Yahoo Lifestyle Looking to Add Pops of Color to Your Shade Garden? Try These Perennials
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The best perennials for shade can brighten up your garden without needing bright light.. These blooms are the perfect solution for an outdoor space with little to no sunlight.
“Plants are no different than us…we’re a lot more comfortable under an umbrella than baking in the hot sun on a beach, right?” jokes Ryan McEnaney, author of Field Guide to Outside Style, and spokesperson for Endless Summer Hydrangeas and First Editions Shrubs & Trees. “Planting in shade or part-shade can also alleviate the stress the sun puts on plants, especially in the heat of summer, and make them shine even brighter.”
Whether your outdoor space is covered or you want to fill every free inch in your yard with plants, growing perennials for shade can add some life to an otherwise dark patch. And unlike annuals, perennials will come back year after year, making these flowers and greenery ideal for those looking to only plant once.
“What I love about shade perennials lies in their ability to provide long-term beauty and aesthetic value to our garden spaces, while also contributing to a more sustainable, low-maintenance and worry-free garden,” says Maureen Wright, horticultural sales consultant at Fast Growing Trees. “Shaded areas create a haven from the sun on a hot summer day.”
Meet the experts: Ryan McEnaney, author of Field Guide to Outside Style, and spokesperson for Endless Summer Hydrangeas and First Editions Shrubs & Trees; and Maureen Wright, horticultural sales consultant at Fast Growing Trees.
So, gather your gardening tools (don’t forget the best gardening gloves!), apply some sunscreen, and get digging.
1. Patriot
Patriot is a cultivated variety of a hosta plant, and it has teardrop shaped, green leaves. The Missouri Botanical Garden says it tolerates heavy shade, but grows best in partial shade with some morning sun. The trick to keeping this leafy plant healthy is to keep the soil consistently moist.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade, and well-drained moist soil.
2. The Rocket
The common name for this plant is “The Rocket,” but it’s also known as Ligularia. The nickname comes from its yellow flowers that shoot up from large green leaves. This perennial thrives in very wet and shady environments, so it’s perfect for those who live in dark rainy areas.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Part shade to full shade, and medium to wet soils.
4. Bleeding Heart
Link: https://www.amazon.com/QAUZUY-GARDEN-Perennial-Spectabilis-Fast-Growing/dp/B0BR6MB7MV/ref=sr_1_4
Romance is in the air with these heart-shaped, colorful perennials that can grow in the shade. The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that these bloom in the late spring, grow 2 to 3 feet, and thrive in wet, shady soils. The dangling heart petals will make any shady yard look lovely.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Part shade to full shade, medium watering, and well-drained soil.
5. Lily of the Valley
These dainty white flowers with drooping bulbs can thrive in partial or full shade. They bloom in the spring, can tolerate many soil conditions, and can even be propagated in the fall. They are not fans of hot summers, so it’s the perfect flower for cooler climates and locations without a ton of sunlight.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Part shade to full shade, and moist and well-drained soil.
6. Columbine
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Roundstone-Native-Seed-LLC-canadensis/dp/B00BIJ99HC/ref=sr_1_1
This flower performs best with partial shade and sun, so it’s not the best option if your garden gets zero sunlight. The red and yellow petals add a pop of color to your yard, and may even attract hummingbirds. You don’t need to stress too much about watering these plants as these have a wide range of soil and water level tolerance.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade, and average soil.
7. Daffodils
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Large-Daffodils-Perennial-Daffodil/dp/B015HFVGH8/ref=sr_1_6
Add some bright yellow to a dark garden with a batch of daffodils. These yellow and white flowers can grow in partial shade, and are easily grown in average soil conditions. Daffodils require a bit of moisture, but can tolerate a drought if necessary. Enjoy the colorful flowers when they bloom every spring and cut back the foliage when they begin to yellow for proper maintenance.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade, medium watering, and average soil.
8. Japanese Painted Fern
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Painted-Fern-Hardy-Shade-Lovers/dp/B0BSN5BDR4/ref=sr_1_5
This leafy plant can grow in full to partial shade, and features soft green, silver, and maroon hues. Water this plant well so that the soil never dries out and it should grow 1 to 1.5 feet tall. You can enjoy this plant through the summer and autumn, and it will come back in the spring if planted properly.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade, medium watering, well-drained soil.
The best perennials for shade can brighten up your garden without bright light, making these blooms the perfect solution for an outdoor space with little to no sunlight.
“Plants are no different than us…we’re a lot more comfortable under an umbrella than baking in the hot sun on a beach, right?” jokes Ryan McEnaney, author of Field Guide to Outside Style, and spokesperson for Endless Summer Hydrangeas and First Editions Shrubs & Trees. “Planting in shade or part-shade can also alleviate the stress the sun puts on plants, especially in the heat of summer, and make them shine even brighter.”
Whether your outdoor space is covered or you want to fill every free inch in your yard with plants, growing perennials for shade can add some life to an otherwise dark patch. And unlike annuals, perennials will come back year after year, making these flowers and greenery ideal for those looking to only plant once.
“What I love about shade perennials lies in their ability to provide long-term beauty and aesthetic value to our garden spaces, while also contributing to a more sustainable, low-maintenance and worry-free garden,” says Maureen Wright, horticultural sales consultant at Fast Growing Trees. “Shaded areas create a haven from the sun on a hot summer day.”
Meet the experts: Ryan McEnaney, author of Field Guide to Outside Style, and spokesperson for Endless Summer Hydrangeas and First Editions Shrubs & Trees; and Maureen Wright, horticultural sales consultant at Fast Growing Trees.
So, gather your gardening tools (don’t forget the best gardening gloves!), apply some sunscreen, and get digging.
Patriot
Patriot is a cultivated variety of a hosta plant, and it has teardrop shaped, green leaves. The Missouri Botanical Garden says it tolerates heavy shade, but grows best in partial shade with some morning sun. The trick to keeping this leafy plant healthy is to keep the soil consistently moist.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and well-drained, moist soil.
Rocket
The common name for this plant is “The Rocket,” but it’s also known as Ligularia. The nickname comes from its yellow flowers that shoot up from large green leaves. This perennial thrives in very wet and shady environments, so it’s perfect for those who live in dark rainy areas.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and medium to wet soils.
Bleeding Heart
Romance is in the air with these heart-shaped, colorful perennials that can grow in the shade. The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that these bloom in the late spring, grow 2 to 3 feet, and thrive in wet, shady soils. The dangling heart petals will make any shady yard look lovely, and butterflies love these flowers.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and well-drained soil.
Lily of the Valley
These dainty white flowers with drooping bulbs can thrive in partial or full shade. They bloom in the spring, can tolerate many soil conditions, and can even be propagated in the fall. They are not fans of hot summers, so it’s the perfect flower for cooler climates and locations without a ton of sunlight.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and moist and well-drained soil.
Columbine
This flower performs best with partial shade and sun, so it’s not the best option if your garden gets zero sunlight. The red and yellow petals add a pop of color to your yard, and may even attract hummingbirds. You don’t need to stress too much about watering these plants as they have a wide range of soil and water level tolerance.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil.
Daffodils
Add some bright yellow to a dark garden with a batch of daffodils. These yellow and white flowers can grow in partial shade—they do well in full sun too—and are easily grown in average soil conditions. Daffodils require a bit of moisture but can tolerate a drought if necessary. Enjoy the colorful flowers when they bloom every spring and cut back the foliage when they begin to yellow for proper maintenance.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and average soil.
Japanese Painted Fern
This leafy plant can grow in full to partial shade and features soft green, silver, and maroon hues. Water it well so that the soil never dries out and it should grow 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall. You can enjoy this plant through the summer and autumn, and it will come back in the spring when planted properly.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade and well-drained soil.
Pachysandra
Another leafy green plant that loves the shade, pachysandra can grow in full shade, but thrive with a bit of sun in partial shade. This shrub-like plant blooms in April, requires medium watering, and the Missouri Botanical Garden notes it’s rather low-maintenance.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade and well-drained soil.
Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss
The green, heart-shaped leaves with small, blue flowers of this plant will add some uniqueness and color to your garden. It can grow in partial shade, so just be sure it’s planted in a spot that gets a bit of light every now and then. The Jack Frost Siberian Bugloss can grow in USDA zones 3 to 8, but prefers cooler summers, so it thrives in zones 7 to 8.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade and average soil.
Shop Jack Frost Siberian Buglosses
Limelight Hydrangea
This is a cone-shaped perennial that grows in the summer and can bloom later in the season, so you can enjoy these flowers in autumn too. The cool-green blooms transform into a deeper pink and can grow to a height of eight to 10 feet, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. If you live in a city and want to brighten up a small outdoor space or patio, the Missouri Botanical Garden says this perennial thrives in urban settings.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full sun and well-drained soil.
Shop Limelight Hydrangeas
Spanish Bluebell
The Spanish Bluebell is a plant that can thrive in partial shade with medium watering in sandy, well-drained soils. This plant’s blue, white, and lavender petals bloom in the spring and droop down with a bell shape that looks dainty and bright.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and sandy soils.
Raspberry Splash Lungwort
This perennial is perfect for a shady spot because it thrives in full shade and will go into dormancy if it’s too hot and dry. It can tolerate a bit of morning sun when the temperature is cooler, but needs shade for most of the day. This perennial has blotchy-looking leaves with bright raspberry-hued flowers (hence the name), and needs consistently moist soil, so be sure to water it and check that the soil never dries out.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and moist, cool soil.
Shop Raspberry Splash Lungworts
Chocolate Chip Bugleweed
These little blue-violet flowers add a bit of color to a shady garden. They bloom May to June, and while they prefer moist soils, they can tolerate dry soils and withstand less watering. For the brightest petals, you’ll want to plant these somewhere that gets some sunlight, but the Chocolate Chip Bugleweed can survive in full shade.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.
Shop Chocolate Chip Bugleweeds
Brunnera ‘Sea Heart’
These heart-shaped, silvery-green leaves can thrive in partial shade. Growing at about ½ foot to 2 feet, this perennial cannot tolerate dry soils—so you’ll have to be on top of watering it. The work will be worth it when you see the blue flowers that bloom in the spring.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Brilliance Autumn Fern
Another fern, this perennial is perfect for the autumn to add some greenery and life to your yard. These thrive in partial to full shade, prefer consistently moist soils, and can grow when the weather is a little chillier.
Hardiness zone: 5 to 8
Growing conditions: Partial to full shade and moist soil.
Aralia Cordata ‘Sun King’
The Aralia Cordata “Sun King” is more commonly known as Japanese Spikenard. This perennial grows best in partial shade, but it can survive in full sunlight or full shade (it’s an easygoing plant!). It has bright, green leaves with dainty, white flowers that bloom from spring to early fall.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Coral Bells
The Heucheras Amber Waves can tolerate sunlight, but loves shade. Its red, orange, and yellow leaves grow up to 1 foot tall and thrive in partial shade with medium watering. The Missouri Botanical Garden recommends removing the stems of faded petals to help new flowers bloom.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and rich soil.
Coleus
The Missouri Botanical Garden lists this as a tropical evergreen tender perennial that can grow in partial to full shade. It’s winter hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11 with bright red leaves that thrive in partial shade, but can tolerate full shade.
Hardiness zone: 10 to 11
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade and moist, loose soils.
Hellebore
Brighten up your garden with shades of pink, red, and purple by growing these perennials. Commonly called lenten rose, this flower can grow in darker spots of your yard and needs medium watering. They are a late-winter blooming perennial, but it is suggested that you plant them in areas where they are protected from cold winds.
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Partial shade to full shade and rich, well-drained soils.
Sum & Substance Hosta
Another cultivar of Hosta, this leafy plant can grow in partial shade and up to 2 to 3 feet. It blooms in August, so it’s perfect for a full autumn garden. It’s a low-maintenance perennial that only calls for some watering at the root of the plant for evenly moist soil.
Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
What is a perennial?
“A perennial is a type of plant that lives for multiple growing seasons, typically coming back year after year without the need for replanting,” Wright says. “This length of time a perennial lives is determined by the plant itself and varies from species to species.”
A perennial grows for three seasons or more without re-planting the seeds, according to The New York Botanical Garden. This makes perennials perfect for a low-maintenance and cost-effective garden since you will not have to worry about replanting every year.
How much shade is considered partial shade?
While plenty of plants call for “partial shade,” you may be wondering what this means. Is it alright if the garden is exposed to sunlight in the morning for two hours? What about baking in the sun for half of the day? McEnaney says he sticks with the general rule that partial shade plants need about four hours of sun exposure, which is best in the morning because the rays are less harsh. “On the other hand, partial sun plants do best with between four and six hours of sun,” he says. “You don’t want to put a shade plant in too much sun or it can scorch.”
The level of intensity and amount of direct sunlight also plays a role. “Partial shade is typically defined as an area that receives indirect sunlight for part of the day, usually less than six hours of direct sunlight,” Wright says. “It varies between some sunlight and some shade and those levels of shade/sun intensity will shift in various geographical locations and in certain times of the year.”
Can perennials for shade be planted in a sunny spot?
You should always check with the seeds’ label instructions, or with a reliable source, such as the Farmer’s Almanac or a botanical garden’s website, prior to planting.
McEnaney says it’s important to follow care instructions to avoid adding stress to the plant with too much sunlight. “This can lead to the plant’s overall demise, or at least burn the foliage, reduce blooms, or wilt and not be very beautiful,” he says. “The one bit of flexibility is if you live in a cooler climate, you can sometimes push it a bit and give a little more sun. But you still wouldn’t want to plant something labeled for shade in a full sun environment.”
Wright says a perennial for shade may struggle in a spot with over six hours of sunlight. Just like humans, she says plants can suffer from sunburn and heat stress. “However, some shade-tolerant plants can adapt to receiving more sunlight if they are gradually acclimated to the increased light levels,” Wright says. “This process is called ‘hardening off,’ and it involves gradually exposing the plant to more sunlight over a period of time.”
If you love one of the plants from this story, but don’t have a spot that’s shady enough to plant it, Wright suggests adding a shade cloth to block the sun from hitting the plant during the day, or keeping the plant potted and moving it to shadier spots throughout the day.
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