High Maintenance
These plants require regular watering and fertilizer. You will definitely want to take extra care when caring for these plants because they grow very quickly! If you neglect them, then you might end up losing your entire garden. So, it’s better to make sure that you give these plants enough water every day and fertilize them regularly.
3. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Zone 1-3 – Edible
Plants in this category are edible and can be used to cook a variety of different meals. It’s best to make sure that you only pick the leaves rather than the stem or flowers since those parts do not have much nutrition. Different plants can be eaten at different stages of their growth cycle.
4. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Dogs and Other Pets
Pets such as dogs, cats, and birds love to use these plants as a place to sleep. This is because they naturally have a higher level of chlorophyll which makes them great at photosynthesis, converting sunlight into energy. Most people like to grow these plants along walkways or where they sit and relax in the shade because they are so soft to lay on and smell wonderful.
5. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Poisonous
Although many people assume that all plants are edible, this is not always the case. There are just as many poisonous plants as there are edible ones. It’s important that you research any plants before you consume them to avoid getting sick and knowing what not to let your pet consume.
It is also important to note that some plants may appear to be non-poisonous but may cause allergic reactions in certain people. For this reason, it’s a good idea to perform a patch test before applying any plants directly to the skin.
Some plants commonly thought of as non-toxic, but may cause allergic reactions in certain people include: buttercup, castor bean, and ragwort.
6. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Ornamental
Some plants are both decorative and provide a nice shady area to walk or just relax in the shade. Many of these types of plants can grow quite large over time so make sure you give them enough space.
If you want to learn more about certain types of plants, you can always look them up and some have helpful images to go with the descriptions. Make sure you know whether the plant is a shrub, tree, vine, or herbaceous (non-woody) perennial before you try to grow it!
7. Shade Loves Shrubs:
Edible & Ornamental
If you’re looking for a plant that provides both food and beauty, then this is the section for you! Many of these plants are edible and can be prepared in a variety of ways while others can be used to decorate your home or deck. You don’t want to over-illuminate these types of plants though, so placing them somewhere with softer lighting is ideal.
Shade-Loving Herbs
1. Spikemoss – Zone 0
Spikemoss is one of the easiest plants to grow and can survive in almost any condition so this makes it a great plant for someone who is just starting out. It’s also commonly used in herbal medicines due to its healing properties. When cultivated, this plant can grow up to be 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide so give it enough space.
2. Bloodvine – Zones 1-3
Bloodvine is an interesting choice since the entire plant (except for the roots) is poisonous. When eaten, the plant causes your skin to feel like it’s on fire and break out into a rash. Despite this, some people still use it to make into a perfume since it helps with mental concentration. If you do choose to grow this plant, just be careful and don’t make any clothing out of the vines.
3. Troll Tulips – Zones 1-5
Troll Tulips may get their name from the time it takes for them to bloom. Most plants bloom in a few weeks but these can take up to a few months. Despite this, they are one of the most favorite flowers among nobles and wealthy merchants due to their beauty. Most of the time, these are used for decorative purposes but their oils can be used for certain types of food as well.
4. Violet Coprinus – Zones 2-7
This is another plant that’s commonly used for medicinal purposes. It’s most commonly found in tincture forms or in salves that are applied to the skin. When ingested however, they can be deadly so it’s advised not to do so. These plants grow on shelves like fungi and have small little purple heads that rise up above the shelf.
5. Edible Blue Orchids – Zones 2-7
These are one of the few orchids that are considered to be edible. The moment you lick your lips with your tongue to taste, your entire mouth will go numb. Despite this instant reaction, the numbness usually wears off after a few hours. These are commonly eaten before an operation in order to minimize the pain felt during it.
6. Bloomshrooms – Zones 2-7
Bloomshrooms are one of the many fungi that can be consumed by both humans and animals. They are usually white in appearance and have a soft rubbery texture to them. They can be cooked, but it is recommended that you either cook them repeatedly or leave them alone.
Edible Trees
1. Honeyfruit Trees – Zones 2-6
Honeyfruit trees are normally easily recognizable since they grow in an oval shape and have a thick canopy above them. Sometimes the branches can even reach the ground. These trees will produce small purple fruits normally and while some animals usually seek these out, humans can get tasty honey from the tree if they simply hit the branches with a stick. This edible substance will slowly drip down and can be collected in a container.
2. Sprit Trees – Zones 3-5
While most trees rise up into the sky, the spirit trees are the ones that swim forward towards the ground. These trees rely on currents to bring nutrients from the soil and atmosphere. As such, their trunks are usually covered with brown moss and the green leaves are replaced with blue ones. It’s due to this unique quality that these trees are sometimes used as houses by certain cultures that believe in nature.
3. Evergreens – Zones 2-6
These are very sturdy types of trees that don’t bend no matter what the weather is outside. In fact, some tribes actually use these trees as protection should a large disaster happen. They just rely on the tree’s sturdy branches to protect them rather than running around and trying to avoid the chaos.
4. Calla Lillies – Zones 3-6
Calla Lillies are normally found in swamps since they grow better in damp and wet areas. These plants are known for their large leaves and single flowers that they produce. While the flower is normally white or red, the Calla Lily is edible by both humans and animals.
5. Swamp Trees – Zones 3-4
These trees are usually filled with a dark brown pulp that has a strong smell to it. It’s mainly used as an alternative to tobacco since it can be chewed on rather than smoked or consumed in another way. The trees that produce this substance grow in clusters and are normally easy to find since they’re identifiable by their smell.
6. Snot Trees – Zones 1-5
These trees are covered in a slimy mucus that is green in appearance. While it might not look like it from the outside, this mucus can be eaten and even considered delicious by some tribes. It has a sweet taste to it and can be consumed by itself or used as a way to make other foods taste better.
7. Prickly Pears – Zones 3-5
The Prickly Pear is a cactus that grows in clusters. While most cacti rely on animals stepping on them and draining them of their fluids, the prickly pear can also be consumed by humans and animals alike despite having a lot of thorns protecting it. The thorns can either be pulled out or snapped off for easier eating.
8. Stinging Nettles – Zones 3-5
Despite their name, Stinging Nettles are a popular food among many tribes. While they do sting when touched, the stinging sensation can be dulled by boiling the plant in water before hand. This also helps remove the poison that it injects into whoever is eating it. The stinging sensation feels like the burn of a hot chili pepper.
9. Flame Trees – Zones 2-4
These trees get their name from the red bark that forms during the summer months. Since these trees grow outward rather than upward, their shape is somewhat like an mushroom or cone as opposed to the normal shape of a tree. The flame bark is smooth and soft when the tree is young but hardens as the tree grows. This bark can be stripped off and used as a blanket or cloth.
10. Paper Birch – Zones 2-4
These are among the first trees to gain popularity for their uses. Paper Birches grow thin brown bark that can be easily stripped off in long pieces making it excellent for making paper. While the Paper Birch is rather plain looking, its bark has a unique pattern almost resembling birds wings.
11. Cabbage Palms – Zones 2-4
Cabbage Palms are one of the more popular trees since its the main ingredient in most meals throughout the wasteland. While it doesn’t taste very good by itself, the palm’s cabbage like bulb is a major ingredient in many stews and soups across the wasteland.
12. Oasis Trees – Zones 2-4
Oasis Trees are mainly found around zones that have oases. These trees have a special root system that reaches deep into underground water sources and emit a sap that’s not only edible but has a rather sweet flavor to it. Most oasis trees are skinny and don’t grow too tall.
13. Desert Acacias – Zones 1-4
Desert Acacias are mainly found in the sandy zones of the wasteland and can grow to be rather large. They have a furry appearance but the “fur” is more like needles that irritate the skin if handled without gloves. The Desert Acacia has small yellow flowers that grow at the top.
14. Barrel Cacti – Zones 1-4
Barrel Cacti can be found in every zone of the wasteland and only grow as large as a human torso. There are many different kinds of Barrel Cacti but all of them have a protective outer layer and a fleshy interior with water. They can be opened up with enough effort and some cacti even contain a nutritious pink substance similar to fruit that can be eaten. Many desert dwellers make their homes partially in broken barrel cacti.
15.
Sources & references used in this article:
Effects of exposure to direct sunlight upon the development of leaf structure of two deciduous shrub species by RGH Cormack, AL Gorham – Canadian Journal of Botany, 1953 – NRC Research Press
An ecological study of the ants of the southern desert shrub region of the United States by AC Cole Jr – Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 1934 – academic.oup.com
Compound fertilizer requirements for the establishment and early growth of popular ornamental shrubs between road-side trees by TW Foong, CN Yang – Gardens’ Bulletin (Singapore), 1988 – agris.fao.org
A survey of coniferous forest succession in the eastern Rockies by RGH Cormack – The Forestry Chronicle, 1953 – pubs.cif-ifc.org
Southern shade: A plant selection guide by J Kellum – 2008 – books.google.com
Native trees, shrubs, & vines: a guide to using, growing, and propagating North American woody plants by W Cullina – 2002 – books.google.com
Selecting Trees and Shrubs for the Home Landscape by D Miller – 2008 – Timber Press
Microsites and diversity of understorey shrubs in southern Western Ghats, India by LA Sagers – 2005 – digitalcommons.usu.edu
An analysis of the adventive component of tree and shrub plants of the southeast of Russia by RM Krishnan – Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2001 – JSTOR
Categories:
Tags:
No Tag
Post navigation
Previous post Queen’s Tears Plant Care – Tips For Growing Queen’s Tears Plants
Post navigation
Next post Tip On Propagating Begonias From Cuttings