Have a very shady yard and just don’t know what to plant?
…or a spot that gets both sun and shade and you just can’t figure out what would go best, no worries…..below are a list of some great perennials I have put together for you.
For me…shade-loving plants offer great textures, unique foliage and of the ones that bloom, a lot of them have a much more delicate looking flower than say blooms of the sun-loving kind.
So, below is a list of some of my favorite perennials that thrive in shade.
1.) Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)
Looking to fill a spot with some year-round texture and color?…..have it be a bed or good size planter…..the Autumn fern will do great.
The gorgeous Autumn Fern native to Southeast Asia…aka…the Japanese Shield Fern, Japanese Wood Fern or Copper Shield, is a good choice for any shade garden.
I picked this specific fern because it is one of the evergreens of the fern family. I’m in zone-7 and it does just fine. It also does well with a little sun and once established they are pretty drought tolerate.
I planted my first Autumn fern in a 2′ x 2′ planter I constructed from brick. That fern stayed there for at least 5 years and did great. It received…probably 1-2 hours of mid-day sun and I didn’t really keep it watered….(now, I wouldn’t let it sit for days without water in the heat of summer, but I also didn’t keep it moist, so to say they can handle dry conditions is an understatement).
I just now this Spring 2020, divided said fern up (I split it into 3 sections, you can see one of them in above pic). The bronze colors it is displaying are it’s spring ones.
As far as maintenance goes…very low. The only thing I do …..come first of Spring is trim off the old/previous years fronds and sometimes I’ll add some organic matter if needed.
So, as far as ferns go, this is a very tough, low maintenance plant…a win win in my book.
- Zone: 4 – 9
- Size: 1.5′ – 3’H x 3’W
- Soil: Average to rich loamy & well-drained
- Light: Shade to part shade
- Moisture: Medium to moist
- Toxicity: None reported
2.) Wild/Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)…..aka canadian columbine, eastern red columbine or wild columbine is in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).
The above pic is one of my columbine plants that is growing basically in my driveway at the base of a washed-out bank. The soil in this spot is certainly not optimal…not rich nor loamy but it does have good drainage.
One of my 3 plants with its flower spikes has reached over 3′ in height…almost 3.5′ and a good 1.5′ spread.
Now as far as maintenance goes…I don’t do anything. I could cut the old flower stalk to encourage more, but I just prefer let them dry, then clip them to collect the seeds.
Remember….this plant is toxic (all of it)! So, if you have curious youngsters or the curious type of pet, then you might want to plant it somewhere out of the way or rethink this plant choice all together…especially if it makes you uneasy.
I chose not to grow anything toxic when my son was little…mainly because our yard wasn’t very big then, but now he’s almost 4 and out of that “everything in the mouth” stage.
- Zone: 3 – 9
- Size: 2′- 3.5′
- Soil: Average & well-draining
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Moisture: Medium to dry
- Bloom period: Mid-spring thru early summer
- Add’l notes: Birds love the seeds. Attracts an array of pollinators, (from honey bees to moths). Hummingbirds love it as well.
- TOXICITY: The entire plant! (from seeds, leaves, stems to roots)
3.) Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Helleborus x hybridus….aka the Christmas or winter rose is part of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). There are 20 species of Helleborus plus many sub-species.
One of the great things about the Lenten Rose is that it’s an evergreen…..adding great texture to your garden through the winter months. There’s something about delicate flowers peeking out through the snow.
I remember the first time I came across Helleborus. It was in the back yard of a rental property, tucked under the bushes, blooming in the snow.
When planting this one keep it moist but once established it can tolerate dryer conditions.
I live in the Southeast, zone 7…so my lenten roses have always grown and done well in the shade. They can tolerate more sun if the summers aren’t too hot.
This plant is toxic (all of it). So, if you have little ones toddling about or pets that love to munch on just about anything in sight then this may not be the plant for you or you may need to plant in a not so accessible location.
- Zone: 4 – 9
- Size: 18″ – 24″
- Soil: Rich, moist and well-draining
- Light: Full to part-shade
- Moisture: Moist to dry
- Bloom period: Mid-spring thru early summer
- Toxicity: All parts! (especially the roots)
4.) Hosta
Hostas….aka Plantain Lily, is one of the most popular choices for the shade garden. Have it be by the avid gardener or the “less experienced” ones, that just want a little something in their yard.
Known for their differing textures, colors, and sizes….Hostas are extremely low maintenance and with hundreds of varieties to choose from, you just can’t go wrong.
When it comes to choosing a variety that’s right for you…you have to remember some prefer shade while some (namely the variegated ones) do well with some sun. Once established they can handle dry spells but not for too long, keeping them moist (not wet) is best.
The flowers shoot up on tall spikes and attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
- Zone: 3 – 9
- Size: 6″ – 48″ H (depends greatly on variety)
- Soil: Prefers well-drained fertile soil (no clay)
- Light: Shade to part shade
- Moisture: Moist
- Bloom period: Summer
- Toxicity: Mild toxicity to dogs and cats. Not toxic to humans.
5.) Woodland Phlox ( Phlox divaricata )
This eastern North American native, Woodland phlox…aka….Wild Sweet William, Wild Blue Phlox, or just Blue phlox, to name a few is a beautiful, low-growing perennial.
Looking for an addition to your woodland garden…Something to help accent your hostas or ferns…Something to plant that will also attract hummingbirds and butterflies?
This perennial prefers dappled shade and humusy, moist soil with leaf matter as mulch, as it breaks down and in return feeds the plant.
This lovely little flower also attracts pollinators…from bees to butterflies.
- Zone: 3 – 8
- Size: 12″ – 15″ H
- Soil: Rich, fertile, humusy well-drained soil
- Light: Part – full shade
- Moisture: Medium to moist
- Bloom period: April – May
- Toxicity: None reported
6.) Heuchera “Coral Bells”
Heuchera..aka…Coral Bells, Alumroot or Rock Geranium. This little perennial has quickly become a favorite for the avid gardener.
There are quite a few varieties of heuchera to choose from for our area (zone 7) and literally hundreds of others for all over the country.
Heuchera prefers part shade to full shade, some varieties can grow in full sun but not well in areas with scorching summers. They like loamy, organic rich soil that is well-drained.
And when it comes to this dainty little woodland like flower…the foilage is what it is known for. It can work great as a ground cover if planted closely together.
So, if you are looking for an evergreen perennial to work as either an accent or a ground covering border then Heuchera would be a good choice.
- Zone: 3 – 9
- Size: 6″ – 18″ H
- Soil: Loamy, well-drained soil
- Light: Shade to full sun
- Moisture: Moist to medium
- Bloom period: Spring and Summer
- Toxicity: None reported
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