How2Day: Shady Annual Plants for Zone 5

Temperatures during the winter months in a U.S. Department of Agriculture Zone 5 can dip to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Shade loving annuals can fill up a difficult area of the garden with color. The plant lives out its entire lifespan in one growing season. Most are tender and will need to be set outside after all danger of frost in the area has passed. Some gardeners plant seeds indoors six to eight weeks prior to the last expected frost to begin planning their annual garden landscape. .

A tender evergreen perennial, impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) are grown as an annual in a USDA Zone 5 where they will quickly succumb to the first hard frost of fall. A prolific bloomer, the mounding plants grow to a height of up to 18 inches. Varieties are available that produce pink, white, red and lavender flowers that measure up to 2 inches across. It grows well in moist soil in a shady location that does receive a minimum of 4 hours of filtered light per day, according to the Iowa State University. They grow well in containers. hanging baskets or when planted directly into the flower bed.

Plant impatiens outside after all danger of frost in the region has passed. If the weather is still cold during the spring months consider placing the young plants outside during the daylight hours and moving them indoors over the course of a few days to acclimatize the plants to the outdoor setting. Fertilize impatiens every two weeks using a water-soluble fertilizer.

The wishbone flower (Torenia fournieri) grows to a height of 12 inches during the summer months. A tender annual, it produces purple, lavender, yellow, pink or white flowers that measure 1 1/2 inches across all summer long.

The plant will persist as long as the temperature remains above 40 degree's Fahrenheit. Once the temperatures begin to plummet during the fall months the wishbone flower plant quickly dies away. Plant in partial or full shade. Keep the plant moist during the hot summer months but once established it can tolerate periods of drought. Space the plants 6 to 8 inches apart, according to the North Carolina State University.

Seeds of the wishbone flower can be started indoors in planting flats six to eight weeks prior to the last expected frost in the region.

The browallia (Browallia speciosa) grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet. In USDA Zones 9 to 10 the plant will grow as an evergreen perennial but in all other zones, such as Zone 5, it is a shade loving annual. It produces tubular flowers throghout the summer that measure 2 inches long and appear in shades of purple, lavender and bluish-lavender. It grows well planted directly in the garden, in containers or when used in a hanging basket.

Plant in an area that receives afternoon shade or filtered sunlight. It appreciates moist soil conditions.

Sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected frost, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Pinch the young plants back regularly to encourage it to become bushy instead of leggy. Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

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