Marion Dye
Old-fashioned bleeding heart plants are great perennials for shade gardens.
Shade gardens are the perfect opportunity to try new perennials in your garden. These twelve plants will thrive in your shady areas. Many plants have multiple cultivars, which can make it difficult to choose one variety from another. Diane Gustus of Bloomington, Minnesota has made it easier. She takes notes on all of the plants in her garden to keep track of which cultivars do better than others.
Diane shares her “Perfect Perennials” list with Birds & Blooms readers. Please note that Diane lists plants by their botanical name, followed by the specific cultivar. This should make it easier for you to find a specific plant.
12 Perennials for Shady Areas
- Adiantum pedatum. Plant ‘Maidenhair Fern.’
- Astilbe. Try these cultivars: ‘Visions,’ ‘Rheinland,’ ‘Bridal Veil,’ ‘Deutschland’ and ‘Ostrich Plume.’
- Brunnera. ‘Jack Frost’ is especially pretty with variegated foliage.
- Chelone. Plant ‘Hot Lips’ because the foliage looks great all summer, and it’s a nice late bloomer.
- Cordylis lutea. This plant blooms all summer and has pretty foliage.
- Dicentra eximia. The ‘King of Hearts’ cultivar blooms all summer.
- Dicentra spectablis. This is a bleeding heart plant with white blooms.
- Hosta. Try some of my favorites, including ‘Francee,’ ‘Sun Power,’ ‘Gold Standard,’ ‘Stiletto’ and ‘Krossa Regal.’
- Polemonium. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ has beautifully variegated foliage.
- Polygonatum variegata. Try ‘Solomon’s Seal’ if you want striking foliage. It’s especially good under trees.
- Pulmonaria. Plant ‘Sissinghurst White’ because it’s a nice early bloomer.
- Trollius. ‘Lemon Queen’ has pretty buttercup-like yellow flowers.
Sharon Baumeister says
Cranes bill geranium. Great in a shady place.
negranny says
Why would my bleeding heart die back after it blooms. It started to get yellow on one side and went all the way over the entire plant. It did the same thing last year.
Chris says
That’s what it does, it’s a spring time plant. After it has died back cut it down for next year
Chris says
Negranny that’s what it does. It does not last all summer. Once it is done cut it back for next year.
Sue Roberts says
I plant it with hostas and hydrangeas and these hide the yellow foliage when they die back. I especially love the new variety with chartreuse leaves.
Laura Johnson says
What about photos showing all 12 listed?
Mary Brady says
Agree with some of your suggestions. Here in N. OH, Dicentra exima or luxeriant are a hardier variety then King of Hearts. Polemonium is a tender perennial and generally only lives a few years. You didn’t mention Waldsteinia Ternata, Laurentia Blue star creeper, Lobelia Cardinalis or Syphilitica,, Ligualaria for that moist spot or Itea, or Epimediums rubum is the hardiest, Helleborus orientalis varieties are the hardiest., Heuchera’ with all thier foliage options,Hosta’s Rodgersia’s and Tradescantia’s. Each have their benefits and drawbacks. Always research your soil, and surroundings before planting.
Jackie says
Are there deer-resistant shade perrenials? My hosta have all been devoured.