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Good outdoor shade plants


Shade Plants – Top 20 Shade Perennials, Flowers & More

Choose the right shade perennials, annuals, flowers, shrubs, and trees By Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer

Gardening in the shade has the reputation of being difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. By choosing the right shade-loving plants, it’s possible to have a beautiful landscape even in limited light. Some of the most popular garden plants are reliable standbys for a reason: with the right location and care, they provide season-long enjoyment even for novice gardeners.

Here are some of the best shade plants to get you started on the road to a lush, shady oasis:

On this page: Foliage Plants | Flowering Plants | Trees | Online Learning

FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR SHADE

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Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’ hosta. Photo by Proven Winners.

HOSTA

Regarded as queen of the shade garden, and it’s easy to see why. Hosta is grown for its attractive foliage in a wide variety of colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes ranging from teacup to truck tire-sized. This tough-as-nails plant is reliably hardy in colder zones, and performs best when provided with rich, well-amended soil and regular water. Many varieties tolerate deep shade and difficult sites, such as underneath trees. They combine well with many woodland plants that grow in shade, including coral bells, ferns, and columbine. These long-lived favorites will reward you with years of reliable color in the garden.

Height/Spread:

2 inches to 4 feet tall, 5 inches to 6 feet wide

Zones:

3-9

Plants to Try:

Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Blue Angel’, ‘Golden Tiara’, or ‘June’.

Learn more about growing hostas.

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Primo® ‘Peachberry Ice’. Photo by Proven Winners.

CORAL BELLS

For a nearly endless choice of foliage colors, patterns and forms, coral bells (Heuchera) fits the bill. From lemon yellow to nearly black, there’s a hue to match every garden palette, making this a landscape designer’s dream plant. The flowers that explode like fireworks above the foliage in late spring/early summer are just the icing on the cake. The easy-care nature of this semi-evergreen perennial—including tolerance of a wide variety of light and soil conditions—makes this an ideal choice for most landscapes. They perform best in rich, well-draining soil that stays evenly moist. Coral bells are a versatile design element, suitable for mixed borders, mass plantings and containers.

Height/Spread:

8 to 12 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide; flower stalks can reach 2 to 3 feet tall

Zones:

3-9

Plants to Try:

Primo® ‘Peachberry Ice’, ‘Marmalade’, ‘Plum Pudding’, ‘Red Lightning’.

Learn more about growing coral bells.

Maidenhair fern. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

FERNS

Ferns are some of the oldest living plants, dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. A must-have addition to any woodland or shade garden, these reliable perennials are grown for their attractive fronds that lend texture and form to the landscape. There are dozens of garden-worthy species that are adapted to a wide variety of conditions. Most require rich soil and plenty of moisture, though some such as Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) are drought-tolerant after establishment, making them a good choice for challenging sites such as dry shade. Ferns pair well with nearly any woodland shade plant such as primrose (Primula), bishop’s hat (Epimedium), hosta (Hosta), masterwort (Astrantia) and wood sorrel (Oxalis).

Height/Spread:

From the smallest fern in the world that measures just one-centimeter tall to tree-sized forms, there’s a size to fit every landscape.

Zones:

There’s a fern suitable to nearly every zone, from northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Z. 3) to species that thrive in tropical rain forests.

Plants to Try:

Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum).

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Heart to Heart™ 'Rose Glow'. Photo by Proven Winners.

CALADIUM

For an exotic feel in the garden, few plants rival the bold impact of angel wings (Caladium). Made popular as a Victorian conservatory plant, this tropical annual is grown for its arrow-shaped leaves in hues from pure white to multi-colored variegation. It’s most valuable for adding vibrant color to the darkest corners of your yard where bright colors can be scarce. Caladium can be grown from tubers or purchased as plants. Since they require a lot of heat to grow, they will do best when obtained as plants for those in cooler climates or without a heat source such as a greenhouse or heating mat. Grow as a bedding plant or in containers and combine with impatiens, begonias, and fuchsias.

Height/Spread:

6 inches to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Zones:

10-11

Plants to Try:

Heart to Heart™ ‘Rose Glow’, ‘Miss Muffet’, ‘White Queen’, ‘Red Flash’.

Learn more about growing caladium plants.

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ColorBlaze® Rediculous™ coleus. Photo by Proven Winners.

COLEUS

One of the most popular summer annuals is coleus (Plectranthus, syn. Solenostemon), grown for its foliage that comes in a never-ending array of patterns, forms and colors. Coleus prefer rich soil that drains well and regular water, and can easily be reproduced from cuttings. Foliage color is best when planted in areas that get some direct light in the morning and protection from hot afternoon sun. This tropical is extremely versatile as a design element; use as a stand-alone accent, massed as bedding plants, or in front of a mixed border. Combine in containers with flowering annuals such as million bells, impatiens, or fuchsia.

Height/Spread:

2 to 5 feet tall, 3 feet wide

Zones:

10-11

Plants to Try:

ColorBlaze® Rediculous™, ’ ‘Black Dragon’, ‘Campfire’, ‘Wizard’.

Learn more about growing coleus.

Golden Japanese forest grass. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

JAPANESE FOREST GRASS

One of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in shade is Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra). This deciduous perennial grows in low, mounding clumps. Golden or variegated species are valuable for lighting up darker areas with their foliage. Tolerant of varying light conditions from partial sun to deep shade, Japanese forest grass prefers rich, well-draining soil and regular moisture. Design uses are many: grow as a groundcover, massed along a slope, as a foundation planting, in containers or in the front of a mixed border. The graceful, arching habit and flowing leaf texture contrasts beautifully alongside hostas, hellebores, ferns and coral bells.

Height/Spread:

1 to 2 feet tall, 2 feet wide

Zones:

5-9

Plants to Try:

‘Aureola’, ’All Gold’, ‘Albo Striata’, ‘Nicolas’.

See more foliage plants: Proven Winners: Fab Foliage Plants for Shady Spaces

FLOWERING PLANTS FOR SHADE

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Proven Accents® Pink Chablis®. Photo by Proven Winners.

DEADNETTLE

Deadnettle (Lamium) is an easy care, reliable groundcover that’s grown for its attractive multi-seasonal foliage and spring-blooming flowers of pink, white, or lavender. The light-colored silver, white, yellow, or variegated foliage is effective for brightening deeply shaded areas. This deciduous or semi-evergreen perennial thrives in a wide range of conditions, though it does best with partial to full shade and well-amended soil. This creeping groundcover fills in quickly and can grow in difficult sites such as under trees or in dry shade, providing a carpet of color throughout the growing season. Grow on a slope, in larger areas in need of quick-growing vegetation, at the front of a mixed border, or in containers. Deadnettle can grow aggressively in certain areas. See where it has been identified as invasive.

Height/Spread:

3 inches to 2 feet tall, 3 feet wide or greater

Zones:

4-9

Plants to Try:

Proven Accents® Pink Chablis®, ‘White Nancy’, ‘Golden Anniversary’, ‘Beacon Silver’, ‘Chequers’.

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‘Cutting Edge’ foamflower. Photo by Proven Winners.

FOAMFLOWER

Foamflower (Tiarella), a classic woodland plant indigenous to North America, makes a welcome addition to any native garden. The delicate habit of this dainty semi-evergreen perennial belies its toughness and reliability. Grown for its frothy flowers that bloom over an exceptionally long time, the heart-shaped, lobed leaves in various patterns provide color year-round in milder regions. Foamflower tolerates deep shade, but performs best with dappled light that simulates their native woodland habitat. Plant in containers, rock gardens, or massed as a groundcover. Combine with other spring bloomers such as violets, Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), creeping phlox, and bleeding heart.

Height/Spread:

8 to 12 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Zones:

4-9

Plants to Try:

‘Cutting Edge’, ‘Crow Feather’, ‘Jeepers Creepers’, ‘Neon Lights’, ‘Pink Skyrocket’.

'Pink-a-Blue' lungwort. Photo by: Proven Winners

LUNGWORT

One of the most welcome sights in spring is the delightful flowers and foliage of lungwort (Pulmonaria). Among the earliest perennials to bloom, the showy flowers—in shades of blue, pink, coral, and white—emerge simultaneously with the attractive green, spotted or silver foliage that grows ever larger as the season progresses. This woodland favorite prefers rich soil and regular moisture, performing well even in boggy sites. Combine with bleeding heart, hosta and spring-flowering bulbs for an uplifting display after the long, cold winter.

Height/Spread:

6 to 12 inches tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

Zones:

3-9

Plants to Try:

‘Pink-a-Blue’, ‘Raspberry Splash’, ‘Dark Vader’, ‘Bertram Anderson’, ‘Sissinghurst White’.

Learn more about growing lungwort.

‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe. Photo by Sylvain Marineau / Millette Photomedia.

ASTILBE

Astilbe is a favorite of gardeners for its showy flower plumes that appear in summer after many other woodland plants are finished blooming. The flowers of this deciduous perennial occur in hues of violet, pink, white and red, blooming above the delicate ferny foliage, making this a real standout in the woodland garden. Astilbe prefers rich soil that stays constantly moist, and blooms best with part-day sun. Mass as a ground cover in a woodland garden or shade border, or plant in containers. Combine with ferns, coral bells and hostas.

Height/Spread:

1 to 4 feet tall and wide

Zones:

Most 4-8

Plants to Try:

‘Sprite’, ‘Visions’, ‘Bridal Veil’, ‘Ostrich Plume’.

Learn more about growing astilbe.

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Invincibelle Wee White® smooth hydrangea. Photo by Proven Winners.

HYDRANGEA

Hydrangea is one of the most revered garden plants, an old-fashioned favorite that blooms in summer and fall. This deciduous shrub comes in a wide range of species and forms, from the most popular mopheads (H. macrophylla) to hardy peegees (H. paniculata). Most prefer regular water and rich amended soil, though oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) is drought-tolerant in some areas once established. Flowers are blue, white, purple, pink or red, with some having variable color according to soil pH. Plant in a mixed border, as a stand-alone accent, or as screening along a property border. Smaller specimens can be planted in containers. Hydrangeas do prefer more bright shade than deep shade.

Height/Spread:

2 to 20 feet tall, 5 to 10 feet wide

Zones:

4-9

Plants to Try:

Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), H. macrophylla ‘Harlequin’, H. paniculata ‘Limelight’, H. arborescens Invincibelle Wee White® .

Learn more about growing hydrangeas.

Common foxglove. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

FOXGLOVE

Foxglove (Digitalis) is a classic cottage-style favorite, grown for its statuesque spires of bell-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring and summer. The most common garden forms are biennial (D. purpurea), producing flowers in their second year. These self-sow readily for years of subsequent bloom, making them useful to fill in gaps. Other perennial species are a good choice for a mixed border. Foxgloves prefer rich, moist soil and bloom best when receiving at least part-day sun. Plant along a slope or naturalize in a woodland setting, cottage-style garden, or wildflower meadow.

Height/Spread:

3 to 8 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones:

3-8

Plants to Try:

Common foxglove (D. purpurea), strawberry foxglove (D. xmertonensis), rusty foxglove (D. ferruginea), sunset foxglove (D. obscura).

Learn more about growing foxglove.

Japanese primrose. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

PRIMROSE

A sure sign of spring, primrose (Primula) is a welcome sight after a long, cold winter. The best known variety, English primrose (P. vulgaris), appears in garden centers in early spring with cheerful hues of blue, pink, red, yellow and orange. There are dozens of other garden-worthy species, all of which perform best in cooler climates. Primroses prefer rich, well-draining soil, regular water and partial sun to deep shade, though alpine types can tolerate more light and dryer conditions. They combine well with many other woodland plants, including ferns, hosta, iris and bleeding heart. Naturalize in a woodland setting, plant at the front of a mixed border, or in containers.

Height/Spread:

3 inches to 4 feet tall, 4 inches to 3 feet wide

Zones:

2-8

Plants to Try:

Japanese primrose (P. japonica), candelabra primrose (P. beesiana), drumstick primrose (P. denticulata), cowslip (P. veris).

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Infinity® Pink Frost New Guinea impatiens. Photo by Proven Winners.

IMPATIENS

A top choice of gardeners for shade bedding plants are impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), valued for their nonstop bloom from late spring through frost. These tropical annuals come in a wide array of colors and are fast-growing, quickly filling in large areas. Impatiens prefer rich, well-draining soil, regular water, and are relatively low maintenance, requiring no deadheading. In recent years, downy mildew has become a greater problem, so other disease-resistant forms such as New Guinea impatiens and SunPatiens® offer a viable substitute. Breeders are working to develop other mildew-resistant forms, which will soon become available to home gardeners. Mass in beds, plant at the front of a border, or in containers.

Height/Spread:

1 to 3 feet tall and wide

Zones:

10-11

Plants to Try:

New Guinea impatiens (I. hawkeri), SunPatiens® (I. xhawkeri), jewelweed (I. capensis).

Learn more about growing impatiens.

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‘Gold Heart’ old-fashioned bleeding heart. Photo by Proven Winners.

BLEEDING HEART

Few shade flowers rival the romance and intrigue of bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos syn. Dicentra spectabilis). The white, pink, or red heart-shaped flowers are borne on arching stems above fern-like leaves. The most commonly grown variety of this deciduous perennial is L. spectabilis (syn. Dicentra spectabilis), a spring ephemeral that dies back in summer. Plant these alongside hosta or other bold-leafed plants that will grow up and cover the dying foliage. Bleeding heart grows best in rich, well-draining soil with regular moisture. For longer-lasting plants, the foliage and flowers of fringed bleeding heart (D. eximia) or western bleeding heart (D. formosa) will last into fall with regular watering. Grow in a woodland setting with other shade lovers, or in a container as a dramatic focal point.

Height/Spread:

6 inches to 3 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

Zones:

3-9

Plants to Try:

‘Alba’, ‘Gold Heart’, ‘Valentine’, ‘Luxuriant’.

Learn more about growing bleeding heart.

Hellebore hybrid. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

HELLEBORE

Hellebores (Helleborus) are coveted by avid gardeners for their exceptionally long bloom time, cup-shaped flowers and attractive evergreen foliage. Christmas rose (H. niger) is the first to bloom, beginning in December in milder regions, hence its name. Thanks to recent breeding breakthroughs, the most commonly grown species (H. xhybridus)—which blooms from late winter into spring—comes in a dizzying array of colors and patterns. These tough plants prefer rich, well-draining soil, tolerate varying light conditions, and are virtually carefree once established. Naturalize in a woodland setting, plant in front of a mixed border, or in containers. Combine with anemone, hosta, trillium and daffodils.

Height/Spread:

1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide.

Zones:

4-9

Plants to Try:

Stinking hellebore (H. foetidus), Corsican hellebore (H. argutifolius), Winter Jewels®, ‘Pink Frost’.

Learn more about growing hellebores.

TREES FOR SHADE

Japanese maple. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

JAPANESE MAPLE

Among the most beloved ornamental trees, Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are grown for their multi-seasonal interest, elegant structure and brilliantly colored foliage in shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. While some varieties grow into medium or tall trees, others stay smaller, making them suitable for urban lots. These deciduous trees do best when planted in rich, well-draining soil, and with regular water and protection from hot afternoon sun. Use as a backdrop in a mixed woodland border or as a stand-alone focal point. Smaller specimens can be planted in containers.

Height/Spread:

3 to 30 feet tall, 3 to 25 feet wide

Zones:

5-8

Plants to Try:

A. palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, A. palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’, A. japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’, A. palmatum ‘Shishigashira’.

Learn more about growing Japanese maple trees.

Dura-heat® river birch. Photo by Marietta Paternoster Garr / Millette Photomedia.

BIRCH

For natural woodland appeal, birch (Betula) trees make a valuable addition to the landscape for their elegant stature, fall color, and ornamental bark that is particularly attractive in winter. Some varieties are extremely hardy, making them a good choice in colder regions. These deciduous trees are fast growing and perform best in rich, well-draining soil with regular water and at least part-day sun. Because there are so many options to choose from, it’s important to research which ones will do best in your region, and to choose a variety that will not outgrow its space. Plant near a stream or pond, in a row to divide garden spaces, group as an allée, or use a single specimen as a backdrop in a mixed border.

Height/Spread:

5 to 80 feet tall, 5 to 40 feet wide

Zones:

2-9

Plants to Try:

B. papyrifera (paper birch), B. nigra (river birch), B. pendula (weeping birch), B. populifolia ('Whitespire' grey birch).

Learn more about growing birch trees.

Pagoda dogwood. Photo by Bertrand Dumont / Millette Photomedia.

DOGWOOD

Grown for its showy flowers and statuesque habit, dogwood (Cornus) is synonymous with spring. While most are deciduous trees, there are also shrub and groundcover forms. Tree varieties most available to home gardeners tend to be small to medium-sized, making them suitable to urban lots and curbside strips where power lines are a concern. Some varieties prefer full sun, though others are suited to the dappled shade of their native woodland habitat. Use as a backdrop or focal point in a mixed border, or as a stand-alone focal point in a lawn. Grow with compatible understory plants such as daffodils, sweet woodruff, hosta and ferns.

Height/Spread:

10 to 50 feet tall, 6 to 50 feet wide

Zones:

4-9

Plants to Try:

C. alternifolia (pagoda dogwood), C. controversa ‘Variegata’ (wedding cake tree), C. kousa (kousa dogwood), C. florida f. rubra (Eastern dogwood).

Learn more about growing dogwood trees.

Chinese witch hazel. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

WITCH HAZEL

In the dead of winter when there is little life in the garden, the delicate ribbon-like flowers of witch hazel (Hamamelis) cheer up even the dreariest days. The graceful vase-shaped structure is just a bonus, with some varieties having additional attributes of fall color or fragrance. This deciduous tree or shrub needs virtually no care once established, with most suitable for small spaces. Grow as a stand-alone focal point, along a property border, or near your home’s entrance or sidewalk where the fragrance can be enjoyed up close. Smaller specimens can be grown in containers. Combine with other plants with winter interest such as hellebores, snowdrops, and heathers.

Height/Spread:

12 to 15 feet tall and wide

Zones:

3-9

Plants to Try:

H. xintermedia‘Jelena’, H. xintermedia ‘Aphrodite’, H. xintermedia ‘Diane’, Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis).

Learn more about growing witch hazel.

ONLINE LEARNING

Plant expert Kerry Ann Mendez introduces you to a wide variety of perennials, flowering shrubs, annuals, bulbs and flowering vines for shade gardens in Zones 3 to 8. Get design tips and plant combinations that will have you eager to plant up the shady spots in your garden.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Harness the full potential of your garden by using shade plants to bring even the shadiest corners to life.

Since most plants prefer full or at least partial sunlight, it can be difficult finding plants for shade. We often neglect shady spots, writing them off as areas for planting. Luckily, there are a good number of shade loving plants that as part of your garden ideas you can include to create spectacular displays in these darker areas.  

Many gardeners choose to use shady spots in their garden for sheds, compost bins, or simply somewhere to store garden furniture when not in use. Often these areas are neglected, but when a shady spot in your garden is front and center, or most of the garden is in shade, you need to get creative. 

Shaded areas in our garden can become dramatic and beautiful features if you choose the right shade plants to bring them to life. 

(Image credit: Future / David Giles)

Shade plants – what to consider

A large portion of gardening successfully comes down to growing the right plants for your conditions. If you’re attempting to grow plants that will not naturally grow in the conditions you have, you are setting yourself up for a lot of work or failure. 

Plants need sunlight to photosynthesize and grow. It’s impossible to grow plants without it, but some shade plants are adapted to growth in low light conditions. They have specific adaptations in their leaves that help them to capture the light, meaning that they can grow in natural conditions, such as forest floors, deep valleys or even caves.  Those with small, enclosed courtyard gardens might have very little choice but to garden with shade plants.

When growing in shade, plants will lose less water through the leaves, and there will also be less water loss from the surface of the soil. So often shaded areas require less watering, too.

We cannot expect plants that are adapted to live in sunny conditions to thrive in the shade, and vice versa, so good plant selection is essential for success. 

Just as there are shrubs for shade and even some easy vegetables to grow in shade, there are easy to grow shade plants that will thrive in the shade either in beds, borders or in containers, or woodland plants that are suited to the specific conditions of wooded areas.

1. Hostas

(Image credit: Joe Wainwright)

Zones 3–8

Hostas are beautiful perennials, valued for their lush, dense foliage, and large decorative leaves and are a must-have shade plant. 

They come in a variety of colors with some beautiful blue hues and spectacular variegation so are a great addition to shady flower beds as part of north facing garden ideas.  

Hostas make great understorey plants and have delicate purple flowers spikes in summer. In case this wasn’t enough, their young leaves are also edible and a great alternative to asparagus. 

‘Hostas are greedy, thirsty plants,’ says Monty Don of Gardeners World . They like moist, rich soils. 'The key thing for hostas is that they aren’t too dry in winter,' he continues. He recommends adding compost to the soil to improve its moisture retention and mulching the plants annually. 

They are prone to slug damage, so it’s important to grow plants in good conditions so they can thrive. ‘I’ve discovered that an awful lot of hosta damage is a result of stress. A happy hosta tends not to be eaten so much by slugs and snails,’ says Don.

These perennials can be grown from seed, bulbs or from dividing plants. It is easiest and quickest to plant bulbs or divided plants and make sure you know when to plant hostas. 

Lift and divide when the leaves are just starting to spike through the ground. Remove the entire clump and cut it into sections. Each leaf will make a new plant if it has some root attached, but if you want bigger, healthier plants, divide into clumps of several leaves. 

‘The key to dividing hostas is to be brave’ says Monty Don. ‘It's a fairly corky, solid chunk of root in there and if you go too tentatively, you can actually damage it. So choose your line with a sharp spade and then go for it,’ he says. 

If your garden is prone to slugs, you may want to consider growing hostas in containers as part of your container gardening ideas. Choose a large container that will have good water retention and choose a rich potting compost. 

You can also collect seeds from dry seed heads in fall and plant them straight away in trays of potting compost. Be aware that your hostas may not come out looking the same as the parent plant, but it can be a fun way to propagate.

2. Ferns

(Image credit: Annaick Guitteny / Future)

Zones 2–10

Ferns are another beautiful and diverse shade loving plant grown for their foliage and make a textural addition to  flower bed ideas. They are available in lots of forms ranging from thick chunky leaves to delicate fronds, so there is bound to be something to suit your taste. 

If you're wondering how to grow ferns, they thrive in damp, shady spots, so work well under trees for shade but there are some that are adapted for life in dry shade, too. While some are perennial and will die back in winter and unfurl their leaves in spring, others are evergreen. If you're looking for tropical garden ideas, they will add a lovely jungle feel to your garden. 

Choose a fern that suits your conditions. Some may need some protection during winter, while others are hardy; some will prefer full shade and others partial shade, so, it’s important to determine your conditions before sourcing your plant. They can also work well in living wall ideas.

Ferns can be grown from spores as they do not produce seed, but this takes some time and can be quite hard work, so it's recommended to buy an established plant or divide a mature plant, as with hostas.  

There are two different methods for dividing ferns, depending on the type you have. If your fern forms crowns, with the leaves unfurling around a centre point you can simply identify where the crowns are and cut them apart using a sharp knife, making sure to keep a section of root with each crown.

Ferns that form rhizomes – underground roots – are easier to divide. Simply lift the plant and find the rhizome, they are usually just below the surface and extend out to the side. Cut a section of the rhizome with some leaf or leaf bud on it and it will form a new plant.

3. Heuchera

(Image credit: Clare Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo)

Zones 4–9 

Native to the woodlands of North America, these hardy perennials, sometimes known as coral bells, foamflower or alumroot, are a joy for many parts of the garden. They form clumps of dense leaves in a rainbow of colors ranging from red through to blue, orange, and bright green. Their tiny delicate flowers grow on stalks creating a misty effect over the leaves.  

Heuchera prefer partial rather than full shade, but some varieties will require less shade than others – if in doubt ask your supplier. They like a moist but well drained soil and will grow well in containers. Some even having a trailing habit making them a choice of plants for hanging baskets. 

Heuchera are most easy grown from buying plants at a nursery or dividing an existing mature plant. Divide Heuchera in spring by digging the plant up and pulling off the clumps from around the edge. The woody center of the plant can then be discarded. Grow the small sections on in pots in a shady spot and protect them from full sun. 

These colorful evergreens are good plants for pots all year round and easy to look after.

4. Caladium – elephant ears

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zones 9–11

Caladium, sometimes called elephant ears, are known for their impressively large leaves. They are in the same elephant ear family as colocasia, but come in more beautiful colors and patterns and can add real interest to any darker corner as shade plants. Some varieties are bigger than others, so ensure to choose a variety that suits the space that you have. 

Caladiums are warmer climate plants and are only winter hardy down to zone 9, so make sure you know how to care for elephant ears. They can tolerate 2 to 4 hours of sunlight a day and will grow better if they are allowed a little bit of sun during the day. They are an easy plant to grow and will grow quickly in the right conditions. 

Caladium grow from tubers underground and can be grown by purchasing a plant or tuber, or by digging up an established plant and dividing the tubers. Once you know how to plant elephant ear bulbs you can add them to all corners of the gardens. 

They prefer a rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter.

5. Bleeding heart – Dicentra spectabilis

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zones 3–9

Bleeding heart, or Dicentra spectabilis, is a beautiful and decorative plant that enjoys a shady position in the garden. In the summer it has long branches of flowers shaped, as the name suggests like bleeding hearts. These plants are a joy to see and are available in a few different colors, including the common pink and white flowers to red and an all-white flower, which adds light to a dark area. 

They are also shade plants favored by our buzzing pollinators with flowers that attract bees, so have even more in their favor.

This herbaceous perennial prefers rich, moist soil and part or full shade. They will not tolerate areas that are prone to flooding as they can develop root-rot. So make sure to add lots of organic matter to your soil to retain water and reduce water-logging. Dicentra is easy to grow and rarely encounters problems once established. It is important to keep it well watered at first to allow it to become established. 

Bleeding heart can be grown from seed, but it is easiest to grow from a nursery seedling or from dividing an established plant. 

Dividing a bleeding-heart clump is easy. Simply lift the plant out of the ground in spring just as the buds are beginning to appear from the crown. Cut the crown with a sharp knife or spade so that each section has at least one bud (more is better!) and some roots. Then re-plant each section into a humus-rich soil and water in well. 

Bleeding heart can also be grown from cuttings. For how to take plants cuttings, choose a stem without any flowers on and cut a 4–6-inch section. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the section and place in a container of well-drained but moist potting compost. Keep out of direct sunlight. Keep the medium moist until roots appear and then pot on your seedling. 

6. Hellebores

(Image credit: Future)

Zones 3–9

Hellebores, or winter roses, are beautiful shade plants to grow to add color and interest to a shady spot. They also flower in winter making them particularly attractive to pollinators just coming out of hibernation and among the best winter flowers. The flowers range in color from deep red to speckled pinks and purples and even greenish white. They are also well behaved, clump forming plants that are very low maintenance.

Hellebores prefer full or partial shade and rich, well-drained soils. It is easy to learn how to grow hellebores, and they can be propagated through division but do not like to be moved once they are established, so dividing a root ball can be quite risky. 

7. Impatiens 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zones 2–11

Impatiens, also known as busy lizzies are bright and pretty bedding plants with deep green leaves and a profusion of flowers, so an ideal choice if you're considering how to plant a flower bed. They are available in lots of colors including white, red, pink and purple. 

Impatiens are quite a compact plant with a mounding habit, and they work well in borders, among other plants and in hanging baskets. They will tolerate full shade, but prefer partial shade, with a few hours of sunlight in a day if possible. In cooler climates they will grow as an annual, and in warmer climates they can be overwintered and grown as a perennial.

The cultivar Impatiens capensis, also known as jewelweed are among the flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Sow seeds in early spring in a tray of moist seed compost and cover over. Germination should take around 2-3 weeks. Once they have their second set of leaves, they can be pricked out into modules. Grow them on for a little longer before transplanting into the garden.

8. Lily of the Valley

(Image credit: Alamy)

Lily of the Valley is a delicate and beautiful shade plant. Featured in Kate Middleton’s wedding bouquet this truly is a classic choice that will always bring you joy. Lily of the valley can be grown by purchasing a plant or bulbs, or by dividing an existing clump. 

To divide lily of the valley, gently lift the plant out of the ground and using your hands tease away some of the bulbs. Keep them in small groups of around 2 or 3 if possible. You may need to cut some of the roots with a sharp knife if they are tangled. Then transplant them to where you want them to grow.

Do be aware, however, that these shade loving plants are poisonous plants, so be careful if they are planted in gardens where children may play.

9. Japanese forest grass – hakonechloa

(Image credit: Alamy Images)

Zones 5–9

Hakonechloa, or Japanese forest grass, is a popular shade plant. Ornamental grasses add movement and structure to a garden and are an important element in creating a well-rounded display. This grass forms attractive mounds with bright green / yellow blades. 

While a lot of grasses prefer full sun, Japanese forest grass is a shade loving species. It prefers full shade where possible. Japanese forest grass will thrive in a moist, well-drained soil. Adding organic matter can help to create better soil. 

Heidi from Garden Crossings recommends the variety 'All Gold'; ‘I just love how All gold has a beautiful pop of color,’ she says. ‘It’s got these stunning chartreuse green leaves that pair really nicely with the bold deep greens,’ she continues. 

It is best to grow hakonechloa from a nursery plant or by dividing an existing plant. Divide crowns in early spring as they are just beginning to sprout. Lift the plant gently out of the ground and cut the crown using a sharp knife or spade. Ensure that there is at least one – preferably more – shoots and roots per section. 

Plant in groups 11in. (30cm) apart to create the appearance of one large plant. 

10. Columbine – aquilegia

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

Zones 3–9

Columbine or aquilegia is an attractive perennial with tall flower stalks and interesting shaped flowers in a range of colors. They are easy to grow and will self-seed in the garden if allowed and are popular cottage garden plants if you are looking for cottage garden ideas.

In warmer zones these plants will do well in the shade, but they will need at least a few hours of sunlight in cooler zones.  

Columbines are not too fussy but they like a well-drained soil, as long as it is not too dry. Mulch in spring to avoid the soil drying out too much.

You can sow seeds inside in trays 8-10 weeks before the last frost or sow directly into the ground. Columbine grow easily so sowing directly is the easiest way to grow them. Allow the seed heads to develop and self-seed for more plants every year.

What plants grow fast in shade?

When planning a garden, we often want to know what plants grow fast in shade. All the plants listed above are good shade plants. Caladium, hostas and impatiens are all relatively fast-growing plants. However, it's important to remember that when growing plants in shade, they are naturally going to grow at a slower rate. Plants that are adapted to life in shady spots will also be adapted to growing slower. This is because photosynthesis is slower in low light conditions. 

What do we mean by shade?

Shade is a term used to describe any area that does not get direct sunlight. Often an area will be in shade some of the time, and sunlight some of the time. Full shade refers to an area that is always in shade. Partial shade refers to an area that is shaded more than it is in sun. 

Generally, plants can adapt to growing in conditions that are sunnier. For example, a plant adapted to full shade will often grow well in partial shade. But plants that are adapted to more sunny conditions will not grow well when placed in too shady a spot.

(Image credit: Joe Wainwright)

What's the best perennial to plant in the shade?

Most of the plants listed above are great perennials to plant in shade. The best one will depend on the conditions that you have in your backyard, and your personal taste. If you have plenty of space in a shady spot, try a few of these plants together to create a beautiful and striking display. 

What flower does well in shade?

It can be a challenge to find a flower that does well in shade, but we have listed a few here for you to try. Lily of the valley is subtle and pretty; columbine will add height and interest; and impatiens are great for bringing in color and lightening a dark spot. Heuchera is also a great choice as you get pretty flowers and interesting foliage.

Becky is a freelance writer, blogger, and podcaster. Her blog, Sow Much More and her podcast The Seed Pod are aimed at making organic gardening more accessible and encourage others to grow their own food. 

Shade-tolerant plants for the garden: unpretentious shade-loving flowers, shrubs and herbs

Shady corners in the garden are sure to be found. I would like to arrange them no less decorative than the front flower beds. And sometimes - and more interesting to compensate for the lack of sunlight. There is no need to roll them into concrete, you don’t have to nurse the oppressed sprouts either - there are many plants that feel great in the shade.

Shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants - what's the difference
The division into shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants is not entirely correct: all plants need the sun - this is the basis of biochemistry, their vital activity. It’s just that some species need the open sun, others have learned to get by with scattered or reflected (that is, “tolerate the shadow”). Usually these are the inhabitants of the undergrowth, and it is they who can be classified as shade-tolerant of varying degrees. There are those plants that feel worse in the open sun than in diffused light. That's just how they are usually referred to as shade-loving.

Sisson Landscapes

Fact: Shade-tolerant and shade-loving garden plants are considered synonymous in everyday life (just look at what users google and what search engines give them an answer). Gardeners do not make a difference: they are simply interested in unpretentious plants that can live without bright light - ideal candidates for landscaping a wooded area with preserved trees or planting in a flower bed in the shade of buildings. So, speaking of shade-tolerant and shade-loving plants in this article, we will generally write about species that manage with a small amount of indirect sun.

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What shade do you have? Will it be a solid shadow on the north side of the house or near the fence, where direct sunlight does not fall at all. For such conditions, hosts (Hosta), multi-flowered (Polygonatum multiflorum), ferns, geraniums - red-brown (Geranium phaeum) and marsh (Geranium palustre), liverworts (Hepatica), doubtful Jeffersonia (Jeffersonia dubia), oak anemone (Anemone nemorosa), which love deep shade.

Diffused light is provided by tall trees with a sparse crown, such as pines.

KLUMBAShop Kameneva Natalia and Gavrilova Anastasia

Large deciduous trees with a low crown create strong shading - the space in their roots is available only to slanting morning and evening sun rays. In the morning and evening, areas on the north side of large dense shrubs or conifers are also illuminated. Such conditions give protection from the midday sun to those plants that need it: these are cornflower (Thalictrum), thick-leaved bergenia (Vergenia crassifolia), shade-tolerant phlox flowers (Phlox) and perennial dicentra (Dicentra). Trees with a less dense crown cast a moving spotted shadow. Similar conditions often occur in orchards. Here, forest dwellers such as forest anemone (Anemone sylvestris), tiarella (Tiarella), lungwort (Pulmonaria), soft cuff (Alchemilla mollis) - flowers that love shade - feel great here.

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Pay attention to the soil
Soil quality is very important for shade dwellers. Most of them prefer richly moist but well-drained soil. It should be quite nutritious, but light. These are the soils of deciduous forests. Poor soils should be enriched with compost or humus. Acidity must also be taken into account. If necessary, especially when developing a site overgrown with natural forest, it is worth preparing planting pits for perennials, “filling” them with the type of soil that is optimal for them.

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Humidity and Drainage
Sufficient moisture is really important for plants growing in the shade - they are used to it in their natural environment. Many of them have evolved broad, massive leaves to help collect scarce sunlight. And although the evaporation of moisture in the shade is much less, they may need abundant watering. Especially on dry sandy soils. However, these plants often have a thick rhizome located rather superficially. With stagnant water, poor drainage and runoff, their roots are prone to rotting. When preparing planting pits for such perennials, additional drainage from pebbles or broken bricks can be laid on the bottom.

SEE ALSO
22 Beautiful Flowering Plants for Damp and Damp Spots in Your Garden Among the shade-tolerant species there are shrubs and herbaceous plants, flowering and ornamental, large and miniature forms. They will help you create a lot of really interesting combinations.

Shrubs
Among the shrubs there are many natives of the forest that feel good in the shade and embody all the advantages and decorativeness of this form. They can be placed solo or made up of groups in the same way as in sunny places.

  • White Derain (Cornus alba) is one of the leaders in unpretentiousness. In addition to its other advantages - a beautiful shape and decorative red shoots that will decorate the site in winter - it has another undeniable advantage. Unlike most plants with decoratively colored leaves, which lose their color in the shade, white-variegated forms of turf (in particular, the now widespread variety "Elegantissima") retain a contrasting pattern of leaves. They will help to “refresh” a shady place, create the illusion of moving sun glare here.

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  • Warty euonymus (Euonymus verrucosa) and winged (Euonymus alata) .
  • Califolia (Physocarpus opulifolius) - this shrub needs no introduction, it has been so popular in recent years. And all thanks to the large volume of large leaves, beautiful flowers, decorative seed boxes, and of course, its unpretentiousness.

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  • Tatar honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) is another hardy, shade-tolerant shrub that has made it an indispensable part of urban landscaping. A delicate aroma will fill the area during its flowering in early summer, and later it will be decorated with bright berries of red and orange.
  • Hawthorn (Crataegus) - its hardiness and prunability make it an indispensable material for hedges that will be decorative both in the sun and in shady places.
  • Early weigela (Weigela praecox) is a flowering shrub for partial shade. However, it is not winter hardy enough.
  • Viburnum (Viburnum) - in the variety of its forms, it grows well in the shade and in the sun.
  • Black and golden currants (Ribes) - of course, growing in the shade, they are unlikely to bear fruit abundantly, but these types of currants are suitable for decorating a shady area.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

  • Red, Black and Canadian Elder (Sambucus) is another hardy and highly ornamental shrub. Is that black is not winter-hardy enough. It will decorate the shady corner with beautifully cut foliage and bright berries (they are also edible in black elderberry). True, red elderberry and Canadian elderberry have a peculiar smell during flowering. They have even been used as a natural rodent and insect repellent. However, they are perfect for decorating utility zones and corners far from home.

Margarita Alekseeva

  • Hydrangea (Hydrangea) - feels comfortable in partial shade, because the plant does not like the bright midday sun. And its luxurious inflorescences are a wonderful decoration both in the garden and in the cut.

In addition, there are a number of shrubs that, although they will not bloom as abundantly as in a sunny place, will loyally react to a shaded position: these are spirea (Speraea), barberry (Berberis), brilliant cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus), snowberry (Symphoricarpos).

SEE ALSO…
Ornamental Shrubs: 12 Reasons to Plant Them in Your Garden

Gelderman Landscape Services

Conifers
Contrary to popular belief, many conifers are quite light-loving. Shade-tolerant plants include common spruce (Picea abies), fir (Abies), Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), microbiota (Microbiota). These plants are quite suitable for decorating shady places, especially compact and decorative varieties.

SEE ALSO
Coniferous plants in the garden: Selection and application in the shadow. And since the vines growing in our latitudes are mostly inhabitants of the undergrowth, they feel great in shady places. Girlish grapes (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), kirkazon (Aristolochia macrophylla) will develop well here, among the flowering ones - petiolate hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) and prince (Atragene), which, unlike clematis, also blooms in the shade.

Le jardinet

Ornamental plants
Among the shade-tolerant plants, there are many species with very expressive leaves, distinguished by their large size, interesting shape and color. True, decorative coloring, unfortunately, does not always withstand shade conditions. This is especially true of yellow-leaved and yellow-variegated forms. Most of these plants bloom just as beautifully, decorating the shady corner with delicate buds. But it is their leaves that provide a long-lasting decorative effect for a shady flower bed.

James R. Salomon Photography

Hosta is by far the best-known shady flower garden dweller. Its plasticity has made it a favorite object of many breeders, thanks to which we now have a really wide range of varieties that differ in size - from 10 to 60 cm, leaf shape and color (green and blue varieties are better for shade). Thanks to this variety, you can create decorative compositions exclusively from the host.

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Bliss Garden Design, LLC

Ferns is a large department of plants that are equally great in shape and size. Most of them are shade-loving, which means that these plants are an ideal filling for a shady flower garden, creating a beautiful pattern and a voluminous openwork mass of greenery.

Landscape workshop of Alena Arsenieva

Astilboides tabularis impresses with its huge funnel-shaped leaves. And although it also blooms very decoratively, it is often used in flower beds precisely for the sake of leaves. A number of shade-tolerant plants also have large expressive leaves: Rogersia (Rodgersia), podophyllum (Podophyllum), thyroid peltiphyllum (Peltiphyllum peltatum), palmate rhubarb (Rheum palmatum), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), thick-leaved badan (Vergenia crassifolia).

Separately worth mentioning ground cover plants — shade-loving, covering the ground with a continuous mass of leaves and not giving weeds even a chance. They will serve to fill the lower tier in a shady flower garden - as a replacement for a lawn with a lack of sun, for planting under trees. Many of them bloom beautifully. Shade-tolerant groundcovers: small periwinkle (Vinca minor), apical pachysandra (Rachysandra terminalis), creeping tenacious (Ajuga reptans), saxifrage (Saxifraga) round-leaved and shady, lungwort (Pulmonaria), ivy-shaped bud (Pulmonaria).

Fenton Roberts Garden Design

Grasses in the shade
Most grasses are sun-loving. However, for partial shade, you can pick up cereal plants. Spreading forest (Milium effusum), team hedgehog (Dacttylis glomerata), soddy pike (Deschampsia caespitosa), meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) will be able to grow here.

SEE ALSO...
Good question: How to choose the best cereals for your garden

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Plants that bloom in the shade - for any season
Shade-tolerant plants are valuable not only for their expressive leaves. Most of them bloom very beautifully. Shade-tolerant flowers may not be able to compete in brightness with plants that love sunny places, but you will be provided with mass flowering and tenderness of buds. The flowering period for the inhabitants of the shade is also different, which means that it is quite possible to create a composition of continuous flowering here.

SEE ALSO…
A lazy garden is easy and simple!

Le jardinet

  • ), May lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), thyroid peltiphyllum (Peltiphyllumpeltatum), kupena (Polygonatum), forget-me-nots (Myosotis), perennial tiarella (Tiarella) and other garden flowers that love shade.

SEE ALSO…
Good question: What poisonous plants (maybe) grow in your garden? The foliage on the trees has not yet gained strength and density, so in the near-trunk circles, spring-flowering bulbs feel at ease - very beautiful shade-loving flowers for the garden.

Samuel H. Williamson Associates

  • In the summer of dicentra (Dicentra), geraniums (Geranium), meadowsweet (Filipendula), cornflower (Thalictrum), hosts (Hosta), aquilegia (Aquilegia), lily-of-the-valley loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides), astrantia (Astrantia), loosestrife ( Lythrum) and many other garden flowers that love shade.

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  • In the autumn of , the shady garden is adorned with the intense changing color of the leaves of the euonymus, white turf, girlish grapes, and many herbaceous plants.

Along with the limitations, a shady corner also provides a number of advantages - protection from the wind and better moisture, good snow protection in winter. The natural inhabitants of the shadow, for the most part, will not require much trouble from you. And the number and variety of their species will allow you to create a beautiful plant composition even in heavily shaded places.

TALK IN THE COMMENTS…
How do you decorate the shady corners of the garden? Do you have any favorite shade tolerant or shade loving plants/flowers?

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15 flowers growing in the shade. Detailed description with photo.

Many suburban areas, especially old ones, suffer from strong shading. Due to the overgrown trees, there is almost no sun there, and the constant shade does not allow bright, beautiful herbaceous plants to bloom magnificently.

However, there are shade-loving, unpretentious annual and perennial flowers that thrive in such conditions. Planting them will allow you to brighten up even the darkest corners of your garden.

FLOWERS GROWING IN THE SHADE

Many amateur gardeners believe that all flowers need a lot of bright light. But this is far from true.

There are perennial and annual ornamental plants that need only a few hours of sunlight per day (morning or evening). And there are those who do not need light at all.

By the way, there is much more moisture and nutrients in the shade than in brightly lit areas. Therefore, some types of decorative flowers feel quite comfortable in partial shade and even full shade.

In this article we will tell you about perennial and annual flower crops growing in the shade. In addition, we will talk about shade-loving indoor flowers.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SHADOW-TOOLING PLANTS

All shade-tolerant flowers can be divided into shade-tolerant and shade-tolerant .

Shade-loving garden flowers suffer from direct sunlight. They also include some indoor plants.

Shade-loving perennial crops include lily of the valley, begonia, wild hoof and periwinkle .

Shade-tolerant flowers do well in both shade and ambient light. Therefore, it is them that amateur flower growers prefer to grow in their garden. We will describe in detail about shade-tolerant and shade-loving flower crops below.

These plants are characterized by a low rate of photosynthesis. And outwardly, all shade-tolerant plants differ from sun-loving ones. They tend to have broader and thinner, softer leaves to capture even the slightest amount of sunlight.

Their leaves are usually flat and smooth in shape with a very bright dark green color.

SHADOW-TOOLING COTTAGE FLOWERS

All shade-tolerant garden flowers can be subdivided into annuals and perennials . Consider each group separately and get acquainted with the brief characteristics of the most common shade-tolerant plants.

Shade-tolerant annual flowers

All annual flowers except nasturtium grow through seedlings, sowing them from late February to mid-March. In early May, seedlings can be transplanted into flower beds.

Lobelia . Grows best in partial shade. It is a small spherical shrub 12 to 20 cm high with small delicate blue, white-pink, purple or purple flowers (their color depends on the variety).

Lobelia seeds are hard to germinate, so sow them in mid-February. Transplant to the flower bed in early May. Flowering will begin in early May and continue until early September.

Lobelia borders planted along the paths of a shady garden look very nice.

Best varieties: Purple Palace, Pink Riviera, Riviera colored carpet.

Nasturtium . Unusually beautiful ground cover or ampelous flower with stem length from 30 cm to 1. 5 m.

The flowers are large (up to 6 cm long), with a characteristic aroma, shaped like a net or a nightcap.

Flower color - bright yellow, orange, burgundy. It can be two or three colors.

Best varieties: Indian Princess, First Beauty, Peach Melba.

Scented tobacco . An evening flower with a surprisingly subtle and delicate aroma. A plant with a height of 30 to 75 cm with beautiful, bright - snow-white, yellow, orange, pink, fiery red flowers. Flowers up to 8 cm in diameter.

Grow aromatic tobacco through seedlings. Sow seeds in the spring in mid-March, plant in a flower bed in early May.

Flowering continues from June to early October.

Fragrant tobacco is unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but needs constant watering.

Best varieties: sets Carnival and Sensation .

Annual begonia . Shade-loving flower. Plant it only in a completely shaded area, such as under old trees. This plant is best grown in pots. Sow seeds at the end of February.

Seedlings can be planted in a flower bed or grown in wooden boxes or flowerpots.

It is a spherical bush with many stems. The height of the bush is from 20 to 35 cm. In ampelous varieties, the shoots reach a length of 70 cm.

The flowers are shaped like roses or carnations. Depending on the variety, they can be colored orange, pink, red or burgundy.

Flowering continues from early June to early October.

Best varieties: Copacabana red, ampelous Chanson Set Charm.

Mimulus . Very unpretentious, moisture-loving ground cover, beautiful flowering plant. Feels good in low-lying places flooded with rainwater.

Grows in bushes 25 - 35 cm high. Stems are bare, slightly raised with fleshy rounded petals. For their shape, the mimulus is popularly called the "lubastic".

Flowers, up to 3 cm in diameter, orange or copper red. The plant blooms from early July until the onset of persistent autumn frosts (mid-October).

Small mimulus bushes look very good in borders or borders located along the paths of the garden.

Grow this crop through seedlings. Sow seeds in mid-March. After two months, plant seedlings in flower beds.

Best grade: Magic white.

Marigold . Beautifully flowering shade-tolerant plants that are very fond of almost all gardeners. Their large and unusually bright - creamy white, yellow, orange or chocolate-golden flowers can enliven and decorate even the darkest corner of the garden.

Marigolds are very decorative, not only because of the huge bright flowers, but also because of the openwork carved leaves.

Various species and varieties can be stunted (from 20 to 40 cm) and tall (up to 1. 3 m high), usually with double flowers.

Marigolds are drought tolerant and require little maintenance. They bloom from June to the end of October (if temperatures do not fall below -1 degrees).

Grow these plants through seedlings, sowing seeds in mid-March.

In the middle of May, you can safely plant them in flower beds.

Best varieties: Eskimo, Carmen, Golden Age, Orange King, Bonanza Bolero, Xochi, Kilimanjaro, Red Jam, Lemon Jam, Lemon Span, Orange Span, Mandarin Jam, Kurt Jester, Strawberry Blonde, Petit Orange, Mr. Majestic terry, Discovery yellow.

Shade-tolerant perennials

Introducing the most common and most decorative shade-tolerant perennials.

Feverfew . A beautifully flowering rhizomatous perennial from the Asteraceae family. Consists of one or more erect stems, pubescent and branched at the top.

Depending on the variety, the height of the plant varies from 35 cm to 1. 5 m.

It blooms with white or pink reed flowers, up to 5 cm in diameter, collected in corymbose apical inflorescences.

Leaves are narrow, dissected, silvery grey. The root system is very powerful, going deep into the soil.

Blooms from early May to late June.

Best grade: Robinson.

Echinacea . The most beautiful species is Echinacea purpurea. A rhizomatous, beautifully flowering perennial from the Asteraceae family.

Plant height from 60 cm to 1 m.

It blooms with large single orange-red or burgundy densely double flowers from early July to mid-September. Grows best in partial shade.

In addition to high decorative qualities, it has amazing healing properties.

Best Grade: Purple Robe.

Lupine . Ornamental herbaceous rhizomatous plant from the Legume family. Grows in strong bushes.

One of the most beautiful shade-tolerant perennials. Its huge inflorescence, which is an apical elongated brush, can reach a length of 1 m.

Flowers, depending on the variety, have the most varied color: white, pink, lilac, purple, cherry, purple and even yellow.

The feathery leaves, reminiscent of palm leaves in shape, also add charm to the plant.

Nitrogen-fixing nodules, located on strong lupine roots, allow you to accumulate a large amount of nitrogen in the soil and thereby improve its structure and enrich it with nutrition.

Lupine blooms from the end of May until the autumn frosts.

Best Grade: Russell Bright Set .

Carnation . Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial from the Carnation family. The most beautiful shade-tolerant species is the Alwood carnation.

Grows in low bushes. The height of the bush is 25 - 40 cm. The flowers are terry, medium-sized (up to 3 cm in size) collected in inflorescences up to 40 cm in diameter. Their color is pink, purple, red, cherry, one- and two-color.

Flowering lasts from May to the end of September and is accompanied by a surprisingly delicate, delicate aroma.

Shrubs grow quickly, so they are often planted along paths or along the borders of recreation areas.

Best variety: Alwooda Shades of pink .

Primula . One of the earliest rhizomatous perennials from the primrose family.

Blooms in spring at the end of April. Grows well in tree shade and partial shade.

It is a low-growing shrub 20-30 cm high. The leaves are wide, dark green. The flowers are snow-white or cream, collected in racemose inflorescences. They emit a very subtle, delicate fragrance.

Blooms in spring until the end of May. They do not tolerate drought well and do not need spring sun.

Best grade: Accord blue harmony.

Gravity . Gravilat is one of the most beautiful ornamental perennial flower rhizome crops from the Rosaceae family.

Plant height from 40 to 70 cm (depending on the species and variety). Bright red or golden yellow flowers up to 3.5 cm each, collected in large paniculate inflorescences. They emit a delicate, pleasant aroma.

Beautiful pinnate leaves arranged in a rosette.

Flowering begins in June and may last until mid-August.

The plant is very unpretentious and is characterized by increased frost resistance (up to -35 degrees).

Top grade: Lady Strafden.

Aquilegia . A very delicate and beautiful herbaceous rhizome plant from the Ranunculaceae family.

It is a powerful sprawling bush, up to 1 m high. This plant loves water very much, so it has another name - catchment area .

Aquilegia flowers are unusual, as if consisting of two monochromatic or multi-colored (pink-violet, white-blue, white-pink, white-burgundy, orange-yellow) parts. Each part (inner and outer) has 5 petals.

The general shape of the flowers is bell-shaped. Their peduncles are long and thin, due to which the flowers seem to hang from the hard tops of the stems.

Single or trifoliate leaves are also dissected, which looks very decorative.

Aquilegia blooms from mid-May to late July.

Top grades: Winky Terry Red & White, Terry Bright Set, Giant Mac Canna, Salmon Pink Clementine, Biedermeier Bright Set, Winky Terry Set.

SHADOW-LOVING INDOOR FLOWERS

The most beautiful shade-loving flowers that will grow well even in a room very shaded by old trees outside the windows, this is multiflorous jasmine and indoor begonia .

Jasmine multiflorum . Evergreen shade-loving indoor plant from the Olive family.

It is an evergreen vine up to 2.5 m long (in nature it can reach 6 m), which from spring to autumn is completely covered with large star-shaped white flowers collected in panicle inflorescences.

The plant in the flowering period envelops a marvelous aroma that fills the entire room. Jasmine multiflorum leaves are also very decorative. They are emerald green, openwork, complex pinnate.

Flowering occurs on the shoots of the current year.

Jasmine multiflorum is often confused with garden jasmine - mock orange. But this is a completely different culture.

Best variety: Multi-flowered.

Begonia indoor . Evergreen perennial shade-loving tuberous plant. The most common species are fringed and large-flowered .

Stems up to 80 cm long, hanging down, in several tiers. The flowers of large-flowered begonias resemble roses in shape, and fringed begonias resemble carnations.

The color range of indoor begonia flowers is very wide: from white, pink, red, orange, scarlet, cherry to maroon.

Large, blistered leaves. The plant has high phytoncidal properties, killing all pathogenic microflora in the room where it is located.

The best varieties: Camellia, Minutes of dreams, Lingonberry (set), Benefit (set).

MAINTENANCE TIPS

Choose your shade plant carefully. It is best to plant them where sunlight penetrates only in the morning at dawn.

When planning to plant shade-tolerant flowers in a flower bed, we recommend placing them in a chaotic manner, rather than in even rows. This will give the flower garden a natural look. For shady areas of the garden, it will be the most suitable.

For heavily shaded garden areas, choose shade-tolerant crops with the brightest (primarily golden) and white flowers. This will help to "lighten" and noticeably revive a rather dull picture of "dark corners".

Carefully study which flowers grow in the shade and do not plant them in sunny beds: they can simply die there.

Be sure to alternate plantings with white and golden flowers with bright, contrasting ones (scarlet, bright red, orange).

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