For the most beautiful plants in the shade, consider planting ferns. Although they do not have colorful flowers, ferns have lush, green foliage. You can find low-water varieties at local nurseries, but they require yearly feeding and weekly watering, especially while young. Ferns can be planted on shady hillsides to help control erosion. Read on for more details about ferns. Regardless of their foliage style, ferns are a low-water choice for shady areas.
Hostas
For shade, the variety of Hostas that thrive in shady areas is countless. Golden Tiara is a stunning hosta with a profusion of dark lavender flowers that will rebloom even after deadheading. This plant has a compact, clumping habit and thrives in zones four to eight. For added beauty, Diamond Lake Hosta has blue-green leaves with rippled edges. It has been named the Proven Winners Hosta of the Year 2022.
Among the most popular giant hostas, Big Daddy is a striking specimen with massive rounded leaves and a blue-grey sheen. Big Daddy can grow up to 15 feet tall and spread into a large area of shade. In summer, tiny white flowers peek out of the blue leaves, which contrast the overpowering size of the plant. Another good hosta for shade is Wolverine, a cross between a round-leaved hosta and Curly Fries.
There are over 3,000 registered varieties of hostas. They’re easy to grow and need partial shade to thrive. They don’t thrive in full sun, but in sunny areas, they’re a perfect choice. Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal during the growing season. During summer heatwaves, they may require supplemental watering. If you’re unsure of which hostas to choose, consult your local gardening magazine for tips.
Delphiniums
One of the most attractive and beautiful flowers in the world, Delphiniums have been cultivated for hundreds of years. They are known for their warm summers, and many species are even hardy enough to grow in Zone 8 climates. The flowers are loose and ranging from light blue to deep blue. Delphiniums can be propagated from seed or stem cuttings. In many parts of the world, you can even start delphinium seeds in the winter.
There are several varieties of Delphiniums to choose from. The Belladonna group, with its upright habit, produces spikes with single or double flowers. These plants can reach three to four feet in height. The Grandiflorum group, also known as the Chinese delphinium, is one of the smaller types. This plant blooms in mid-summer, and has a compact bushy habit. The Grandiflorums are also heat-tolerant compared to the other species. The Pacific hybrids are taller, and usually grow to four or five feet tall.
One perennial that thrives in shade conditions is tricyrtis. This plant produces flowers with irregular purple spotting on tall, stiff stems. This plant is an excellent choice for formal gardens. Delphiniums need moist, humus-rich soil. They need partial shade, but can grow to be twenty to thirty inches tall. In addition to being easy to grow, they are also easy to maintain.
Corydalis
The corydalis plant is an elegant shade-loving perennial, with bright tubular blooms and delicate fern-like foliage. They bloom in the spring and fade until the following year. They are excellent cut-flower plants because of their long flowering season. Corydalis is related to bleeding hearts, but its leaves are fern-like and are a soft blue-green. They form a low mound that grows up to two feet high. The flowers are unique tubular, and can range from a single to a dozen colors.
Regardless of your gardening skills, corydalis flowers need well-drained, cool conditions. If the soil is too wet, the roots may rot. Corydalis is hardy from zones 5 through eight. Yellow Corydalis self-sows prolifically, and is a great choice for shade gardens. These flowers attract butterflies and are deer-resistant. Corydalis are not suited to very cold climates, so planting in the fall and early winter is best.
Another attractive species is the White Corydalis. It grows to one metre in height and has flower-bearing spurs in the spring. It dies off in midsummer, but re-emerges in the fall. Its bluish foliage is a good backdrop for its white blooms, which appear in clusters above the foliage. It also grows gracefully among mature cedar and hemlock trees. In fact, its foliage is so attractive that deer usually leave it alone.
Heucheras
Heucheras are shade-loving plants that grow in part-shade or shade. They are drought-resistant, deer and rabbit-resistant, and grow well in partial shade. They have small, bell-shaped flowers and are popular with hummingbirds and butterflies. Heucheras are also excellent cut flowers and thrive in part-shade gardens. Some varieties bloom in spring, but many bloom in late summer and fall.
While it’s hard to grow flowers in the shade, HEUCHERA cultivars are well suited for the mid-Atlantic region. The rosette-forming foliage of these plants is as stunning as those of most flowering plants. Not only does heuchera thrive in shady gardens, but its foliage is also as showy and colorful as any other flowering plant. And with its ability to bloom year-round and withstand drought conditions, it will set your garden on fire.
The best shade-tolerant varieties of Heuchera are coral bells, heucherella, tiarella, hosta, and ajuga. These are among the most under-utilized plants in the garden, but their striking foliage and vibrant flowers make them one of the most attractive plants for shady areas. They come in dozens of colors and are great ground-covers.
Epimediums
Most Epimediums are clump forming perennials. These plants grow about six to eight inches in height and have glossy foliage with a distinctive lightning-like vein pattern. Most epimediums have yellow flowers with white centers that resemble ecclesiastical head wear. Some varieties have showy flowers that rival those of other perennials. The color of leaves and stems vary depending on variety.
If you have a shade garden, try planting some Epimediums as borders. The foliage is heart or arrow-shaped and accentuates other plants with similar ground-hugging forms. Epimediums are also excellent companions to spring bulbs. They help hide dying foliage from them. You can also grow them in a rock garden or under a tree. However, be careful of frost as they can turn chlorotic in a highly alkaline soil.
The epimediums are tough shade plants. Their drought-tolerant, rhizomatous roots allow them to grow in shaded areas. They can grow in dry, sandy soils, or even in shaded areas. Their leaves are not tattered and remain green year round. However, if the epimediums you choose do not bloom, they will compete with the roots of trees.
Some epimediums are also drought tolerant, and can thrive in dry soil. They are tolerant of low light and are a good choice for shaded areas of your yard. They grow about 6 inches to two feet tall and have a rounded to arrow shape. In the springtime, they produce a profusion of tiny flowers that can be white, pink, rose, yellow, orange, and bicolor.
Japanese forest grass
If you’re looking for a shade-loving perennial, Japanese forest grass is one of your best bets. This beautiful plant grows in both full and partial shade. It prefers well-drained, rich soil with a neutral pH. It is easily propagated by division. Japanese forest grass has a pleasant straw-toned fall color and a moderate water requirement. To get the most out of your Japanese forest grass, divide it once a year in early spring.
This grass is native to moist mountain areas of central Japan, where it is known as Hakone. It is capable of growing in full to partial shade, but needs consistent moisture to thrive. In the shade, Hakonechloa displays its stunning golden foliage and graceful arching forms. In full sun, it struggles to show its best colours. But if you’d like your garden to look like a Japanese landscape, this is the plant for you.
All Gold Japanese Forest Grass is another excellent choice. The leaves of this grass are completely gold and shimmer in the shade. The stems that sprout in the middle of the mound are easily split, resulting in more plants. All Gold Japanese Forest Grass grows heartily and is resistant to deer and rabbits. The arched and cascading blades are striking in fall and winter.
