If you live in a sunny area, you can choose from a number of different plants that thrive in shade. You can choose from Japanese painted fern, English ivy, Fuchsias, and Hostas. Read on for some tips on choosing shade-loving plants. Listed below are a few of my favorite plants that thrive in shade. If you would like to find more, please check out my gardening website!
Hostas
Despite their name, hostas are very easy to grow. This type of plant is well suited for shady areas. They do best in partial shade and do not tolerate full sun well. Hostas are usually referred to as shade-tolerant plants, but some cultivars can tolerate periods of partial sun and may even benefit from it. You can use a shovel to dig the entire clump up. Then, divide it in half and plant each half in the same location next year.
A hosta’s location in the garden is important to determine whether it will be able to grow in full sun. In general, hostas do best in deeper shade. However, variegated, blue, and green varieties need more sun in order to develop their true colors. Planting in full sunlight may be difficult in a colder zone, so it is a good idea to choose a hosta with substantial foliage. The more sunlight it gets, the more water it will need.
If you’re looking for shade-tolerant hostas, you can try ‘Francee’. This plant boasts classic white-edged leaves and lavender-colored flowers in the summer. It grows to be up to 18 inches tall and 36 to 48 inches in diameter. It’s a medium-growing hosta that prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. For added whimsy, you can also try the potato hosta, which has lavender-like flowers. This hosta is well-suited to Zone 3-9, but be sure to read the label carefully before purchasing!
Japanese painted fern
The Japanese painted fern can grow in full shade or partial shade and grows in large clusters over time. It propagates by spores or division. This shade-loving plant is often used as a border plant or as a foundation plant. It prefers cooler temperatures and needs good drainage to grow properly. Its color will fade in hot summer months, so be careful when staking the fern.
The Japanese painted fern can tolerate moderate soil temperatures and humidity. It will tolerate manure tea and organic soil amendments. It requires little or no fertilizer once it is established. However, in spring, it will benefit from a balanced fertilizer. If you can’t wait until summer to start planting, look for the following varieties: Wildwood Twist, Pictum, and Green Dragon. The latter two have twisted fronds and are silvery gray.
The Japanese painted fern is a low maintenance deciduous plant that returns with full bloom in the spring. It doesn’t suffer from many pests but can get attacked by snails and slugs. If you want to prevent these pests, you can mulch the fern’s roots and use neem oil. This type of plant is also not vulnerable to deer or rabbits, although these creatures can nibble its leaves.
English ivy
This vine spreads by rooting along the ground, and forms a dense, matted mat about 4 to 8 inches high. Its aerial rootlets are highly tenacious and can attach themselves to most objects. This plant is capable of enshrouding a 100-foot tree, and can shade out so much of its leaves that it eventually dies due to lack of photosynthesis.
Climbing English ivy is an attractive and useful ground cover. Its roots can be used to anchor itself to a wall. It can grow up to 50 feet tall, and its prunings can be used to decorate tablescapes or floral arrangements. Unfortunately, it is poisonous to deer. Its foliage is toxic to them, so keep it well pruned to avoid any harm to your property.
This plant is a great ground cover for a shady area, and it grows very well in many types of soil. English ivy, for example, is one type that grows in most soil types. Other types, such as Needlepoint ivy, have smaller lobes that grow into sharp, pointed points. The Needlepoint variety grows well in a small pot or as a ground cover.
Fuchsias
Fuchsias are native to South America, with most of them coming from Chile and Argentina. While they can grow as trees and are quite hardy in zones seven through 10, they are also hardy in parts of North America and New Zealand. Fuchsia ‘Firecracker’, for example, has variegated foliage and is especially great in hanging baskets. Despite their shade tolerance, fuchsias will grow best in partial shade or shady areas.
The blooms of fuchsias are composed of two-tone colors, and they appear in terminal clusters. In the spring, you should prune the branches to shape them. Avoid pruning fuchsias in the fall, as this can leave the plants vulnerable to frost. Prune fuchsias to a third in early spring. Occasionally prune plants to shape and maintain the shape.
Plants in full sun are usually best, but they will tolerate partial shade. Fuchsias can spread, so keep an eye out for disease. Fungus Pucciniastrum epilobii can attack fuchsia plants, causing yellowing leaves, falling leaves, and brown decay on stems. Once the plant is infected, remove the infested leaves and prune the plant to allow proper air circulation.
Vinca minor
Vinca minor is a low-maintenance perennial that does well in part shade or full sun. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance. Because it has shallow roots, it is easy to propagate by division or from nursery transplants. Divide established plants in spring or summer. The divisions should be planted at the same level as the parent plant. Periwinkle is another excellent shade-tolerant plant.
The dwarf periwinkle, Vinca minor, is native to the Mediterranean and Southern Central Europe. It was introduced to Europe by the Romans, but has since spread throughout the continent. It is also found in North America. But it is not a good outdoor plant for shade because its flowers do not attract pollinators. In addition, it is toxic to most herbivores, and its seeds are too small to be of interest to wildlife.
Vigorous vines need little sunlight to thrive. Vinca minor has bright blue flowers in spring. It grows up to six inches tall and spreads to about 2 feet. It is easy to propagate by tearing off the roots of the stems. If you have a sunny location, you can plant it in containers. It also thrives in dappled shade and tolerates some drought.
Winter windflowers
Winter windflowers can be grown from seed. Their foliage remains green for up to six weeks after flowering, storing energy for next year. Rake the foliage to maintain a clean site before planting. Dig up the windflower rhizomes if they are not hardy in your area. They will store over the winter for propagation. However, be sure to dry the rhizomes thoroughly before replanting them.
Another flower for partial shade is the windflower. Windflowers, or anemones, are a member of the buttercup family and grow best in partial shade. They bloom mid to late spring and prefer moist soil. These plants are easy to grow and are great ground covers, as they do well in shade. They are also attractive in large clusters and can form colorful mats. The flowers of this plant will not only attract pollinators but also serve as ground covers.
If you prefer foliage instead of flowers, you can try A. coronaria, also known as poppy anemone. Its foliage is reminiscent of corms. These small plants should be planted close to a garden path or walkway. Regardless of their size, they are best planted in a part of shade or partial sun. They require a well-drained soil. You can also grow mini versions of these windflowers.
Cyclamen coum
Hardy Cyclamen are excellent plants for shade. They bloom late in the summer and into fall, then persist through the winter with tough foliage. In addition, they’re excellent companions for early spring bulbs, such as hellebores. Hardy Cyclamen are also great pot specimens. Plant them in small clay pots with some chicken grit to reduce the risk of root rot.
When it comes to growing Cyclamen outside, they are fairly easy as long as they are given the right conditions. This plant will survive cold winter temperatures and still give your garden a burst of color. Creating an artificial environment or mimicking natural growing conditions will make the process easier. Listed below are tips for growing Cyclamen outdoors:
Winter: Cyclamen is hardy in zones four and five, but it does prefer warmer weather. When winter weather threatens the plant, bring it indoors for protection. Temperatures of 68 or more will force it into a “summer” dormant period. When placed indoors, containers may be best. To water cyclamen, put them in 2 to 3 inches of water for 30 seconds. Water it again when it dries out, and remember to apply a slug bait.
