Home » Misc » Small garden shade

Small garden shade


Shade Gardens: Ideas, Design & Inspiration

Lighten up a shady garden with a well-thought-out design and carefully selected plants

Designer: Vina Winters. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Both foliage and flower lovers will be impressed by the wide variety of shade-loving plants available that will flourish in filtered light, deep shade, or even a wetland environment.

Check out the resources below to start the journey of transforming your landscape’s shady spots into a stunning low-light garden.

On this page:

POPULAR SHADE GARDEN ARTICLES

20 Great Shade Plants

Foliage plants, flowering plants, and even trees perennials, annuals, flowering shrubs, and trees for shade gardens.

Container Plants Made for Shade

Liven up dark corners of your garden with these tips and plant combinations that thrive in low light.

Annual Shade Plants

The best annuals to use in shade gardens or containers in shady spots.

Perennial Shade Plants

Lighten up shady areas of your yard with these reliable perennials.

Best Shrubs for Shade

Beautify your yard with these reliable shade-tolerant shrubs and get tips on how to use them in your landscape.

A Winter Jewel Box

Faced with a problematic slope and mature oaks that block much of the natural light, this Portland gardener created a winter jewel box featuring hellebores, winter hazel and snowdrops.

Garden writer Janet Loughrey says, "While shady areas in the landscape can present a host of problems, including slow drainage, poor air circulation and low light, which can result in a failure of plants to thrive, they can also present opportunities if properly designed, prepared, and planted with shade-tolerant varieties. " She offers the following shade garden information, design ideas, tips, and inspiration:

TYPES OF SHADE

Not all shade is alike. While some plants can survive and thrive in full shade, others need some direct sunlight. The amount of light your yard receives will help determine your choice of plants. Here are three types of shade:

Partial shade is created by manmade structures including buildings or walls, or natural features such as hillsides that completely block out the sun during part of the day. East-facing areas that receive cooler morning sun are more hospitable to shade plants. West-facing sites are exposed to hot afternoon sun, which can cause foliage burn or other stress.

Dappled shade is most often found underneath a tree canopy, which creates a pattern of sun and shade that moves around throughout the day. The type of tree and size of the canopy will determine the amount of shade.

Full shade refers to an area that receives little or no direct sun. This can occur along the northern side of a home, in a courtyard, between tall urban buildings, or in an area covered by a solid barrier such as a roof overhang or shade cloth.

PLANNING A SHADE GARDEN

Photo by: Marjorie Harris. See more of this garden.

Evaluate your site. Observe your yard at different times of the year:

Research. Look for shade garden design ideas on the internet and by visiting local gardens for inspiration. Make a list of plants and other features such as a pathway, patio, seating area, pergola, statuary, containers, or water feature that will complement plantings.

Draw up a design. Make a plan and draw a rough sketch. For bigger projects, consult with a landscape design professional.

Consider scale. Use plants that are in scale with your shady space. Larger hostas reaching 4 to 6 feet wide may be too big for a small courtyard or narrow side yard. Dwarf varieties are suited to small spaces, while smaller plants can get lost in a large-scale landscape.

Choose a style. Decide on a style that suits your personal taste and complements your home’s facade. Formal Japanese or Asian style will complement a contemporary style house, while an informal woodland garden will enhance a cottage style home.

HOW TO PLANT A SHADE GARDEN

Soil. Make sure soil has proper drainage and nutrients to support plants. Woodland or shade plants generally prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil amended with compost or other rich organic matter.

Pick the right plants. Choose shade-loving plants that will thrive in your site.

Improvise. If any of your chosen plants fail to thrive, substitute new varieties.

Be flexible. For areas with dense tree or shrub roots, grow plants in containers rather than in the ground.

SHADE GARDEN CARE TIPS

Photo by: Janet Loughrey.

Plants adapted to lower light conditions tend to need less maintenance than sun-loving varieties. Here are some tips:

Water. A shade garden dries out more slowly, so will need less water. Shady areas under large trees will need more frequent watering during dry spells, as trees will soak up most of the moisture.

Fertilize. Plants that grow in shaded areas tend to need less fertilizer, as they grow more slowly. Research the needs of each plant to make sure they are receiving the proper nutrients. A side dressing of compost in spring may be all that’s needed.

Weeding. Weeds are less of a problem in a shady garden because many weed varieties prefer full sun. A layer of mulch will help to suppress weeds.

Prune. Cut out any dead or diseased branches or damaged foliage to keep shady areas looking their best. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage rebloom. In late winter or early spring, cut dead growth of herbaceous perennials back to the ground before new growth emerges. Prune trees and shrubs according to their particular needs.

12 DESIGN TIPS FOR SHADE GARDENS

Incorporate some of these design ideas into your shady landscape:

  1. Create layers. Use a mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and annuals to create a layered tapestry that mimics a natural woodland.
  2. Use foliage. Rely on plants with interesting foliage such as hostas, Japanese forest grass, spotted lungwort (Pulmonaria), and coleus for long-lasting color throughout the growing season. Evergreens such as rhododendrons and conifers offer year-round color.
  3. Mix it up. Rely on color and texture, as well as varieties with different shapes and sizes to create visual interest.
  4. Brighten it up. Use foliage plants with chartreuse, gold, silver, or variegated leaves, or flowering plants with white or yellow blooms to make a dark space look brighter. Colorful containers, statuary, water features, reflective mirrors or panels, artwork, or other decorative accents are also effective for lightening a space.
  5. Add color. Use color to create a mood. Different tones of subtle green will make a space feel more serene. Colorful foliage or flowering plants such as impatiens and begonias will create more visual excitement.
  6. Keep it simple. Use larger drifts of the same plants for greater visual impact and to keep the design from becoming too busy.
  7. Go vertical. Use shade-tolerant vines such as clematis, climbing hydrangea, or Virginia creeper to add vertical interest, and soften walls and fences.
  8. Create repetition. Repeat the same or similar-looking plants in different parts of the yard. Use the same colors for plants and hardscape to unify the landscape.
  9. Lend cohesion. Use plants that thrive in partial sun to light shade for transition areas between shady and sunny areas.
  10. Hardscape. Use hardscape elements such as a pathway, patio, boulders, seating area, or structures such as an arbor or pergola to augment plantings.
  11. Eliminate the lawn. Traditional turf grass struggles to thrive in shady areas. Replace with hardscaping such as a patio, or mass a shade-tolerant ground cover.
  12. Install lighting. Add pathway, spot, or up-lighting to enjoy your space at night or during the darker days of winter.

SHADE GARDEN INSPIRATION

Plants in different colors, shapes, textures and sizes create a compelling tapestry. Designer: Gail Barnard. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Chartreuse Japanese forest grass and golden Adirondack chairs brighten a deeply shaded area. Designer: Gail Barnard. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Larger drifts of the same plants keep this shade border from becoming too busy. Designer: Mary DeNoyer. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Different tones of subtle green create a serene border. Designer: Deborah Meyers. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A layered tapestry of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and vines comprise this shady woodland garden. Designer: Vina Winters. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Variegated climbing hydrangea creates vertical interest, while mophead hydrangeas and containers provide color in this shaded setting. Designer: Vina Winters. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A shady spot under a redbud tree was transformed into a casual seating area. Designer: Vanessa Gardner Nagel. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A rustic mirror reflects light into this shady space. Designer: Philip Thornburg, Winterbloom. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

This tiny urban backyard, situated in deep shade, became an inviting entertaining area for guests. Hardscape is softened by an eclectic mix of shade-tolerant plants. Designer: Kurt Beadell. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

See more shade garden pictures.

MORE SHADE GARDENS

Toronto Shade Garden

Discover how the owner of this property uses a layered, well-edited selection of plants for her specific shade conditions to create a dramatic garden with thrilling colors and textures.

North Carolina Woodland Reverie

Ferns, mosses, hostas, and coleuses unite in this woodland landscape that makes the most of a hilly lot with a plethora of trees that keep the garden partially shaded at all times.

Overgrown Hillside to Wooded Wonderland

The owners of this Michigan garden cleared shady spots overrun with poison ivy to make room for lush fern and hosta gardens.

The Path Less Taken

Shrouded by mature trees, this Los Angeles property is cool and shadowy, allowing shade ferns and philodendrons to coexist with jasmines, Japanese maples, succulents, and plumeria.

Cool, Quiet Corner of the World

This public garden was originally carved out of native woodland on a rocky slope overlooking Puget Sound and is shaded by a canopy of towering, evergreen conifers.

Mt. Cuba Center

Another shade garden open to the public, this one in Delaware, offers a great example of how to layer plants from canopy to ground level in a way that ensures interest all year.

Reader Questions

My lawn languishes under several large shade trees. Is there anything I can do short of cranking up the chain saw?
See answer

The shady, narrow walkway beside our city house is a straight 30-foot shot, flanked by beds only a foot wide. Are there any ways to make this dead space come alive?
See answer

Get more gardening advice.

Pin this article for later:

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

Buy Now

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.

Buy Now

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).

Buy Now

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.

Buy Now

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

Buy Now

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’.

Buy Now

‘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’.

‘Bertram Anderson’ lungwort. Photo by Janet Loughrey.

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:

‘Dark Vader’, ‘Raspberry Splash’, ‘Bertram Anderson’, ‘Sissinghurst White’.

‘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.

Buy Now

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).

Buy Now

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.

Buy Now

‘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.

RELATED READING

19 Shade Annuals

25 Perennials for Shade

Shade Garden Ideas & Design

Best Shrubs for Shade

Container Plants for Shade

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

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. nine0003

Petriv Landscape Designe

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.

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. nine0003

SEE ALSO…
Your own circle: How to decorate tree trunks

Are you interested in landscape design?
Let's find a contractor according to your criteria

Nicolas Pfeiffer Paysagiste

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

CGD Landscape Design

ASK-land

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. nine0003

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. 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

PAN Landscape

  • 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

CGD Landscape Design

  • 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. nine0077
  • 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. nine0077

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). nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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.

Spring Lake Garden Design

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). 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. nine0077

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

Sponsored

Rhein-Ruhr | Altsanierung | Allumfassende Gestaltung von Wohnräumen

Shade-loving plants / shade-tolerant plants / Perennial plants for shade

Taking care of the attractiveness of their plot, rural residents, cottage owners sooner or later face a problem: in some areas the sun's rays look very rarely, and in some places they do not happens at all. Most inexperienced gardeners believe that it is impossible to grow anything here except weeds. nine0003

However, this is not entirely true. Some plants not only do not like the sun, but can also be successfully grown outdoors in shade and partial shade. Of course, the range of such crops is limited, but among them there are luxurious specimens with lush greenery, original flowers, which allows you to create an amazing flower garden in the most secluded corner.

Shade and partial shade on the site

Many of the perennial flowers are, if not shade-loving, then shade-tolerant. For active growth and abundant flowering, it is enough for them that direct sunlight illuminates them for only a few hours a day. It is best if it is a morning when the sun is not yet so hot, which means that you can not be afraid that “burns” will appear on the leaves. nine0003

It is much more difficult to find crops that can decorate those parts of the garden where there is no sun at all. Most often, such places are located under trees, which cover the soil surface with their dense crown from mid-spring to late autumn, preventing access to the sun. You can, of course, plant primroses, bulbous perennials (tulips, daffodils) here. They move into growth in early spring and have time to bloom before the time when they are covered with a dense shade. But after 1.5-2 months, they will fade, the foliage will dry up, and weeds will begin to grow rapidly in their place. But you really want each, the most remote corner of the garden, the courtyard to look decorative throughout the spring-autumn season. nine0003

The greatest difficulties arise for those "landowners" who decide to create a small "forest" on their plot. Flower beds, rabatka, flower beds will look like foreign objects here, and it is not always possible to acquire a large number of expensive shade-loving perennials due to financial difficulties. At the same time, there is a fairly extensive "arsenal" of plants that grow rapidly, capturing vast areas. At the same time, many of them are unpretentious and do not require careful care, everyday attention of the gardener. nine0003

Garden plants for shade

With the help of shade-tolerant perennials, any task facing the gardener can be solved, from ennobling places located in the shade of trees, buildings, fences, to decorating park areas. Almost all of the plants presented below can be attributed to decorative flowering crops. True, some of them have a flowering period of only a few days, while others delight with bright flowers for 2-3 weeks or more. At the same time, all have original leaves that make them attractive throughout the growing season. nine0003

  • Aquilegia
  • Anemone
  • Astilba
  • Badan
  • Periwinkle
  • Heuchera
  • tenacious
  • Doronicum
  • Dicentra
  • Duchenea Indian
  • Forest bell
  • Hoof
  • Kupena and lily of the valley
  • Cuff
  • Hellebore
  • Primula
  • Fern
  • Khosta

Varieties of aquilegia (catchment) are divided into two groups: specific and varietal. The host does not require any care. It reproduces by self-sowing, and if flower stalks with faded flowers are not cut off in a timely manner, then its white, pink, blue, lilac bells will soon dazzle throughout the site. Varietal aquilegia is planted in flower beds, discounts, and species aquilegia is used to fill forest and park areas with bright colors. nine0003

This plant has both shade-tolerant varieties and varieties that prefer to grow in sunlit areas. For cultivation under the crowns of trees, an anemone oak (anemone) is most often used. It grows well without the attention of a gardener, grows rapidly, forming extensive flowering arrays.

Numerous varieties (more than 40) of this crop can reach a height of 15 cm to 2 m. They grow well not only in shady, but also in waterlogged areas. Astilba is characterized by long flowering. Tall varieties vaguely resemble shrubs, but with the onset of autumn cold weather, all of its ground part dies off. But with the onset of heat, growth buds on the overwintered rhizome start to grow, quickly forming new thickets. It grows both in flower beds and front gardens, and in the shade of trees, as a kind of undergrowth. nine0003

Chigir tea (in Altai), Mongolian tea (in Siberia) winter-hardy flowering perennial. Its evergreen leaves are cabbage-like, turning purple in autumn. Badan is a flowering plant. It can be used on tree trunks and in flower beds.

A very hardy evergreen shade-loving crop that prefers moist soil but can also tolerate drought. Depending on the composition of the soil, the flowers of the periwinkle can be painted in blue, blue or pink tones. Some specimens may re-bloom in autumn, though not as abundantly as in spring. nine0003

One of the most beautiful perennials with a wide range of varieties bred by breeders specifically for growing in shade and partial shade. The color spectrum of geyhera leaves varies from various shades of green, to red, orange, purple, including gray tones. Thanks to its foliage, the bush looks incredibly impressive. But the plant also blooms, however, its flowers are rarely paid attention to.

As the name of the plant suggests, it has an incredible vitality. Requiring no care, the tenacious in the most difficult growing conditions quickly occupies the entire area available to it. When cultivated in lighted areas, its leaves are variegated, but in the shade they acquire a pale green tint. nine0003

Frost-resistant moisture-loving culture has both shade-tolerant and light-loving varieties. For example, plantain dronikum prefers lighted areas. Its bright yellow flowers will not only decorate the flower bed, but can also be used to make buds. When planting dronicum in the shade, it is better not to plant it directly near the trees, it will be uncomfortable there.

A perennial unpretentious plant that has not only beautiful carved leaves, but also flowers of the original form, for which it is also called "broken heart". The more shade on the site, the longer the dicentra pleases with its flowering. The bush can reach a height of 30-150 cm. It likes frequent watering, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so it needs well-drained soil. Under favorable conditions, it grows rapidly, occupying large areas. nine0003

Outwardly, the plant resembles strawberries, only the flowers are not white, but yellow. After the end of flowering, a red round berry is formed, which can stay on the peduncle for quite a long time. But you shouldn't eat it. It is not poisonous, but completely tasteless.

A very unpretentious plant, it feels equally good in sunny clearings and in the shade. But still, best of all for the bell, accustomed to living in the forest, on the mountain slopes, areas in the shade of the spreading crowns of large trees are suitable. nine0003

If the mountain species of this perennial feel great under the scorching sun, then the bluebells, whose natural habitat is a wooded area, prefer shade or partial shade. They are suitable for creating flower beds, rabatok, but they look especially impressive in large arrays under the canopy of large trees.

The most beautiful perennial from the category of decorative and deciduous. Prefers soil with a high limestone content. It looks especially decorative against the background of a group of large trees. Poisonous! nine0003

These two plants are closely related. They behave equally aggressively in the flowerbed, quickly displacing their neighbors from it. They love shady, secluded corners. But if the height of the lily of the valley does not exceed 15-20 cm, then the bushes can grow up to 1.5 m in height. But under favorable growing conditions, it can quickly spread throughout the garden.

This is an amazing plant that blooms in winter or early spring. Its small white-greenish-pink flowers give the snow-covered thickets an incredibly showy look. It can be grown both as a single bush and in groups, creating unusual garden compositions. nine0003

One of the low maintenance perennial primroses. But the primrose should be watered in a timely manner, it does not tolerate drought. In the southern regions of our country, where the sun is bright, burning, it behaves like a shade-tolerant plant. But the further north the growing region, the more sun it needs.

One of the oldest plants on our planet, inhabiting it since the time of the dinosaurs, when the climate was warm, humid, and the trees were very tall.

Learn more