Move over hostas and impatiens! You already know these shade-lovers are reliable performers, but there are a whole lot of other beauties out there that flourish in less sunny locations. The trick is to choose the right plant for the right place. “There are many degrees of shade,” says Michael Sheek, senior horticulturalist with the Atlanta Botanical Garden. “Pay attention to your planting area for a few days to get a sense of what kind of light it receives at different times of day.” For example, full shade means the area never receives direct light. Part shade means it doesn’t get more than three or four hours of direct sunlight daily. Some sun-loving plants will tolerate a bit of shade, and some shade plants can handle a little sun, especially if it’s in the morning. (Ask your nursery or read the plant tag to find out whether a plant you’ve fallen in love with will do well in your specific conditions!)
These shade-lovers will brighten up any dark corner of your yard or patio:
1 Oakleaf Hydrangeas
The large, dense clusters of flowers on these native shrubs last all season, even through fall and winter to provide three-season interest and texture. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from a few feet tall to 7 or 8 feet tall. Most tolerate a bit of sun, especially if it’s not super-hot late afternoon sunlight. They’re a nice transition from lawn to woodlands along a property line. Dwarf types do well in containers, too.
Try:
•Gatsby Gal: Spectacular, large white blooms that turn pinkish in fall
•Pee Wee: Dwarf variety that maxes out around 4 feet tall
2 Begonias
These vigorous low-maintenance annuals bloom continuously until a hard frost without the need to pinch spent blooms. Flowers can be a variety of beautiful shades including rose, red, white, salmon or orange. Some types are grown more for their gorgeous foliage. Begonias thrive equally well in the landscape or in pots.
Try:
•Dragon Wing Red: Hardy, heat-tolerant true red flowers that bloom all season long
•Jurassic Green Streak Rex: Beautiful patterned leaves of green and white with a pinkish tinge
3 Ferns
Frothy, delicate ferns are hardier than they appear, reappearing after even tough winters. These perennials come in an amazing array of shapes, sizes, and colors and absolutely adore shade. Many prefer somewhat moist ground but are drought-tolerant once established. Use as ground covers, borders or accents.
Try:
•Autumn: Feathery, coppery-red plant that matures to deep green
•Japanese Painted: Silvery or red-tinted fronds that stand out against other plantings
4 Bletilla
This exotic-looking perennial, also called hardy ground orchid, flowers in early spring in white, purple and various shades of pink. The blooms often last up to six weeks. It’s a pretty, unusual landscape plant for warmer climates, or it can be overwintered indoors if planted in containers.
Try:
•White Pearl: Fast-multiplying type with pure white flowers
•Soryu: Lovely mauve-lavender flowers with white throats and deep purple ruffles
5 Spirea
Spirea are dense, rounded shrubs that don’t need coddled. They’re extremely cold tolerant and will accept part sun conditions. Newer types come in bright colors and more compact sizes that stay neat as they grow. They work well in mass plantings, borders, or as pops of color in the landscape.
Try:
•Double Play Candy Corn: Red new growth turns to yellow, then orange, with purple flowers
•Double Play Red: New growth is purple with red flowers
6Heuchera
With ruffled leaves and colorful foliage, heuchera, also called coral bells, is a bright perennial addition to any shade garden. Grown primarily for its pretty foliage, its mounding habit shoots up small flower spikes in spring to mid-summer. It’s an attractive accent plant that will tolerate some sun, though its best color occurs in shade.
Try:
•Amber Waves: Golden ruffled leaves and compact habit
•Carnival Candy Apple: Reddish-pink rounded leaves offer nice color to dark areas
7 Torenia
These perky snapdragon-like annuals in purple, white, pink and yellow last from spring to fall and attract hummingbirds. They’re sometimes called wishbone flowers. Their trailing habit makes them perfect for window boxes and hanging baskets, but they also do well as a groundcover.
Try:
•Catalina Midnight Blue: True blue color with bright yellow throats
•Catalina Pink: Eye-catching two-tone dark pink and pale pink flowers with yellow centers
8Caladium
Huge heart-shaped leaves in splashy, vibrant colors offer plenty of drama. Caladiums are tropical so they love the heat. If you live in a cooler climate, place them in pots so they can be brought indoors and enjoyed as a houseplant in a bright spot over the winter.
Try:
•Artful Fire and Ice: Impressive large green and white leaves with red and pink veins
•Gingerland: Unique dwarf variety with green edges and dark red spatters
9 Epimedium
These charming perennials also are known as fairy wings or bishop’s cap due to the beguiling shape of their flowers. The delicate flowers appear in early spring. They’re cold hardy but they tend to not like foot traffic, so situate them where they won’t be disturbed as a ground cover.
Try:
•Pink Champagne: Purple-splotched leaves and ethereal pink flower spikes
•Lilafee Lavender: violet flowers with elegant long spurs
10Coleus
Coleus is a sturdy annual that comes in every imaginable color ranging from lime green to deep burgundy with varying leaf shapes and heights available. Many types tolerate either sun or shade, so they’re versatile as the ultimate low-maintenance landscape plant or ideal for providing height to mixed containers.
Try:
•Henna: Striking serrated foliage in shades of chartreuse, copper and burgundy
•Lime Delight: Bright color offers a contrast to the usual dark greens of the landscape