Soft Landings for Shade (12 Plants)

In gardening terms, soft landings are diverse native plantings under native trees. The idea comes from pollinator conservationist Heather Holm, who recognized that these plantings could provide important habitat for the life stages of pollinators. This kit includes 12 shade-tolerant native plants suitable for medium soil around the base of a tree. These blooms peak in spring and fall, with attractive foliage all summer.

Plants included:

• 2 x Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox)
• 3 x Polemonium reptans (Jacob's ladder)
• 2 x Solidago ulmifolia (elm-leaved goldenrod) - keystone species!
• 2 x Symphyotrichum shortii (Short's aster) - keystone species!
• 3 x Carex sprengelii (long beaked sedge)- cool-season sedge

How to plant: We suggest placing the shorter, spring-blooming plants (phlox, Jacob's ladder) on one side of the circle and the taller fall-blooming plants (goldenrod, aster) on the other side. Sprinkle the sedge throughout. Plant densely: about 12 inches from center to center, keeping all plants at least 8 inches from the edge of the bed. Creates a 4 to 6 foot wide circle around a tree. 

Have more space to fill? Check out our full collection of plants for shade: Shade-lovers

Photo 6: Matt Lavin / CC BY-SA 2.0