Wyn recently commented elsewhere:
I live in zone 2 and am looking for a shade plant that is non-poisonous to pets for the north side of my fence. When I entered that info in google it sent me to this site. Lovely pictures and great info, unfortunately not really my zone. LOL.
Judging by my commenter’s email address, I’d say this gardener lived in Saskatchewan, and it’s not clear whether that’s Zone 2 on the Canadian map or the US one. Either way, it’s definitely colder than my neck of the woods. I told Wyn that even though I was in the balmy climate of USDA zone 4/5, many of my readers were in colder climates.
I also suggested visiting Northscaping, which has a lot of good plant info and an active discussion forum, and Blotanical, which has a map-based garden blog directory, where Wyn can find bloggers dealing with similar conditions.
But I hope you really cold climate gardeners will make suggestions in the comments. Probably some of the plants growing in my shady border are tough enough to take it, and I don’t even know it.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I hear rocks grow well there!
Good luck finding something that fits your needs.
I live in Zone 2 (Fairbanks, AK) and I had a lovely surprise this spring. I have a patch of ground at the front of our lot as you pull into the driveway that I have been trying to get stuff to grow for years. It is north facing and only gets direct sun briefly in the evening in the summer. I planted several ferns last year…and concidering my record, I didn’t expect them to make it. But they did! And multiplied! I love how they look too. The ‘fiddleheads’ are a delicacy to eat…so I am thinking they would probably be safe for pets.
Well, I’m in zone 3 (central Alberta) but I suggest asking Gardenista from La Ronge, Sask., who has a blog called Northern Exposure Gardening (http://zoneonegarden.blogspot.com) , or try the previously recommended Northscaping web site’s searchable plant database.
Sara Williams has written some good books on vines, perennials, groundcovers, etc. for the prairies.
I would suggest Hostas – they’re tough, shade-tolerant, attractive and AFAIK non-toxic.