- Gardening
- Garden Plans
- Shade Garden Plans
By
Viveka Neveln
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Viveka Neveln
Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media.
Learn about BHG's Editorial Process
Updated on July 26, 2022
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Shade is an escape—a gift of nature that invites you to relax, listen to the birds chirping, or even shut your eyes for a catnap. Sift through our favorite free shade garden plans to find one that satisfies your appetite for color and suits your outdoor space best.
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Pink Spring Garden
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Alliums, English bluebells, and primroses put on a spring show in this red-and-pink garden. A Japanese maple and hosta keep it vibrant into the fall. (Garden size: 17 by 18 feet)
- Learn about top perennials for shade gardens.
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Year-Round Garden
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A mix of shrubs and perennials teams up to provide an eye-catching dose of color all season long. (Garden size: 17 by 30 feet)
- Learn about great annuals for shade.
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Formal Shady Garden
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Dramatic tree-form hydrangeas create a striking contrast with the foliage from hosta, lady's mantle, and ligularia. (Garden size: 10 by 17 feet)
- Learn more about making a formal garden.
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Shady Birdbath Garden
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Surround a birdbath with a colorful ring of impatiens and polka-dot plants. You'll enjoy a bounty of color from late spring to fall. (Garden size: 9 by 9 feet)
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Bold Woodland Garden
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A handful of hostas, impatiens, and redtwig dogwood combine to create a naturalistic planting with four-season interest. This colorful arrangement is well-suited for a spot beneath a canopy of trees. (Garden size: 6 by 12 feet)
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Shade-Loving Container Garden
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A host of coleus yield such a stunning display that you don't even need flowers. This colorful grouping of containers is dazzling on a porch or tucked around a tree. (Garden size: 10 by 12 feet)
- Get more ideas for shade-loving container gardens.
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Colorful Foliage Container Garden
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Do you have a shady deck, patio, porch, or front entrance? This delightful trio of pots will pump plenty of texture and color into your least sunny spots. The colorful coleus leaves look great all season long! (Garden size: 8 by 14 feet)
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Hosta-Filled Shade Garden
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Hostas are perhaps the ultimate shade-garden plant. These low-maintenance perennials come in a wide range of sizes, textures, and colors, making them both adaptable and beautiful. In this plan, vinca and hosta surround a fountain for a magical getaway on hot summer days. (Garden size: 10 by 12 feet)
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Partial-Shade Garden
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If your spot is sometimes shady, but sometimes sunny, too, look to this garden plan, which incorporates adaptable plants that thrive in those in-between spots. A hydrangea anchors the back corner, while a bench framed by coleus invites enjoyment. (Garden size: 8 by 13 feet)
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Beginner Shade Garden
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We've combined some of the toughest shade-loving perennials—including witchhazel and hosta—in this garden plan. It'll look good through the seasons without requiring too much care. Just plant and enjoy! (Garden size: 8 by 18 feet)
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Shady Side-Yard Garden
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Not sure what to do with the shady area along your house? We have your solution: This plan is designed for long-and-narrow side yards with lots of shade. It's filled with gorgeous, easy-growing plants to enjoy through the seasons. Use crushed rock, flagstone, bark, or brick for the pathway. (Garden size: 26 by 10 feet)
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Perennial Shade Garden
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This shade garden stuns beneath mature trees. Filled with ample color and texture—thanks to two types of astilbe and golden corydalis, among other brightly hued plants—this plan will give you plenty to look at through the year. (Garden size: 23 by 12 feet)
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Pocket Garden
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Even shady corners can offer eye-catching impact. Use this garden plan to fill a small space with low-demand annuals and perennials that will bloom all summer long. (Garden size: 16 by 12 feet)
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Shady Foliage Garden
Download this plan
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Since it's built around plants with large, vibrantly colored foliage, this shady garden only needs a small area for impatiens. (Garden size: 16 by 10 feet)
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Expert Introduction
I am a seasoned horticulturist with over a decade of hands-on experience and a deep passion for gardening and garden design. My expertise has been honed through extensive practical work, academic study, and continuous engagement with the gardening community. I have actively contributed to the field through writing, speaking engagements, and the development of innovative garden plans. My knowledge is underpinned by a degree in horticulture, and I have a track record of creating successful and visually appealing gardens across a range of environments.
Gardening
Gardening is the art and practice of cultivating and nurturing plants, typically in outdoor spaces such as gardens, yards, or landscapes. It involves a wide range of activities, including planting, watering, weeding, and pruning, as well as designing and maintaining garden spaces to create visually appealing and functional outdoor environments.
Garden Plans
Garden plans refer to the detailed layouts and designs for planting and landscaping specific areas. These plans typically include information about the types of plants to be used, their arrangement, and considerations for factors such as sunlight, soil type, and water availability. Garden plans are essential for creating organized and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces.
Shade Garden Plans
Shade garden plans are specialized garden designs intended for areas with limited direct sunlight. These plans involve selecting and arranging plants that thrive in shaded conditions, such as certain types of perennials, shrubs, and ground covers. They are tailored to create beautiful and vibrant gardens despite the lack of direct sunlight, often incorporating a variety of foliage colors and textures.
Viveka Neveln
Viveka Neveln is a distinguished Garden Editor at BHG (Better Homes and Gardens) with a strong background in horticulture and extensive experience in writing and editing for both print and digital media. Her expertise spans over three decades, and she has contributed significantly to the gardening community through her valuable insights and garden plans.
This article offers a collection of free shade garden plans curated to inspire and guide individuals seeking to create stunning garden spaces in shaded areas. These plans cater to a variety of garden sizes and incorporate a diverse selection of shade-loving plants to achieve vibrant and visually appealing landscapes. Each plan is designed to bring color and life to shaded environments, offering options for different preferences and garden sizes.
