Top 10 All-Time Shade Garden Ideas
Updated: Nov. 03, 2022
Is your backyard starved for sunshine? Turn your outdoor space into an oasis with these tried-and-true shade garden ideas.
Transform Your Yard With Shade Garden Ideas
It seems like every gardener has a pitiful patch that seems to be cursed with full to partial shade. Every year you plant something there, hoping that it will at least survive the summer, but it never does. We’ve heard these stories from readers for years, and we know shady spots can be a big challenge. That’s why we came up with a list of our all-time favorite shade perennials. They won’t just survive, they’ll thrive in shade. Our list is complete with everything you’ll need—gorgeous blooms, foliage, even a ground cover! Want more shade garden ideas? Give these annuals a try, too: fuchsia, begonia, caladium, torenia, monkeyflower, and coleus.
Columbine
Aquilegia, Zones 3 to 9
Carefree and consistent, columbine is a longtime favorite that stands up beautifully to shade. If you’ve ever thought about growing it, make this the year!
Why we love it: One of the easiest wildflowers to cultivate, it shines in both manicured gardens and wilder surroundings. And birds love it!
Astilbe
Astilbe spp., Zones 3 to 9
Similar in appearance to ferns, astilbe fits right into a shade garden. Its elegant foliage is a delight even when the white, pink, red or purple flowers are done blooming. Moist soil is a must to keep astilbe alive.
Why we love it: The 1- to 4-foot flower spikes are showstoppers. Because of its height, astilbe is best planted near the back of a flower bed, with a shorter plant, such as hosta, in front.
Grow New Guinea impatiens for more color in shade.
Brunnera
Brunnera macrophylla, Zones 3 to 8
Variety is the spice of any garden, and brunnera will bring that to your shady location. It features distinctive heart-shaped leaves and charming small blue blossoms.
Why we love it: Brunnera reaches about 12 to 18 inches in height and 18 to 24 inches in width, making it a natural to enhance borders or beds.
Discover more edging plants for multiple seasons of color.
Bleeding Heart
Dicentra spectabilis, Zones 2 to 9
Try a fringed bleeding heart, like burning hearts. The delicate foliage and heart-shaped blooms make this one a captivating spring shade favorite. Just know that it’s an early bloomer, but fringed bleeding hearts hold their leaves and flower sporadically through summer.
Why we love it: Bleeding heart is self-seeding. Wait to cut it back, and you’ll see a spectacular show of blooms the next year.
Bleeding hearts are a good choice for gardening in tough areas — check out more plants for tricky locations.
Hosta
Hosta, Zones 3 to 8
No “best of” shade list would be complete without hostas. This hardy plant is known for adding texture and color to shady areas. While some hostas tolerate sun, those grown in partial shade usually produce the best-looking and longest-lasting leaves.
Why we love it: Dense, leafy clumps make way for stems of blossoms that rise up to 3 feet above the prized foliage. There are so many varieties on the market chances are one or several will fit your garden.
Did you know? Hostas attract hummingbirds!
Coral Bells
Heuchera, Zones 3 to 9
Colorful foliage and spires of small blooms make coral bells a must for every list of shade garden ideas. The pretty blossoms emerge in late spring and last through early summer on 8- to 10-inch stems. Then the foliage steals the show, often changing colors in fall.
Why we love it: Coral bells will never bore you! The leaves come in a rainbow of colors from yellow-orange to deep purple. Hummingbirds love the flowers, too. Shown here is Christa in a cool peach color.
Need more shade plants? Check out these shrubs for shade gardens.
Rodgersia
Rodgersia spp.,Zones 5 to 8
You’ll love choosing among the white, rose-pink and red blooms. This pretty plant needs some space and moist soil, though. Rodgersia will rise above the rest in your shady space, growing 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Why we love it: The large, boldly shaped leaves, which turn from green or bronze to reddish in fall, are almost as colorful as the blossoms.
What grass grows in shade? Plus, here’s why ferns are a foolproof pick for a shade garden.
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum, Zones 4 to 8
We’ve got you covered with shade garden ideas. Try this ground cover! It likes to be cool, so give it plenty of mulch. Sweet woodruff often spreads up to 2 feet, which means a couple of plants can go a long way.
Why we love it: The blooms may be tiny, but they’re irresistibly fragrant. Delicious-smelling white flowers appear in late spring.
You know about shade perennials, but what about vegetables? Here are some vegetables you can grow in shade.
Foxglove
Digitalis, Zones 3 to 10
This one’s a real beauty. Depending on your location, foxglove is a biennial or short-lived perennial. Prepare to wait a year for the blooms to show; the reward will be flowers that are both fantastic and plentiful. Just one note of warning: Don’t ever ingest this plant, because some parts of it are poisonous.
Why we love it: Foxglove can reach a lofty 6 feet tall, with stalks full of bright, bell-shaped blossoms.
Find more backyard solutions with these low-maintenance landscaping ideas.
Toad Lily
Tricyrtis, Zones 4 to 9
With such stunning blooms, it’s surprising the toad lily is a shade fan. The orchidlike blossoms in white, mauve and yellow will definitely grab attention. Perfect for a shady woodland, it grows 1 to 2 feet wide and 1 to 3 feet tall.
Why we love it: The toad lily is easy to grow, drought tolerant and resistant to deer. The lovely blooms emerge just as the rest of the garden is starting to fade away for fall.
Next, check out the top 10 hummingbird plants that grow in shade.
Originally Published: June 15, 2022
