Are there any flowering plants that do well in shade?

Heuchera, hellebores and bleeding heart are some of the beauties that grow easily in the shade.

What plant grows better in the shade?

Spotted Dead Nettle . Spotted dead nettle (Lamium maculatum) is an attractive perennial ground covering best grown in shady areas where other plants find it impossible to thrive. It's generally grown for its silvery leaves rather than its pink, purple, or white flowers.

What is the longest blooming shade perennial?

Yellow Corydalis This hardworking shade perennial takes the prize for being the longest bloomer in a shade garden. Enjoy the clusters of yellow flowers from late spring to frost. It's not just the flowers of yellow corydalis that are beautiful; the gray-green leaves of these colorful shade plants are also attractive.

Which perennials grow best in shade?

Some perennial flowers will thrive in areas with low sunlight and come back every year. Astilbes are some of the easiest perennials to grow and will open their plume-like flowers in partial shade . They'll even grow in full shade, although you won't get as many flowers. Hostas are also a good choice for shady spots.

Will marigolds grow in shade?

They require full sun all day long so keep that in mind when choosing their location. Marigolds can be direct seeded in the garden once soil temperatures reach 65 degrees. Larger transplants can be planted when the danger of frost is gone.

What shrubs are best for full shade?

If you are dealing with a shady spot, a viburnum is your best choice. For partial shade, choose Arrowhead Viburnum, (Viburnum dentatum), and for deep shade, a Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Viburnums are moderate- to fast-growing plants. They can grow from 1 to 2 feet per year.

What is the best hosta for heavy shade?

As a general rule the blue varieties benefit more from deep shade and the more yellow varieties benefit more from a bit of sun. We would recommend planting strong reliable blue varieties in deep shade to have the best chance. Varieties such a sieboldiana var. 'Elegans', 'Halcyon' or 'Blue Cadet' .

Do roses grow in shade?

Will Roses Grow in Shade? Although most roses require at least 5 – 6 hours of sun a day there are many that can thrive in areas of partial shade , providing that there is at least some sunshine every day.

Do any herbs grow in shade?

Shade-grown herbs like parsley, chives, and lemon balm can transform simple dishes into culinary masterpieces. Parsley, with its fresh and slightly peppery taste, is perfect for garnishing and adding depth to salads, soups, and sauces.

What potted plants grow well in shaded porch?

Impatiens, spider plants, begonias, ferns, and ivy will tolerate even the shadiest climates. These plants will make a just-plain-lovely addition to your garden. Give the container enough bright light for the begonias to flower. Too much direct light may cause the leaves to scorch.

Are hostas shade loving plants?

HOSTAS FOR SHADE Let's list this one first since it is typically the first perennial that comes to mind when you think of shade gardens. It's for good reason— hostas absolutely love shade . Indeed, they languish in the hot afternoon sun so your shady landscape will provide them just the right conditions.

Do any edible plants grow in shade?

Nasturtiums. Above: Many leafy greens perform well in shade . From nasturtiums to lettuces, cresses, kales, and pea shoots, you will be able to grow you own salad bowls without hours of direct sun.

19 Top Shade Plants - Shade-Loving Plants for Your Garden (2024)

1. Polka Dot Plant

Hippo® Hypoestes

Polka dot plants are always a crowd pleaser because they are so colorful and easy to grow. Their pink, red or white-patterned leaves shine all season in sun or shade, hot or cool weather, even indoors as a houseplant.

You could grow Hippo polka dot plants as a thriller or filler in your patio containers, or plant them in the landscape anyplace you could use a bright spot of color. Other than water, they require little to no maintenance through the growing season.

Height: 16-22”, Spread: 8-14”, Sun or shade, Grown as an annual

2. Pineapple Sage

Proven Accents® ‘Golden Delicious’ Salvia

Shade garden plants with fun foliage are always popular because they provide lively color and textural interest all season. ‘Golden Delicious’ is a large plant that you could grow as a bright filler in the landscape or a thriller in extra-large container recipes. Since its aromatic foliage is deer resistant, you can safely plant it out in your flower gardens, too.

Think of this salvia like a heat and humidity tolerant, disease resistant replacement for chartreuse coleus. In warm climates where the growing season is long and frost comes late, it may produce fire engine red flowers in fall.

Height: 3-4’, Spread: 2-3’, Part sun to sun, Commonly grown as an annual but is hardy in zones 8-11

3. Begonia

Surefire® Begonia

Surefire Begonias are a surefire hitin landscapes and containers. They’ll grow and flower in just about any degree of shade and don’t require as much water as impatiens.

Use them as a flowering thriller in large combination containers and window boxes, or to plug the holes left when bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) go dormant in the landscape in midsummer.

Height: 12"-2', Spread: 18"-2', Sun or shade, Grown as an annual

4. Coleus

ColorBlaze®Coleus

Shade gardeners know that it’s not all about the flowers when sunlight is limited. Instead, theyrely on fabulous foliage to keep their garden in color from spring through fall.

If you don't wantto fuss much with your annuals, grow ColorBlaze Coleus, which are super strong growers and set few to no flowers, so you won’t have to keep pinching them to keep the plants looking great all season.

5. Wishbone Flower

Catalina®Torenia

One of the most commonly overlooked annuals for shade are Torenias, commonly called the Wishbone Flower because of the unique markings on the flowers’ throat. They may not be as flashy as impatiens, but they do offer fun snapdragon-like flowers in cool purples, whites, pinks and yellows all summer long in partial to full shade.

The more sun you can give them, the more flowers you’ll see. Use Catalina Torenias as fillers in containers or as an annual groundcover in the shade.

Height: 8-16", Spread: 8-12", Sun or shade, Grown as an annual

6. Caladium

Heart to Heart®Caladium

Are you struggling to find something unique for your shade garden? Add an exotic look to shady areas with the large heart-shaped leaves of caladium. Choose from a wide array of patterns and colors.

All types of caladiums grow well in part shade (4-6 hours of sun). However, some varieties can tolerate full sun (6+ hours) and others can tolerate full shade (<4 hours).

Height: 15-20”, Spread: 8-10”, Sun or Shade, Annual

7. Impatiens

Rockapulco®Impatiens walleriana

Light up any shady area with masses of blooms that resemble miniature rosebuds. Rockapulco thrive in the hottest, most humid deep shade. Like inside a brick-walled courtyard in the Midwest or South.

Plant this reliable shade lover alongside brightly hued varieties of coleus, caladium or sweet potato vine for an extra pop of color.

Height: 10-20”, Spread:12”-2’, Part Shade to Shade, Annual

8. Heartleaf Brunnera

'Jack of Diamonds'Brunneramacrophylla

9. Goatsbeard

‘Chantilly Lace’ Aruncus

This low maintenance, shade-loving perennial produces frothy sprays of creamy white flowers in late spring to early summer above a clump of ferny, dark green foliage. It is similar in appearance to astilbe but can handle drier conditions and blooms a bit earlier.

Grows best in moist, humus-rich soils. In northern climates, it can be grown in full sun if provided with adequate moisture. In southern zones, however, it prefers partial or full shade.

Height: 30-32”, Spread: 40-48”, Sun or shade, Perennial in zones 3-7

10. Coral Bells

Primo® ‘Wild Rose’ Heuchera

It’s easy to spot this unique variety of coral bells from a distance because its fabulous rosy purple foliage absolutely glows, even in the shade. Who needs flowers with long lasting, colorful foliage like this?

‘Wild Rose’ forms a low, wide mound that fits perfectly along the edge of a border or as an underplanting to taller ferns, medium-sized shrubs or weeping trees like Japanese maples. Pink flowers in midsummer are an added bonus.

Foliage Height: 8-10”, Flower Height: 18-20”, Spread: 26-30”, Sun or shade but best in part shade, Perennial in zones 4-9

11. Foamy Bells

Fun and Games® ‘Eye Spy’ Heucherella

Every shade garden needs at least a few chartreuse plants as accents in an otherwise green setting. ‘Eye Spy’ emerges in spring with bright yellow leaves with rosy red centers, then mellows to chartreuse for the summer months. The mounded foliage is topped with a profusion of bubblegum pink flower panicles on red stems for several weeks beginning in late spring.

This perennial grows beautifully in containers and landscape borders, requiring little more than occasional watering to thrive. Try growing it on its own in an 8-12” pot alongside your flowering annuals for beautiful contrast with little upkeep needed throughout the seasons.

Height: 8-10”, Spread: 16-20”, Part shade to shade, Perennial in zones 4-9

12. Hosta

Shadowland® ‘Waterslide’ Hosta

If you garden in shade, you know how reliable hostas are for such challenging conditions. If you haven’t added any new varieties to your collection lately, take a look at the fancy new cultivars that have come along like this distinctive mid-sized blue variety, ‘Waterslide’. Its extremely rippled leaves and powder blue color easily stand out from the crowd, while thick leaves help it to be more pest resistant.

Grow this hosta in a container (a dark colored pot would really make the light blue foliage pop), or near the front of your shade border. Its low, broadly mounded shape is easy to pair with most other shade lovers.

Foliage Height: 14”, Flower Height: 17”, Spread: 32”, Part shade to shade, Perennial in zones 3-9

13. Foamflower

‘Cutting Edge’ Tiarella

You’ll love how this elegant woodland wildflower adds tapestry-like texture to your shade garden and delights with its early spring, bottlebrush blossoms. Its intricately dissected, deep green leaves with burgundy centers form a low mound similar to coral bells. Deer typically leave it alone because of the leaves’ fuzzy texture.

Try planting a mass of ‘Cutting Edge’ foamflowers under a small weeping tree such as a weeping cherry or at the base of a spring flowering shrub like Spilled Wine^® weigela. Together, they’ll create a feast for pollinators every spring.

Foliage Height: 8-10”, Flower Height: 18-20”, Spread: 16-18”, Part shade to shade, Perennial in zones 4-9

14. Ligularia

‘Bottle Rocket’ Ligularia

This robust grower will make a statement in your shade garden with its bright mustard yellow flower spikes in summer. Ligularias are at their best when grown in cool, moist locations in part shade. Protect from hot afternoon sun.

Pair the big, bold texture of this Ligularia with ferns, Siberian irises, and Japanese maples.

Height: 2’4”-2’10”, Spread:2’-2’4”, Part Shade to Shade, Perennial in zones 4-9

15. Crested Japanese Painted Fern

‘Crested Surf’ Athyriumniponicum

Perfect for moist, shady areas of the garden. 'Crested Surf' looks similar to traditional Japanese Painted Fern, but the tips of the fronds are double-crested. Tall enough to plant in the middle of the border!

Height: 20”-22”, Spread:2’4"-2’6”, Part shade to shade, Perennial in zones 3-8

Patent Info: Rockin'^® 'Golden Delicious' Salvia elegans USPP17977; 'Chantilly Lace' Aruncus USPPAF CanPBRAF; Primo^® 'Wild Rose' Heuchera USPPAF CanPBRAF; Fun and Games^® 'Eye Spy' Heucherella USPPAF CanPBRAF; Shadowland^® 'Waterslide' Hosta USPPAF CanPBRAF; 'Cutting Edge' Tiarella USPPAF CanPBRAF; Invincibelle Mini Mauvette^® Hydrangea arborescens USPPAF CanPBRAF; Invincibelle Wee White^® Hydrangea arborescens USPPAF CanPBRAF; Wabi-Sabi^® Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum USPP29553 CanPBRAF