Made in the Shade

May is here, and in Central Florida the heat is impressive and the humidity is oppressive. All the gardeners I know are screaming, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” The one month of the year when gardening is great is gone. I prepared last month for the days like this, turning over vegetables and winter annuals growing in full sun. Those areas will mostly be on autopilot for the next few months, occupied with flowers, herbs, and beans. Now, it is time for me to figure out shade spaces that will offer me sanctuary in my Florida yard the rest of spring and summer.

Honestly, I adore the heat. It does not love me back. Most of my plans must be executed by someone else. I have learned the hard way to stay in the shade. Whether you do it yourself or have assistance, here are some things that will make Florida shade more beautiful:

• Container gardening—containers add color and allow ease of planting. If the pot looks blinding in light, it will work just fine in shade.

• Manage dense tree roots by installing small plants. They need smaller holes, often cost less, and will establish quickly.

• In pots or on the ground, here are six plants that will thrive in shade/partial shade conditions:

• Begonia —buy the ones with bright, interesting leaves. Light-colored flowers offer a twinkling glint in low light.

• Crossandra —provides magnificent orange or yellow clusters of flowers over a very verdant compact plant.

• Caladium —grown for its large, beautiful, bright leaves. Select the whitest varieties.

• Bromeliads —so easy! Pineapples thrive under my live oak. They will take up as much space as they are allowed, so select ones you really like.

• Beautyberry —these native shrubs take up a lot of space with their bright lime green leaves and neon purple berries.

• Wild coffee —if deep, rich green is your thing, this is the shrub for you. Enjoy sipping your cup of coffee while watching as pollinators swarm the flowers and then the birds eat the berries. Wild coffee plays well with beautyberry.

Whichever species or planting method you select, add other Florida-Friendly management techniques to care for the shade plantings. Keep in mind that water and fertilizer are not substitutes for sunlight. Both should be used judiciously to keep the plants healthy after they are established. Mulch plants in beds to manage moisture and soil temperature and to suppress weeds. This is the time of year when common plant pests thrive in the landscape. Keep an eye out for evidence of slugs, snails, and aphids, which can thrive in shade environments. Treat them before they become a bigger issue.

May is the very last month in which moderate temperatures are possible. Whether you go outside or remain inside, enjoy the view. June will be here shortly, huffing and puffing with impertinence flowing from the east. Blessedly, I am a Gator, born in June, so I do not run from hurricanes.

Nickie Munroe is an environmental horticulture agent with the University of Florida’s IFAS Indian River County Extension .