Plants good for shady areas
28 Best Shade-loving Plants for Indoor & Outdoor Gardening
Daydreaming of your next garden? Even if yours is mostly shady, you still can fill it with color. Many pretty plants will do fine under a large shade tree or in flower beds, hanging baskets, and containers throughout your garden. But before planting, pay attention to how much shade you have. Full shade means three hours or less of direct sun, while partial shade equals three to six hours. Some shade lovers, such as flowering shrubs, bloom best with some sun (preferably in the morning because the hot afternoon sun isn't a friend to shade lovers). And if you're planting shrubs or perennials, which come back every year, make sure they're suited to your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). After all, there's no sense investing in plants that won't have a fighting chance in your garden!
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Below, find 28 shade-loving plants to brighten up any dark spot in your garden.
1
Hostas
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Mainly a foliage plant, Hostas are perfect for shade gardens with moist soil. They come in various sizes from as mini as 4 inches to as big as 6 feet long. But beware: Deer, rabbits, slugs, and snails love these plants. If there are lots of deer near where you're thinking about planting them, you might want to reconsider!
Varieties to try: Sum and Substance, Mouse Ears
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2
Begonia
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Begonia, which boasts hundreds of species, can typically be found climbing up walls or blooming in hanging baskets. They do well in a variety of conditions—including basking in full shade. Depending on the variety, they can range from 6 inches to 3 feet tall. For width, they can range from 6 to 12 inches.
Varieties to try: Cane, Wax, Angel-Wing
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3
Ligularia
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Ligularia, sometimes called the leopard plant, has a large leaf structure and makes for a great option in shade gardens. Some varieties like The Rocket feature stunning yellow-orange flowers. Generally, they love shade to partial shade and plenty of water. They can grow anywhere from 3 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Britt-Marie Crawford, The Rocket, King Kong
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4
Viola
bluestone perennials
There are more than 500 different species of Viola. They prefer full sun to partial shade depending on the species, so make sure to double-check which one you buy before planting them in your shady garden. Depending on the species, they can grow 4 to 10 inches tall.
Varieties to try: Johnny Jump-Up, Penny Purple Picotee
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5
Toad Lily
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Looking for a gorgeous, lively addition to your garden? Try adding toad lilies. These flowers bloom from later summer to early fall and prefer partial to full shade. They require well-drained soil and grow between 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. Plus, they're even available in a mini size.
Varieties to try: Raspberry Mousse, Purple Beauty
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6
Asarum Canadense
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This perennial, commonly known as wild ginger, prefers light to deep shade. Its green, heart-shaped leaves will brighten up any dull garden. Bonus: Hidden underneath the Asarum Canadense's big leaves are tiny purple-brown flowers.
They can grow anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall and wide.
Varieties to try: Canadian wild ginger, Chinese wild ginger
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7
Primrose
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Primrose, or Primula vulgaris, is a flowering plant that's part of the family Primulaceae. It's native to northwest Africa, western and southern Europe, and parts of southwest Asia. The common wild primrose (primula vulgaris) does best with full shade. Depending on the variety, primrose can grow between 6 to 20 inches tall and 8 to 20 inches wide.
Varieties to try: Drumstick Primula, Round-Headed Himalayan Primrose, Giant Cowslip
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8
Epimedium
brecks
Also known as fairy wings because of their unique flower shape, Epimedium enjoys partial to full shade and blooms from mid to late spring.
They can grow between 8 and 12 inches tall and 12 to 36 inches wide.
Varieties to try: Candy Hearts, Pink Champagne, Lilafee
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9
Brunnera
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Often used as groundcover, this perennial is known for its tiny blue flowers that bloom in the spring. Since they can grow between 12 to 18 inches tall and 18 to 30 inches wide, they're ideal for creating a semi-shaded border or placing along a pond edge.
Varieties to try: Jack's Frost, Silver Heart, Alexander’s Great
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10
Corydalis
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Whether you go for a bright pink shade or deep purple, you can't go wrong with corydalis. These plants are a solid option for any shade garden. The tubular, light-scented flowers bloom in the spring.
They're best for larger gardens as they can grow between 1 to three feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Blue Panda, Fumewort
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11
Dicentra
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Known as Bleeding Heart, these charming flowers are shade-loving, low-maintenance, and offer romantic beauty. Keep the perennials in well-drained soil in your spring garden. Depending on the variety, they can grow between 6 inches to 3 feet tall and expand between 1 and 3 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Valentine, King of Hearts, Aurora
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12
Spiderwort
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This spring-blooming plant features long leaves and blue-purple flowers. It's perfect for planting in a partially shaded area of your garden and prefers moist yet well-drained soil.
Expect it to grow between 6 inches to 3 feet tall depending on the variety.
Varieties to try: Amethyst Kiss, Red Grape
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13
Hellebores
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These gorgeous perennials look delicate but are tough as nails! They bloom in late winter to early spring, sometimes popping through the snow. They're available in a profusion of colors ranging from pure white to deepest pinks and every color in between to almost black. Depending on the variety, you can expect them to grow between 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Varieties to try: Apricot Blush, Cherry Blossom
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14
Heuchera
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Heuchera, also known as Coral Bells, is one of the most versatile perennials. It'll grow in any amount of sunlight, from full shade to full sun.
It's best to grow the plant in an area that has average moisture and offers partial shade. The plant's size ranges from 1 to 2 feet tall and 6 to 30 inches wide.
Varieties to try: Citronelle, Color Dream
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15
Impatiens
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These annuals are one of the only plants that will put on a floral display in full shade. Downside: Some types are susceptible to powdery mildew, a devastating disease that kills the plants and overwinters in the soil for years! If you've had problems in the past, look for other types (such as New Guinea impatiens) and new hybrids that are more disease-resistant. They can grow between 6 and 30 inches tall and around 1 to 3 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Cherry Splash, Infinity Cherry Red
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16
Oakleaf Hydrangea
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This gorgeous shrub produces oodles of impressive flowers from early summer to fall.
It prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Bonus: It's the only type of hydrangea that offers gorgeous autumn color with its foliage. Plant this shrub in a large garden, because it can grow between 4 to 8 feet tall and wide.
Varieties to try: Gatsby Pink, Gatsby Star
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17
Astilbe
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Astilbe needs shade so its pretty flower plumes won't fry in the sun. Plant these perennials in drifts, or clumps, for best effect with other spring-flowering shade-lovers such as ferns and hellebores. It comes in many shades including pale pink, creamy white, and hot pink. Depending on the variety, the plant height ranges from 6 inches to 5 feet.
Varieties to try: Younique Carmine, Rise and Shine
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18
Ferns
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There's a reason ferns are often found in moist, shady forests: Their favorite environment is where there's light shade provided by tree branches.
These perennials come in an array of lovely, lacy forms and spread to form a beautiful ground cover in time. Make sure you choose a variety that can survive winters in your climate. Also, depending on the variety, the plant can range from barely 1 inch to up to 80 feet tall.
Varieties to try: Autumn, Japanese Painted
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19
Caladium
Proven Winners
The huge, heart-shaped leaves are what make this plant so stunning! Some newer types take sun, so read the plant label to be sure about what you have. They're perennial in warm climates (zone 10 or warmer) but bring indoors in winter in cold climates to enjoy as a houseplant. The plant size ranges from 6 inches to 3 feet tall and up to 24 inches wide.
Varieties to try: Heart to Heart Blushing Bride, White Christmas
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20
Bletilla
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Bletilla, also called Chinese ground orchid, is a stunning low-maintenance addition to any garden.
Protect plants from the harsh afternoon sun if you want them to look their best. Plant the bulbs the previous fall for spring blooms. Expect them to grow between 1 and 3 feet tall and 6 to 12 inches wide.
Variety to try: Striata
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21
Dead Nettle
proven winners
The unglamorous name of this perennial is distracting because it's actually a pretty, reliable ground cover that needs almost zero care. Dead nettle, also called Lamium, has silvery or variegated foliage with white, yellow, pale pink, or purple blooms. They can cover anywhere from 1 to 5 feet and grow 6 inches to 3 feet tall.
Varieties to try: Pink Chablis, Purple Chablis
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22
Torenia
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This pretty annual prefers morning sun and afternoon shade—and it'll reward you with a longer bloom period.
Torenia, also called the wishbone flower, is a favorite of hummingbirds. Plant it in baskets or window boxes for the best effect. They can grow anywhere from 8 to 16 inches tall and 8 to 10 inches wide.
Varieties to try: Catalina Gilded Grape, Summer Wave Large Blue
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23
Lily of the Valley Shrub
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This stunning shrub is one of the first to bloom in spring. Its blooms are very long-lasting, and it can handle some morning sun. They can get fairly large with a height ranging from 3 to 20 feet and a width from 3 to 10 feet.
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24
Foamflower
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Foamflower, also called tiarella, is a cold-hardy perennial that blooms with masses of frothy flowers in early spring. If you want these delicate flowers to look their best, make sure plants are located in part to full shade—especially in more southern zones.
You can expect them to grow anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 3 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Cutting Edge, Elizabeth Oliver
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25
Coleus
proven winners
These gorgeous annuals are grown primarily for their striking leaf colors that range from lime green to deep red with tiny flower spikes in summer. Coleus typically likes shade, but some newer varieties will tolerate sun. Read the plant label to be sure. In general, they range from 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Varieties to try: Royale Apple Brandy, Chocolate Splash
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26
Lobelia
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This sweet annual looks best cascading from baskets and containers. Lobelia doesn't like the heat, so make sure it's in full shade and keep it watered.
If it starts to look shaggy in mid-summer, trim it and it will rebound in the cooler weather of fall. Note that this plant ranges in size from 6 to 12 inches tall.
Varieties to try: Laguna Dark Blue, Laguna Ultraviolet
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27
Fuchsia
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This eye-catching annual drapes beautifully from pots and hanging baskets and blooms all season long. Hummingbirds will flock to fuchsia's gorgeous flowers in purples, pinks, and whites! Keep this plant in full shade. Depending on the variety, they range in size from 1 to 8 feet tall and 1 to 5 feet wide.
Varieties to try: Dark Eyes, Billy Green
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28
Japanese Forest Grass
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Hakonechloa macra (or Japanese forest grass) is a perennial grass plant that's native to wet climates, including those that have mountains, cliffs, and forests.
It can grow anywhere from 1 to 3 feet tall and spread up to 2 feet wide.
Varieties to try: All Gold, Naomi, Nicolas
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25 Best Plants for Shade 2022
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Even if you've always had your heart set on a sun-drenched cottage garden full of roses and lavender, there's something to be said for the tranquility and subtle beauty of a shade garden. In fact, your plant palette isn't limited if your garden is mostly shaded. Many pretty annuals, perennials, and even a few shrubs thrive in shady locations. Shaded front porches, decks, and patios also can be dressed in color with containers, hanging baskets, or window boxes overflowing with shade plants.
To ensure you're choosing the right plants for your garden, first identify your light conditions by watching different areas of the garden throughout the day. Full shade means an area never receives direct sunlight or receives only some morning sun; part shade means it gets about 4–6 hours of direct sun, but mostly before noon.
That's important to know because the morning sun is OK for many shade lovers since it's less intense than afternoon rays. Some plants you think need only shade, such as hostas and some types of hydrangeas, look their best and bloom better when they receive some sun.
Here are our 25 favorite shade plants for every type of garden, big or small.
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Lobelia
Lobelia loves cool weather and looks amazing cascading out of planters or window boxes. These annuals tolerate almost no direct sun, so give them plenty of shade. Once nighttime temperatures exceed 70 degrees, they get shaggy. Trim them back, and they should bounce back once cooler weather arrives again.
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Lenten Rose
A variety of hellebore, these stunning perennials bloom from late winter to early spring and come in a range of gorgeous colors. They are extremely cold hardy and often bloom when snow is still on the ground.
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Japanese Forest Grass
This deciduous perennial is one of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in the shade. Japanese forest grass grows in clumps and works as a ground cover, massed along a slope, as a foundation plant, or in containers where it shows its lovely arching form.
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Oakleaf Hydrangea
This native hydrangea has large, dense flower heads of pink or white that offer three-season interest and texture. Unlike other kinds of hydrangeas, its foliage boasts bright autumn color. It is a good transition from woodlands to lawn along a property line. It does best with mild morning sun and afternoon shade.
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Foamflower
This native woodland plant has charming, frothy flowers in early spring with evergreen foliage. Foamflower tolerates deep shade but blooms better when it receives some dappled sunlight.
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Browallia
Also called amethyst flower, this little-known annual has brilliant blue blooms. Its semitrailing form works perfectly in hanging baskets and containers.
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Fuchsia
These stunning annuals are best shown off in hanging pots or window boxes. Their purple, pink, red, or mixed flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
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Cranesbill
Also known as hardy geraniums, these perennials have spicy-scented foliage and pretty blooms of pink or purple from late spring through summer. Some bloom continuously. They make excellent edging plants and tolerate quite a bit of shade while still blooming vigorously.
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Heuchera
With ruffled, brightly colored leaves, this perennial adds a pop of color to any shady spot, though it will tolerate some sun.
Also called coral bells because of its minuscule flower spikes that appear in midsummer, this plant is hardy, rabbit resistant, and available in any shade from bright orange to deep purple. Plant it in groupings for the best effect.
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Japanese Maple
These trees have graceful forms, stunning fall color, and attractive foliage. Most types prefer shade, but some can handle sun, so read the plant tag or description to be sure about what you are buying. The Japanese maple is a nicely sized small to medium tree that makes a lovely focal point.
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Epimedium
This lesser-known perennial has adorable flowers that appear in spring. It is cold hardy and makes a charming ground cover, though it doesn't like foot traffic so plant where it will not be disturbed.
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Begonia
These vigorous flowers bloom from spring to a hard frost in every color of the rainbow from white to hot pink to pale peach.
There are many types, mostly grown as annuals, and some are grown for their foliage alone. Some also tolerate quite a bit of sun, so read the plant tag or description before buying. Begonias thrive equally well in landscape beds and pots.
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Hosta
These hardy perennial plants are as versatile as they are varied. They come in a range of sizes from four inches to six feet across. Their foliage may be smooth or crinkly, and they're available in colors such as chartreuse, deep green, and green-blue. Hostas produce small flowers in the summer in shades of pink, lavender, or white. Plant in borders, as foundation plantings, at the base of trees or shrubs, or in containers.
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Foxglove
This classic cottage garden flower with tubular-shaped blooms in shades of pink, peach, lavender, white, yellow, and red thrives in part shade. It is not long-lived, typically growing for a few years, but will self-seed.
Plant at the back of mixed borders.
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Caladium
With heart-shaped leaves and splashes of hot pink, these showy plants offer plenty of drama to containers or beds. If you live in a cold climate, then pot them up so you can bring them indoors to enjoy as a houseplant over the winter or dig up the bulbs and save them for next year.
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Impatiens
Impatiens are one of those tried-and-true annuals that never disappoint. They come in tons of bright colors to fill pots, hanging baskets, window boxes, and landscape beds and bloom all season long. Look for New Guinea impatiens or new hybrids that are not susceptible to diseases such as downy mildew.
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Coleus
This annual comes in every color you can imagine from hot pink to deep burgundy to lime green. Many types tolerate sun or shade, so read the plant tag or description to be sure about what you're buying.
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Lady's Mantle
An old-fashioned favorite that's making a comeback because of the interest in cottage gardens, lady's mantle has pretty chartreuse flowers on arching stems in mid- to late spring. It's a long-lived perennial.
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Torenia
Also called wishbone flower, this perky annual comes in shades of pink, white, and purple and lasts from spring to fall. Fill window boxes and planters with the trailing variety, and wait for the hummingbirds to visit all summer long.
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Astilbe
With its showy blooms atop fernlike foliage, this shade-loving perennial is a beautiful way to add color and texture in sections of gardens where other flowers may not thrive. Make sure it gets some sun in order to flower.
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Dead Nettle
Actually a much prettier plant than the name would indicate, this ground cover has silvery-accented leaves and pink, purple, or white flowers in early spring.
Also known as lamium, it works well under trees in dry shade.
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Bletilla Striata
This exotic-looking, hardy perennial, also called Chinese ground orchid, produces small pinkish-purple flowers that bloom in mid- to late spring. It's ideal in part-shade areas of borders or rock gardens.
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Fern
Frothy ferns are hardier than they appear, popping up after even the toughest winters. They come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Many like moist ground but are drought tolerant once established.
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Pulmonaria
Once used to treat lung ailments, this perennial has pretty silver-spotted foliage and pink or purple flowers in spring. Also known by the equally unglamorous name of lungwort, it's actually a lovely addition to any shade garden.
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Sweetspire
This handsome shrub has upright, sweetly scented, white blooms that appear in early summer. Pollinators love it. Plant on hillsides, in mixed borders, or as a foundation planting.
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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. nine0003
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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. nine0003
Diffused light is provided by tall trees with a sparse crown, such as pines.
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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. nine0003
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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. nine0003
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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.
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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. nine0007
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. nine0077
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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. nine0077
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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). nine0003
SEE ALSO…
Ornamental Shrubs: 12 Reasons to Plant Them in Your Garden
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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. nine0003
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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. nine0003
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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. nine0003
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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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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). nine0003
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). nine0003
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
Barbara Pintozzi
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. nine0003
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.
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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.
PAN Landscape
- 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. nine0077
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? nine0034
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
As for perennials, shade-loving crops include lily of the valley, begonia, wild hoof and periwinkle .
Shade-tolerant flowers thrive in both shade and ambient light. Therefore, it is they who prefer to grow amateur flower growers 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. nine0003
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. nine0003
Lobelia borders planted along the paths of a shady garden look very nice.
Best grades: 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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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). nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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, Petite Orange, Mr. Majestic terry, Discovery yellow.
Shade-tolerant perennial flowers
Introducing the most common and most decorative shade-tolerant perennial flowers. nine0003
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. nine0003
Blooms from early May to late June.
Best variety: 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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
Aquilegia blooms from mid-May to late July.
Best varieties: 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 whole room. Jasmine multiflorum leaves are also very decorative. They are emerald green, openwork, complex pinnate. nine0003
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. nine0003
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. nine0003
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.
