While most plants require plenty of water and sunlight to grow and thrive, some require less. These plants, which include wide flowering varieties, are known as perennials, and they typically grow in areas with moist soil and receive partial shade.
They can create colourful landscapes in gardens and yards and also make good indoor plants.
In this article, we have highlighted a few of our best picks to help you get started!
1. Toad Lily
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The toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) is a perennial flowering plant that thrives in a shady spot. It usually blooms in late summer and early fall. Toad lilies prefer well-drained, moist soil and are often used as ground cover in shady areas and can also be suitable for planting under trees because their roots will help stabilise the soil.
2. Bleeding heart
There are many reasons to add bleeding heart plants to your garden, but one of the best is their ability to provide afternoon shade. These flowering shrubs come in various colours and add a pop of colour to any garden. They also grow well in shady areas, making them the perfect choice for those parts of the garden that don’t get a lot of sun.
3. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is a beautiful flowering shrub used in shady areas. It can bloom in late spring, providing a long period of colour. The flowers are very showy and range in colour from pink, blue, and white flowers. The foliage is also attractive, with dark green leaves that turn red in the fall. Oakleaf hydrangea is sturdy and can tolerate drought and other harsh conditions. It makes an excellent addition to any landscape and is especially well-suited for shade gardens.
4. Lungwort
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Lungwort (Pulmonaria Officinalis) is a beautiful shade flower that blooms in the spring. The foliage is an attractive silver-green, and the flowers are a pretty blue. Lungwort grows well in partial shade, making it a perfect choice for shaded gardens and borders. It’s also a good choice for container gardens.
5. Ajuga
Ajuga is a beautiful plant for late spring when many other shade perennials are still dormant. It has attractive foliage and blooms with white flowers and is an excellent choice for shade areas.
6. Hostas
Hostas are one of the most popular perennials for shady areas. They are hardy in USDA zone 3 to 9 and grow well in deep shade. Hostas have large, broad leaves that provide a lot of shade. They also have early spring flowers that add colour to the garden. Hostas grow well in moist, fertile soil but tolerate dry conditions.
7. False goatsbeard
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False goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) is a perennial that can reach up to 4 feet tall, with compound leaves of several leaflets and in late spring, the plant produces fluffy white flowers on slender stalks.
False goatsbeard is an excellent choice for shady areas, as it thrives in cool conditions, and its dense foliage provides good shade. The plants are drought tolerant once established and tolerate light shade or full sun.
8. Bigroot Geranium
Bigroot Geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum) are a shade-loving perennial that can add beautiful bloom and lush foliage to your garden. These plants have divided leaves that create an excellent ground cover and produce clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers in late spring or early summer. Because they thrive in shady areas, Bigroot Geraniums are excellent for planting beneath trees or along the edge of a wooded area or woodland garden. They also work well as part of a foundation planting or in mixed borders.
9. Hellebore
Hellebores are one of the best plants for shady areas. Their foliage is evergreen and bloom from late winter to early spring. Their flower is a beautiful shade of pink or white and is very showy. Hellebores are a great addition to any garden and can be used as a perennial, shrub, or groundcover.
10. Foamflower
This shade-loving flower has attractive foliage and blooms from early spring to late summer. The heart-shaped leaves are a deep green with prominent white veins. In early spring, delicate white flowers form in clusters at the tips of the stems. Foamflower is a low-maintenance shrub that adapts well to various conditions, making it a good choice for gardeners in all climates. It grows best in moist, shady areas but can tolerate partial sun.
11. Viola
Source: google
One of the best things about Viola is its foliage. The leaves are medium green and quite attractive. They don’t have a strong scent, but the foliage is excellent for shade. In the summer, Viola will bloom with beautiful flowers in many colours. They make great additions to any garden and can be used as hedges or borders. Viola also grows well in containers, so they’re perfect for small spaces.
12. Autumn Anemones
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Autumn anemones (Anemone hupehensis) have attractive foliage and bloom from late summer into fall. The flowers are small but very colourful and can be a nice addition to a landscape. Autumn anemones grow best in moist, well-drained soil and prefer partial shade to full shade.
13. Jacob’s Ladder
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Jacob’s Ladder is a perennial flowering plant that is good for shade. The foliage is attractive, with a bloom that is delicate and flowery. The shrub grows well in most climates and can be easily maintained.
14. Columbines
Columbine plants are an excellent choice for shade, as they have long, graceful foliage and large, showy flowers. In addition to being beautiful, columbines are relatively easy to care for and can thrive in various conditions. These plants can be used as standalone specimens or in groups for added impact. Columbines bloom in spring or early summer, making them a perfect addition to any garden during that time of year.
15. Leopard Plants
Source: google
Leopard plants (Dieffenbachia maculata) are a good option for adding foliage and some bloom to shady areas of the garden. The large, green leaves have bold white markings that give the plant its common name. Small, white flowers appear in the leaf axils in late spring and early summer. Leopard plants grow best in partial shade but can tolerate full shade if needed. They make an excellent addition to containers or foundation plantings.
Conclusion
Flowers and plants can live in the shade. Many perennials do better in the shade than they do in direct sunlight. Shade-loving flowers and plants can be found at most nurseries, and they come in various colours and textures.
One great thing about planting flowers and plants that like the shade is that you can often put them near the house or other buildings without fear of them burning up in the sun. Another advantage to shade-loving plants is that they typically don’t need as much water as their sun-loving counterparts. So if you’re looking for an easy way to add colour to your yard, consider planting some flowers and plants that thrive in the shade.
To know more about the best flowering plants for shade, check out PlantJudo!
FAQs
How can I create shade for plants?
One way is to use an awning or umbrella. This can be effective, but it can be expensive, and it can block views.
Another way to provide shade for plants is with a trellis or arbour. This is less expensive than an awning or umbrella and doesn’t block views. To create more shade, you can also grow vines on the trellis or arbour.
A third way to provide shade for plants is to use trees. Trees can be expensive, but they provide lots of shade and don’t take up much space.
Can azaleas grow in the shade?
Yes, azaleas can grow in the shade. They often thrive in shady areas where other plants might not grow as well. This is because azaleas are adapted to cool weather and shady conditions.
Do i need to water shade plants frequently?
Sheltered and shady areas tend to dry out more slowly, so they require less frequent watering. If you water sunny gardens, be sure to water deeply and thoroughly, but always check the soil before automatically watering again.
