Shade-Loving Plants for Your Garden
If you have shady areas in your yard, don’t despair! There are many beautiful and easy-to-grow plants that thrive in low-light conditions.
Shrubs
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Hetz’s Japanese Holly: This evergreen shrub has small, oval leaves that resemble boxwood foliage. It grows in full sun to partial shade and is deer resistant.
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Inkberry Holly: Another easy-to-grow shrub for shady areas, inkberry holly has dark berries and evergreen foliage. It is deer resistant and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
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Hemlock: Hemlock trees prefer full to partial shade and have tiny fragrant needles and oval-shaped seed cones. They are deer resistant and can grow up to 70 feet tall.
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Yew: Yews are adaptable evergreen trees and shrubs that tolerate shade and can be grown in a variety of light conditions. They are toxic to humans and animals, so care should be taken when planting them around pets or children.
Perennials
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Bleeding Heart: Bleeding hearts are delicate perennials with dangling, puffy, heart-shaped flowers in pink or white. They prefer partial to full shade and are deer resistant.
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Jack-in-the-Pulpit: This unusual perennial has a hooded striped spathe surrounding a tiny flower. It thrives in the shade and is deer resistant.
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Lenten Rose: Lenten rose is an evergreen perennial that blooms in late winter and early spring. Its flowers are long-lasting and come in a variety of colors. It is deer resistant and prefers partial to full shade.
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Leopard Plant: Leopard plant is a shade-loving perennial with clusters of golden daisy-like flowers. It has large disk-like leaves that look like tractor seats. It prefers partial to full shade and is deer resistant.
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Virginia Bluebells: Virginia bluebells are maintenance-free ephemeral plants that grow well in the dappled shade of trees. They have clusters of delicate, frilly blue trumpet-shaped blossoms. They are deer resistant and prefer partial shade.
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Toad Lily: Toad lily stands out in a shade garden with its hairy stems and purple or white petals with vibrant purple spots. It prefers partial sun or shade and is deer resistant.
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Siberian Bugloss: Siberian bugloss is a long-lasting perennial with delicate-looking, yet durable ground cover. It has small, airy blue flowers with white centers and dark green heart-shaped leaves. It prefers full to partial shade and is deer resistant.
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Impatiens: Impatiens are popular bedding plants for adding color to shady areas. They have profuse and delicate blooms in a variety of colors. They prefer partial to full shade and are not deer resistant.
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Wax Begonia: Wax begonia is a low-maintenance plant that grows best in shady areas. It has glossy, waxy-looking leaves and flowers in white, pink, or red. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is deer resistant.
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Coleus: Coleus is grown for its exquisitely patterned and variegated foliage. It creates a stunning swath of vivid color in a shady area. It prefers partial shade to full shade and is deer resistant.
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Fuchsia: Fuchsia is a woody shrub or tree that is ideal for growing in partial to deep shade. It has teardrop-shaped single or double flowers in a variety of colors. It prefers partial to deep shade and is deer resistant.
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Spotted Dead Nettle: Spotted dead nettle is an attractive perennial ground cover that is best grown in shady areas. It is generally grown for its silvery leaves rather than its pink, purple, or white flowers. It prefers shade and is deer resistant.
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Creeping Myrtle: Creeping myrtle is a fragrant annual ground cover that thrives in shady areas. It has small blue flowers and is also known as periwinkle. It prefers full, partial, or shade and is deer resistant.
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Cast Iron Plant: Cast iron plant is nearly indestructible, even in deep shade. It has glossy green leaves and produces insignificant cream or purple flowers when grown outdoors. It prefers partial sun or shade and is deer resistant.
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Japanese Pachysandra: Japanese pachysandra is a shade-tolerant ground cover with leathery, dark green leaves and small white flowers. It is popular for weed, rabbit, and deer control. It prefers partial and full shade and is deer resistant.
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Hosta: Hostas, also known as plantain lilies, are some of the fastest-growing plants you can grow in the shade. They have large, heart-shaped leaves and can be all green, shades of green and blue, or variegated. They prefer partial or full shade and are not deer resistant.
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Bunchberry: Bunchberry is a perfect perennial ground cover for shady areas with wet soil. It has ornamental white dogwood-like flowers and scarlet red berries. It prefers full or partial shade and is deer resistant.
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Japanese Painted Ferns: Japanese painted fern adds color to a shady area with its silvery leaves. It is also considered variegated because it has hits of grayish-green in the foliage and purplish midribs. It prefers partial sun or shade and is deer resistant.
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Climbing Hydrangeas: Climbing hydrangeas are a favorite vine for gardeners in cold climates because they flower nicely even when grown in full shade. They have fragrant white flowers and are deer resistant. They prefer full sun or shade and can grow up to 50 feet tall.
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Boston Ivy: Boston ivy is grown for its foliage, not its flowers. It has vibrant green foliage that adds elegance and privacy to a shady area. It can climb up walls, fences, and pergolas, and can also creep along as a ground cover. It prefers full sun or partial shade and is deer resistant.
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Heuchera: Coral bells grow well in semi-shady locations and have small bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring or early summer. They prefer full or partial shade and are deer resistant.
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Astilbe: Astilbe is one of the easiest perennial flowers to grow, especially in part shade. It has tall, stiff stalks with long-blooming, plume-like flowers in a variety of colors. It prefers partial or full shade and is deer resistant.
Tips for Growing Shade-Loving Plants
- Water shaded plants once a week, preferably in the morning.
- Choose plants that are suited to your specific shade conditions.
- Amend the soil with organic matter to improve drainage and fertility.
- Mulch around plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
With a little planning and care, you can create a beautiful and thriving shade garden that will bring you joy for years to come.