Plants that Grow in the Shade

 

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A garden in the shade isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity. There are many interesting plants that thrive in full to part shade. By using the right plants you can make a shady corner a highlight in your landscape.

Perennials

Ajuga reptans  (Bugleweed)

Anemone sylvestris (Snowdrop Anemone)

Aquilegia spp. (Columbine)

Asarum spp. (Ginger)       

Astilbe spp. (False Spirea)

Athyrium spp. (Fern)

Bergenia cordifolia (Pigsqueak)

Brunnera macrophylla (Heartleaf Brunnera)

Carex spp. (Sedge)

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Leadwort)

Chelone spp. (Turtlehead)

Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Snakeroot)

Dicentra spp. (Bleeding Heart)           

Epimedium spp. (Barrenwort)

Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)

Helleborus spp. (Lenten Rose)                 

Heuchera spp. (Coral Bells)

Hosta spp. (Plantain Lily, Hosta                

Lamium maculatum (Dead Nettle)

Ligularia spp. (Ligularia)

Liriope spp. (Lilyturf)

Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)       

Osmunda spp. (Fern)

Pachysandra spp. (Spurge)

Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)     

Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern)

Pulmonaria spp. (Lungwort)

Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) 

Shrubs

Fothergilla spp. (Fothergilla)

Hydrangea arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea)                                    

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)

Ilex spp. (Holly)

Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel)

Leucothoe spp. (Leucothoe)

Rhododendron spp. (Rhododendron, Azalea)

Sarcococca hookeriana (Sweet box)       

Taxus spp. (Yew)

 

Trees

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple)                         

Aesculus spp. (Buckeye)

Amelanchier spp. (Serviceberry)                  

Carpinus carolina (American Hornbeam)                      

Cercis spp. (Redbud)

Chionanthus spp. (Fringetree)

Cornus spp. (Dogwood)

Fagus spp. (Beech)

Halesia spp. (Silverbell)

Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay Magnolia)                              

Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood)

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)

Stewartia spp. (Stewartia)

Styrax japonica (Japanese Snowbell)

 

Terms

Full Sun: 6 hours or more of direct sunlight

Full Shade: Fewer than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Partial Sun/Shade:  Between 3 and 6 hours of direct sunlight.

 

Sources: Compiled from experience. For more information visit us on the web at www.behmerwald.com