Shade doesn’t have to be a limitation—it can be an opportunity to create one of the most beautiful, tranquil, and inviting spaces in your garden. In this talk, we’ll explore how to design a thriving garden even when sunlight is scarce. We’ll begin by discussing what causes shade in the landscape and how to accurately measure the amount of sun and shade your garden receives throughout the day. From there, we’ll look at how soil type and environment play key roles in planting success. Finally, we’ll embrace the art of designing for shade—selecting plants for shade, structures, and layouts that highlight texture, contrast, and form to bring new life and character to your garden.
Speaker: Becca Flato
Becca Flato is a Design Director and the owner of Flato Landscapes, where she offers design consultation and landscaping services throughout the Bay Area. Her work centers on creating habitat-rich landscapes that support local ecosystems—gardens that buzz, flutter, and hum.
A certified UC Master Naturalist and UC Master Gardener volunteer, Rebecca blends ecological knowledge with thoughtful design to craft spaces that are both beautiful and biologically vibrant. She is also currently restoring a six-acre property in Mendocino, transforming it into a thriving haven for native plants and wildlife.
Video Summary:
In this UC Master Gardener presentation, Rebecca Fato discusses how to transform shady garden areas into vibrant, productive spaces by understanding light levels, soil conditions, and plant selection.
Understanding Shade and Site Assessment
- Defining Shade: The video categorizes sunlight levels to help gardeners select the right plants:
- Tools for Success: Use resources like Shade Map to track light throughout the year [06:13] and perform a drainage test (digging a 1ft x 1ft hole) to determine if your soil is clay, silt, or sand [10:31].
Design Principles for Shade Gardens
- Base Colors: Focus on the “greens” first, as they are present year-round. Different greens evoke different moods: yellow-greens feel tropical, while blue-silvers feel Mediterranean [12:19].
- Contrast and Form: Use varying leaf shapes (palmate vs. fern-like) and textures to create visual interest even when plants aren’t flowering [16:54].
- Color Palette: Shade gardens can be colorful. Plants like Heuchera (Coral Bells) and Hellebores offer unique purples, reds, and even green flowers that struggle in direct sun [15:26].
Types of Shade Gardens
- Habitat Gardens: Focus on California natives (aim for 70%) to attract pollinators and birds [19:48].
- Key Tips: Leave leaf litter for hibernating insects, provide water in shaded areas, and use a maximum of 2 inches of mulch [23:38].
- Serenity/Classic Gardens: Inspired by “cloister” or “white gardens,” these use hardscaping, sculptures, and monochromatic plant palettes (all white flowers) to create a peaceful atmosphere [30:10].
- Edible Shade Gardens: Many vegetables thrive in lower light [43:17]:
- Leafy Greens: Spinach, arugula, and kale.
- Brassicas: Broccoli and cauliflower.
- Root Veggies: Beets, carrots (shade-tolerant varieties), and potatoes.
- Herbs: Mint, chives, parsley, and cilantro.
- Mushrooms: Mentioned as the ultimate 100% shade “crop” [48:50].
Top Plant Recommendations
- Natives: Douglas Iris, Snowberry, Coffeeberry, and Western Columbine [26:05].
- Ornamentals: Hostas (diverse leaf colors), Hydrangeas, Astilbe, and Foxgloves [37:13].
- Bulbs: Lily of the Valley, Snowdrops, and Crocus [38:16].
For specific gardening questions, the speaker recommends contacting the UC Master Gardener Hotline for research-based advice [49:45].
