20 Best Shade Perennials For Michigan (2023 Updated)

I purchased approx. 15 of these to help fill in a very large planting area. I was not very thrilled with the way they arrived as they were all tangled around each other and the lifeless roots were difficult to deal with.

I started them in individual pots before putting them in the ground – I don’t know if this made a difference or not. But after only 6 weeks, they are blooming like crazy and have exceeded my expectations! They are a welcome addition to my new garden area!.

Bought a package of 5 bare roots a year ago. Easy to plant, all 5 came up. Grows very quickly and all had multiple flowers. Flowers continued to bloom through mid fall. I cut them down during fall cleanup and they are already close to a foot tall in late April.

Planted 3 of these is 2019. Last year each had 1 flower. This year I have lots of flowers and plants have grown into a nice grouping of plants. These aren’t small or dwarf size. They are equal in size to my 10 other daylilies.

Front of border is only temporary for me. Will need to find a new home for them next year. You may want to consider a new name or a comment as to the expected size.

These were so anxiously to grow they popped out of the bags they were shipped in. Once planted in the container they took off like crazy! I haven’t seen them bloom yet, but i’ve only had them a few weeks.

If they bloom like they are growing I will be one happy gardener. Very pleased.

I placed two orders with Brighter Blooms. My first order of four 3- gallon dwarf gardenias was great! The plants were full and looked healthy. I decided to order a second set of gardenias and only one looked like it could have been part of the first order.

Three of the gardenias were undersized and appeared to be in distress. I was not pleased with them. I planted them anyways with hope they will grow to be healthy plants. I couldn’t find dwarf gardenias in my local area which is the primary reason I ordered them online.

Ordered 14 plants and they arrived in two boxes. Only one was damage where the main branch was broken. The two boxes were strapped together, suggesting they were originally on a pallet by guessing the way the arrows for the top were facing.

However, they were turned on their side with one box on top of the other. The plants inside were tossed around. Each plant were individually wrapped so no mess inside. Just suggesting they strap the boxes on top of each other so shippers will use a hand truck.

Plants are beautiful. Thanks.

My order got stuck in the mail and was delayed for some time. Brighter Blooms however, was more than responsible and sent me a replacement after it didn’t show up. The original order came through the day before the replacement did.

The original order was in terrible shape and had obviously suffered from being en route so long–almost no leaves and many of the ones that were there were yellow and dying. It’s possible it might survive, but also very possible that it won’t.

The next day, I was amazed by the replacement–it is full of leaves and looks vibrantly healthy. It even had a flower bud that has opened in the past two days and is perfuming my house. However, both plants are extremely root-bound.

Thank you Brighter Blooms for being pro-active!.

I was very happy with the plant. It was a little smaller than I thought BUT it was packed wonderfully and it was very healthy looking. I would absolutely do business with the nursery again.

The professionalism of this vendor is just top. The plants were shipped the plants should be shipped. I would be happy to buy from them again. Quality plants. Good price. Exactly as described.

Do not get this. I got these in the mail. they where wilted and covered with fungus

Huge selection, many I had never seen before, fairly priced and ordering was simple, with the plants arriving approximately one week later alive and well. Seemless execution.

Simply PERFECT! I initially thought this was going to be a small groundcover looking succulent but boy was I impressed. It is absolutely beautiful! The rim turns a deep maroon purple-ish color when the light hits it.

See for yourself. Ahh, gorgeous.

Beautiful! I love this! Came in shipping really nice and put it in a pot and it’s growing nicely.

These came with very large roots and a good number of eyes. I planted them as soon as the weather permitted. They’re quickly sprouted leaves, and I think that at least some are developing flower buds now, less than a month after being planted.

The weather has returned to being quite cold, but these are hardy plants, and don’t seem to be bothered by that. The shady places I found for them are fairly sheltered, but I’m sure that more tender plants wouldn’t survive being outside this week.

I generally have never been disappointed ordering from this company. I was well pleased when the 5 bleeding hearts came in with big roots and viable 3 inch start on the plant already. This proved they are viable and not some dried up ” dormant” roots I have gotten from other sellers.

I cannot wait to see them this spring. They were well packed and appeared to have fresh peat moss protecting them. I would recommend this product to a friend. As a caveat, order early so you will get them fresh and not three months later when they might be dried up roots.

I planted the bleeding hearts last year and was surprised they came up so quickly. Bloomed and grew vigorously their first year. In the fall I had tend to a tree in the area where I’d planted them and accidentally stepped on some of them.

I figured it was lights out for them, but they survived! Very hardy!.

I was so impressed by the way Michigan Bulb straightened out a problem I had with the order. I really wanted these primroses, it’s late spring but the weather has been conducive in that it’s still very cold, but when the package arrived, it was completely different plants.

I was so disappointed !! I called Michigan Bulb immediately and believe it or not, the very next day the corrected order arrived. They are in the bed and are thriving. THANK YOU MICHIGAN BULB, not only for your excellent product but for the way you fixed the mistake.

Bravo !.

These add some long lasting color to my shade garden as it’s waking up in the spring. When I got them last year they were little more than sticks with a few soggy leaves. I planted them in a mostly shaded garden that stays moist and cool enough for moss growth.

Figured this harsh winter would finish them off, but 2 out of 3 came back with a vengeance. I’d like to get more to add some more color throughout the bed.

These flowers are so nice I can’t stop watching. They were so small when arrived, I was afraid that nothing would happen. April came, and now they are one of the main attractions of my garden.

Hostas are wonderful and reliable perennials providing interest in dense shade areas Where nothing else will grow. I plant them around the base of large trees at the front (north) side of my house where dense tree roots, complete shade and dry conditions (inside the canopy drip line) means nothing else will grow.

I got two packs (16 plants). all grew. They were all single eyes, I received 4 of a very pretty low densely round leaved blue, 2 mid sized narrow leaved green with cream border, and 10 that are at least 2 obviously different variations on lemon lime green and kelly green variegated mid sized.

they are single eyes, no multiple eyed roots, so be prepared to Buy lots or wait a couple years for a good looking outcome. I highly suggest potting them up temporarily as soon as they arrive so you can see the leaf shape/color before you plant them in permanent locations so you can bunch similar plants for more impact.

I am thoroughly impressed with the quality of these hostas! I am new to gardening, and I have a lot of shade areas in my yard, so I looked at hostas as a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plant. I ordered 6 or 7 bags of this mix.

The roots and eyes were all in great shape, although I couldn’t get them in the ground right away due to cold temperatures. Despite being in our cool, dark garage for at least 10-12 days, these hostas were eager to grow and started poking holes through the bags and leafing out! Now that I have them in the ground, they appear to be adjusting quite well.

Out of all those plants, I only had three or four that look weak and dry, but I think they’ll still grow. I can also tell after looking closely that I received a great mix of at least 3-5 different types of hostas.

Thoroughly impressed, Michigan Bulb! I’ll be back!.

IšverstiShow in original languageI bought these way back in the spring, but wanted to wait to review the plant until it had some time to grow. It was a little slow to start, but looked great this fall when the leaves changed colors.

Overall very happy with my purchase. I just hope the plants survive the winter.

IšverstiShow in original languageMy first time ordering plants online and I was very surprised how well packaged it was. The soil was still damp too.

IšverstiShow in original languageIt’s a beautiful plant and arrived very healthy! Yhe package was so neat..had open sides for air and easy directions for unwrapping. Highly recommend

I have grown this beautiful clematis for almost 20 years at two different houses, with different soils, and it has always been a spectacular specimen! I know this says it is a rambler, but I grow it on a 6 ft tall tuteur, and it could easily go higher.

In fact, I’m thinking this year I might run some string up to the gutter for it to climb. The spot it is in at my current house is pretty dry, with very sandy soil. It is on the east side of the house, so only gets morning sun.

At my old house, it got sun most of the day. It spends most of the summer covered with graceful, bell-shaped blooms with black stems. I’ve even used them in cut flower arrangements. Occasionally, if the Japanese beetles are really bad, they will eat some of the leaves, but they mostly prefer other plants.

I’ve never had any problems with diseases until this last spring–fungus attacked it, so this was my first bad year for it. This spring I will get ahead of it with fungicide treatment, so I expect her to be back to her usual beauty this summer.

Rooguchi is getting hard to find, so I am thrilled Springhill still carries it!.

I planted this last year, using the Clematis & Climbers Food from Spring Hill. It took right off, and I was pleased with all of the blossoms. Although it looks delicate, it is very strong again this year.

I fed it again this spring, and it is absolutely gorgeous! One darling little plant, a highlight of my perennial garden!.

Consider this a “must have” for my garden – have grown this plant in Shrewsbury MA, Hartsdale NY and now in Walnut Creek CA. It is not a tall growing plant and does not cling but after the first season- if you don’t cut it back it and also train it initially – it will meander through roses or shrubs.

Flowers 3 seasons, can take heat and dryness although does better with occasional watering and mulch. Have found it to be very forgiving and hardy and just love the flowers and seed heads.

I was surprised and delighted to see my 3-gallon Aphrodite Rose of Sharon Althea Shrub! It was packed so well it had every limb and leaf intact. After it sat out in my Houston summer for 3-4 days, I had to remove some dead blooms.

I purchased the root stimulator and potting soil so I am hoping for beautiful blooms soon. It is planted in a container because the ground is pretty wet from our recent rains. (Really!) I will post pictures as the shrub begins to bloom.

So far I am thrilled.

The plants came in looking good but- after following directions for planting- it is showing signs of stress and not blooming. I plan to treat it with Super Thrive in a few days. I contacted your tech experts and I have followed their advice, but at the present time I am skeptical as to survival prospects.

I would normally wait to recommend the product one way of another but since I am required to answer yes or no below, I will try to retain a positive attitude.

This plant was perfectly packaged with no damage at all! The smell of lavender greeted me as I removed the packing. Impressive, as there aren’t any flowers or even buds yet! I planted her in a mixture of Organic soil & sand in an 8” pot with good drainage.

She is in full sun waiting for next Springs blooms. I can’t wait, but I’ll have to. Smile.

What a beautiful plant! I was a bit unsure of the potential of the small plant I received but am so glad I ordered this! I planted this last year in a container (that I left outside through a harsh zone 4b winter) and got nice growth last year.

This year it has been such a joy to watch this plat grow, fill the container, and now explode in flower. I have done literally no maintenance with this plant. I have it in full sun and have since noticed this plant struggling in lower light settings in other plantings.

IšverstiShow in original languageAll ten came up though a rabbit took one out. Otherwise the other 9 though small are healthy gorgeous hostas. The center white margins with green edging on the wavy curly leaves are really beautiful.

IšverstiShow in original languagePlants arrived with healthy roots, eyes, and adequate packing material to protect them. I was short one hosta, but one had three eyes and so I am not very upset. Very good deal, just wish I did get all because I will have to wait to divide in order to make both sections even.

IšverstiShow in original languageMy first order had mold. I called and they replaced the entire order. A good thing because the molded first batch never sprouted after all. I think I ordered them too early.

The second batch are doing wonderfully well.

All the bulbs I received turned out to be gold w/maroon. Every blasted one of them. Very disheartening and NOT what I wanted. Also, all did not survive. But the plant itself is cute and neat for a daylily.

I just would not recommend for anybody else EXPECTING a nice mixture of colors like pictured. Seems to be hit and miss. However you look at it. I Hit my least wanted color, so it was a Miss.

I ordered this pack of dwarf daylilies to fill in an area along my sidewalk. The plants are growing well. However I was disappointed in the color variety. The picture shows a variety mix of colors, all the plants I received came in yellow and orange.

That are still pretty and growin well, but I was hoping for a mix of colors. Mine look like the yellow and orange ones in the picture.

I planted them a few weeks ago and they’re already well on their way. I received 2 each of three varieties: two variegated and one with pale green leaves. Very pretty! They’ll perk up a shady area next to the house.

Happy so far!.

I thought it would be handy to just order a mix of hostas, rather than picking out individual plants, but four of the six I received are identical—the one with the white border pictured at the front of the catalog display.

So my hosta grouping isn’t nearly as interesting as it ought to be. Healthy plants, and they’re all thriving, but disappointing.

I purchased this when it was half off, so its a great value for six plants. They arrived looking ready to go and healthy. They’re all in the ground now in a spot that gets 3 hours of sun in the afternoon but otherwise is shaded.

FYI: you won’t be told what varieties of hosta are in the bag, so estimating spacing can be a challenge.