If you’re planning to grow flowers in your garden but the location is shady, you should think about heuchera, a type of coral bells that thrives in shady spots. Heucheras have a wide range of leaf colors from silvery green to purple-black to salmon or rusty orange. Not only does this foliage add visual excitement to your landscape, but some varieties also have showy flowers on tall stems, such as Chocolate Ruffles.
Impatiens
If you’re looking for a beautiful flower that grows in mostly shade, impatiens may be the answer. They’re easy to grow and bloom until the first frost, making them an excellent choice for areas where sunlight isn’t available. Impatiens are available in a variety of colors and are easy to find. Standard impatiens thrive in shady locations and New Guinea impatiens grow in partial sun.
These easy-care impatiens are great for partially shaded areas because they bloom year-round and can be grown in containers. They are also able to tolerate cold climates because their foliage isn’t woody or poisonous. They also look beautiful in mixed containers and hanging baskets and can be moved inside during cold weather. In fact, Impatiens are the best plant for mostly shade.
You should plant impatiens at least a foot away from each other. Impatiens prefer closer spacing, but can also be planted further apart to grow as a ground cover. Choose a general-purpose potting soil that drains well, and add slow-release fertilizer to help them get off to a great start. If you want to grow more than one impatiens in one pot, be sure to choose varieties with similar water requirements.
Himalayan poppy
Himalayan poppies need a cool location to grow. The best time to plant them is in the spring or early summer, after the last frost. Because these plants are susceptible to crown rot if waterlogged, it is important to keep them well-watered throughout their growing cycle. Also, Himalayan poppies do best when they are planted in late winter or early spring, since they require a cool environment to germinate seeds. If you are growing them in a shady location, deadhead the flowers to avoid seeding and prolong the life of your plants.
The Himalayan poppy has two types: Meconopsis grandis and Meconopsis baileyi. Both produce a spectacular blue flower with yellow centers. The flowers are short and grow on tall stems that grow from the base of a rosette of oblong leaves. They bloom during late spring and early summer and require partial shade to thrive. They can also survive dry winters.
The Himalayan poppy grows best in well-draining soil and a rich humus content. For best results, prepare the soil with two to three inches of organic matter such as aged manure, compost, or peat moss. This acidity boosts the soil’s pH and produces a sky blue flower. Alternatively, if your soil is too acidic, the flower color may be more purple than blue.
English ivy
There are many varieties of English ivy available. Most varieties have glossy dark green leaves, but some cultivars have different leaf shapes and colors. Choose from Anne Marie, which has medium green leaves with gray splotches, or the ‘Buttercup,’ which has yellow, curly leaves and is perfect for partial shade. Spectre, a dwarf variety, is another good choice for mostly shade.
English ivy is known as a good plant for mostly shade because it adapts to many types of lighting. The best conditions are partial shade, though it will tolerate any light intensity. The perennial habit of this plant in U.S. gardens makes it an excellent choice for this environment. English ivy grows in mounds that are one to two feet high and can reach upwards of 20 feet. However, it can be dangerous to climb trees and fences if its roots grow outward.
Bettina ivy is a compact upright cultivar with moss-colored leaves. It is an excellent plant for partially shaded areas, and its vines can be pruned to fit the space. It also requires bright indirect sunlight and fertilizer twice a year. Lastly, it is best planted in containers. A potted plant of Hedera helix is a great choice for mostly shade gardens.
Hardy cyclamen
Hardy cyclamen can tolerate temperatures below zero, provided it has adequate moisture throughout the growing season. During the winter, it can tolerate freezing temperatures and can thrive in zones as low as four. While nature provides adequate moisture during its growing season, artificial watering may be necessary in periods of drought. Hardy cyclamen will need a small amount of moisture throughout the growing season to keep its roots healthy. Otherwise, its bloom will be reduced. Hardy cyclamen are tolerant of most types of summers, but will require supplemental watering during the winter.
The prime flowering time of Hardy Cyclamen depends on its location and altitude. They will bloom from mid-September through early spring, with peak bloom times around October and early February. The exact bloom time will vary from year to year and also depend on how much snow has fallen. Purpurascens is a good all-around plant for mostly shaded locations because it remains above ground for almost an entire year, before starting again in late summer.
Cyclamen coum is a perennial with pink flowers that last through January and March. It has several excellent cultivars, including Cyclamen hederifolium AGM, which provides ground cover from winter to spring. Hardy Cyclamen hederifolium AGM offers a kaleidoscopic foliage pattern. Its heart-shaped flowers are often adorned with white veins.
Corydalis lutea
In the shade, Corydalis lutea is the perfect plant to bring cheer to a deep, shady area. The lacy foliage and showy flowers of this perennial plant will cheer up even the darkest corners. The blooms last into early summer and blend in well with other early shade-loving plants. Its flower clusters are particularly fragrant. You can divide this plant in the fall or early winter, and use the separated corydalis in a container.
Corydalis lutea is the easiest plant to grow in mostly shade, and it grows to be between twelve and fifteen inches tall. It produces delicate yellow flowers that bloom intermittently throughout the summer. These plants are easy to grow and tolerate most soil types, but they don’t do well when transplanted. If you want to grow them in a container, make sure the pots you choose are large enough to hold the flowers.
Yellow corydalis is hardy in mostly shade. It is often self-seeding, and it will establish around a stone wall or gravelly soil. Seedlings can be transplanted in the early spring, but established plants will hate transplants. They will struggle for the rest of the season and require extra water. It can’t be divided because of its complicated dormancy requirements.
Brunnera macrophylla
The rhizomatous perennial Brunnera macrophylla is admired for its small, bright blue flowers in spring. Its large, heart-shaped leaves have silvery overlays and green veining. Its flowers appear in mid-late spring. Plants that bloom during this time of year are best planted in a cool, moist location. The foliage of Brunnera macrophylla is attractive and very hardy, so it can survive even the most challenging conditions.
Its large, silvery foliage resembles frost and is often referred to as “Siberian bugloss.” The plant is easy to care for and is drought tolerant, though it is less tolerant of dry shade. It blooms in spring on 18-inch spires with blue flowers. It is an excellent plant for most kinds of shade. If you live in a mostly-shaded area, Brunnera macrophylla is the plant for you.
There are several cultivars of Brunnera macrophylla. Jack Frost is a favored species with large, silver-blue flowers. ‘Looking Glass’ has less green veining on its heart-shaped leaves. In spring, it produces blue flowers. This plant is low-maintenance and resistant to pests and diseases. If you’re looking for a perennial that can grow in mostly shade, choose B. macrophylla.
Rodgersia
These bold-leaved perennials grow well in a partially shaded location with a moist soil, but they also do well in full sun, provided that it receives adequate moisture. In the garden, they grow about three to six feet tall and produce clusters of pink flowers in summer. They age gracefully and rarely exhibit disease or pests. They are hardy in zones 4-9, and their foliage is attractive and interesting.
Rodgersias are native to Asia, where they grow best in moist conditions. The leaves of these plants are large and strongly textured. When new leaves are formed, they are copper, bronze, or metallic in color. As the plant matures, these leaves remain metallic. Stems can reach up to a meter in length and hold the leaves upright. Some species turn coppery-brown in the fall, and have been moved into their own genus, Astilboides tabularis.
For the best results, plant seeds of Rodgersia in peat pots with 15 degrees Celsius of temperature. Planting seeds of Rodgersia in peat pots will take about two weeks to sprout, depending on the seedling’s growth rate. Plants can then be transplanted to their final location in two years. In addition to keeping the soil moist, they require regular watering and mulching.