How to Choose Shade Gardening Plants

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By Jeanne Grunert
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Shade gardening favorites

If you have dense shade in the yard, shade gardening offers you the chance to create a lush garden in the light and space available. Shade gardening becomes a necessity for many reasons. Large, older trees often cast too many shadows for flowers that thrive in full sun. Buildings such as sheds and garages may also cast too much shade on areas available for gardening. While many people think of a few impatiens planted in a ring around an oak tree, there are many choices of annuals, perennials and spring flowering bulbs for shade gardening areas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Shady location in the garden
Annuals for shade: impatiens, begonias
Perennials for shade: ferns, hosta, coral bells, etc.
Spring flowering bulbs: daffodils, crocus, muscari snowdrops

Step 1

Determine the type of shade

First, be sure you really have a shady garden area. Look at how much light the area receives. Anything less than six hours is considered at least partial shade, and is suitable for shade gardening. Areas that never receive direct sunlight are considered dense shade and only a few of the plants mentioned will thrive.
Step 2

Crocus can be planted under deciduous trees

If the shade is cast by a permanent fixture, such as as a building or conifer (pine or similar tree), choose annuals or perennials for shade gardening. If the shade is created by a deciduous tree, such as an oak or maple, you can plant spring bulbs underneath the tree. They'll receive plenty of bright spring sunshine until the leaves unfurl. After the tree grows its leaves, switch to shade gardening annuals.
Step 3

Impatiens (impatients) are a favorite shade gardening flower

Gardens along the side of a building, deck, porch or patio do well with shade gardening annuals and perennials. Some good choices of annuals for shade include impatiens. Also called "busy Lizzie" and impatience, these flowers come in a rainbow of colors from white to deep crimson, and single and double flowering impatiens are available. They thrive in all types of shade and require rich, moist soil.
Step 4

Other annuals that thrive in shade include begonias. Wax begonias offer a wide range of foliage colors, from rich bronze to light green, and flower colors of white, pink and red. Coleus is a great annual for shade. Coleus has tiny flowers and is mostly grown for its beautiful foliage. The leaves can be any color or combination of colors from shades of green to red. Mimulus, or monkey flower, is another annual for shade gardening that is little known but a great little annual with small, colorful flowers that slightly resemble a pansy. Remember that annuals must be planted each year; the frost will kill them in most gardening zones.
Step 5

Hosta thrive in shade

Perennials are plants that return from year to year. They often die back to the roots, and grow again in the spring. Most have a specific blooming period. Perennials for shade gardening areas include hosta, an all-time garden favorite. Hosta thrive in dense shade and grow into thick clumps. They are mostly grown for the wide variety of foliage. The leaves can be light green, dark green, green and white striped, or even a dark blue-green that's beautiful in the shade.
Step 6

Heuchera grown under trees

Another favorite perennial for shade gardening is coral bells, also known by its botanical name, heuchera. Like other shade gardening plants, heuchera has beautifully colored ruffled leaves in shades of green, bronze, and even a purple-green. The flowers grow on tall stalks and are usually shades of pink, red and purple. Heuchera has little scent, but the lovely foliage and tall flower spikes make it a favorite for shade gardening.
Step 7

Crocus for shade gardening under deciduous trees

Many spring flowering bulbs can be planted under trees that later produce dense shade. It's best to choose spring flowering bulbs that bloom early, such as crocus, muscari (grape hyacinth) and snowdrops. Daffodils are another great choice and will naturalize, or spread, as the years go by, forming big clumps and multiplying rapidly. By the time you have to mow the lawn, the flowers will be finished and the foliage fading. As the tree acquires its leaves, the flowers will be finished too, and the shade gardening area left to grass.
Step 8

Whether you're looking for a burst of spring color under the trees or plants that will thrive in the shadow of your patio or deck, these annual, perennial, and spring bulb choices for shade gardening are sure to add color and beauty to your landscape.

Comments

mrschadt said

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on 7/9/2009 Sun or Shade, I just don't have a green thumb.

2plus2 said

on 6/29/2009 I prefer perennials, I like to do the work once and enjoy it for years. I know there is maintenance. Great article and beautiful pictures.

kossmore said

on 5/29/2009 Love your photos. 5*

ellischristina said

on 5/5/2009 I appreciate your research and experience on this subject. I have a lot of shade where I live so this information is very beneficial (plus look at the money I'll save by not planting flowers that won't survive). Thanks.