Recently the staff at the Lurie Garden made some interesting changes to the Dark Plate, which is the partly shaded area east of the boardwalk. The Dark Plate tends to play second fiddle to the larger Light Plate that basks in full sun.
The Dark Plate is divided into 3 sections by two parallel east-west paths. Near the more southern of the two paths there was a large swath of ‘Halcyon’ Hostas. Too large a swath, someone thought, because during the summer many of the Hostas were removed.
I’m not much of a Hosta enthusiast, so I was not inclined to disagree. I mean no disrespect to the many lovers of Hostas out there.
Anyhow, many of the Hostas were replaced with some interesting plant combinations. For example, Autumn Moor Grass (Sisleria autumnalis), interplanted with Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis). I never thought of either the Autumn Moor Grass or the Wild Petunia as plants for part shade, but they seemed to be quite happy.
Adjoining some of the Autumn Moor Grass is a crescent-shaped patch of what I think is ‘Palace Purple’ Coral Bells (Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia).
So many interesting contrasts here. The airy flowers of the Heuchera and the white wands of Sisleria. The green, grassy leaves of the Sisleria and the bold, dark leaves of the Heuchera.
Not all of the Hostas were removed. Some were just thinned, then interplanted with Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea ‘Poul Peterson’). This is another grass that is generally recommended for full sun, but I found at least one source that suggests part shade in areas with hot summers. I’ll be interested to see how this planting evolves as it matures.
Just a few more views from the Dark Plate. To my knowledge, these have not been changed recently. This is the Chicago skyline seen from the east edge, in the foreground masses of white Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Edge’, ‘Virgin’, maybe others).
The white Purple Coneflower combines really well with the pink Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Splendens’).
Look, I captured a Monarch butterfly in flight without even realizing it. Kind of a fuzzy image, but I still really like it.
There’s a big patch of Skullcap (Scutellaria incana), an underused Midwest native.
There’s a nice planting of ‘Gateway’ Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum) in the central section of the Dark Plate. Its tall flowering domes go well with so many other plants, like the ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass above (Calamagrostis acutiflora).
Or Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum).
Now, there’s a lot in the Dark Plate I’m not including, and I may have gotten a little confused on what has and hasn’t been recently added. But I would just say that if you visit the Lurie Garden, don’t get completely absorbed by the sweeping views of the Light Plate. Spend a little time in the Dark Plate as well, and you will be amply rewarded.
gardeninacity 
That photo of the Joe Pye weed and Culver’s Root is just stunning. I really, really like that combination. I found Joe Pye weed in the wild last weekend — already gone completely to seed. I had hoped to find some in flower this year, but at least now I know where to find it flowering next year. I’ve finally started keeping a journal, so I can keep that of what’s where, and when to look for it.
Still flowering up here. The Joe Pye and Culver’s Root provide a perfect contrast – domes and spires.
Thanks for featuring the more demure side of gardening—those that thrive in shade or part shade. That is my world. 😉 Hostas rule, but I’m also having some success with other plants.
Think beyond the Hostas!
Oh, I have and have lost many a plant in the process. 😉
Same here!
Sigh. I suppose it’s part of the process.
Hostas grow here in Austin, but require more water than I’d be willing to give them. They are lovely though. Beautiful shots of the Lurie–I always enjoy your posts about this garden.
Pretty much my favorite public garden anywhere.
Interesting to see what goes on in the Lurie.
Always!
I think my favoorite is the skullcap. I see it wild here all the time but not blooming like those.
I think the first time I ever saw it was at Lurie.
Thanks. This is helpful for those of us working with mostly “dark sides.”
I have to ask why they call the 2 sections “plates”. “Dark side” sounds like something out of Star Wars.
I keep trying to grow hostas and keep killing them unintentionally. It’s nice to see a place that has so many that they can thin them out. 🙂
The ones they dug up were given away free.
If I could only grow one plant, it would be Hostas. So there, lol. Of course, the north garden in full sun might be difficult.
Each gardener to his or her own.
Feeling truly cutting-edge as I look out on Culver’s root next to Joe Pye in the “meadow-ette” bed here!
Lessons from the deer in a very wet year: The Culver’s root plant that was chomped back from four feet to two in June has grown back fine, blooming strongly and staying upright on its own. The other clumps are splayed out in all directions, greatly diminishing the effect of clean white spikes against dusty purple domes. Filing away for future reference, though summers to come are unlikely to be so benign (moderate temps, regular rainfall).
Thank you for your observation, Neil. Yes, I find that many perennials benefit from chomping/nipping/pinching back. T. DiSabato-Aust recommended this years ago. I found it out for myself with New England asters in my former Ohio garden: the deer did the pruning for me and all’s good! Now I’m in Virginia and I wonder what else I can let the deer have their way with.
So the deer are just trying to help out!
That sweep of skullcap is mighty appealing; Pam Penick’s pics from her garden in Austin got me interested, and now I’m determined to try some. S. incana isn’t native here, but there are nine or ten locally native species. S. serrata, called “showy skullcap”, sounds like the one to go to for garden effect. Now to seek some seed…
Good luck! Maybe I should also give it a try.
All looking great.
I thought so!
I’m none too keen on hostas either. They are overrated by those who go along with the fad. They are nice for redwood forests, but deer eat them.
Glad to see eye-to-eye on this, though I’m not sure if we can really refer to Hostas as a fad at this point.
In your region, they are likely overly popular for good reason. If they are reliable, they would be comparable to our agapanthus. In our region, they have not business being popular. They rarely look good. People only want them because they see them looking good in other gardens in other regions.
Kind of how we look at English gardens.
I don’t look at English gardens; but okay. I suppose others do.
Hello Jason, we’ve ended up with a shady understorey in the borders now and I’m getting a bit tired of the usual “hostas and ferns” for these so I’m gathering together “shopping list” material like this to see what else is available. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for the shady ideas!
Back in my salad days (the ’60s), I worked on Michigan Ave, in the 300 South block. How things have changed — and hooray for such change! Back then the sighting of a Monarch butterfly in the Loop would have happened only if one had hitch-hiked in on the South Shore.
The loop area has certainly been transformed. Judy and I had our first date in the loop about 35 years ago. By evening it was pretty much abandoned.