There’s just something so tranquil and serene about shade gardens. I’ve been lucky enough in both of my yards to have both sun and shade gardens, but my favorite place to take a break in my gardens is in one of the shady spots.
Although beautiful and serene, Shade Gardening can sometimes have its challenges. Come along on this virtual shade garden tour that includes some Tips for Gardening in Shade, as well as some Shade Gardening Ideas. Perhaps you’ll leave with a few ideas or tricks to try in your own Shade Gardens.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on
one of the linksand make a purchase,
I may receive a small commission atno additional cost to you.
See full disclosure here.
Shade Garden Design
Try not to overthink design, especially if you’re a beginning gardener. The beauty of gardening with perennials is that most don’t mind if you move them around. If you need some help with Garden Design, take a few minutes to check out Flower Garden Design. The general principles of garden design that are covered in that article are the same ones used in Shade Garden Design.
When designing your Shade Garden, be sure to use a variety of perennials for different textures and color and add in some annuals for lots of pops of color.
My Shade Gardening Picks:
Perennials for Shade:
There are lots of other Perennials for Shade, but I am listing the ones I am most familiar with and have actually grown. For more ideas and pictures of shade plants, be sure to check out – 20 Perennials for Shade to Jazz Up Your Gardens when you’ve finished up here. It’s also fun to do a Google search for shade perennials in your gardening zone to come up with many more varieties. Be sure to watch for the words: invasive or vigorous spreader, and stay away from those varieties.
- Hosta – there are thousands of varieties of Hosta.
- Ferns – my favorites are: Japanese Painted Fern, Maidenhair Fern and Lady Fern
- Lamium – a lovely groundcover that flowers most of the season
- Bugleweed (Ajuga) – another groundcover that flowers in spring (seen in the picture below).
- Bleeding Heart – this perennial can get quite large and blooms in the spring.
- Astilbe – lots of different varieties and blooms in early summer.
- Goatsbeard – spikes of white plume flowers that bloom for a few weeks in mid summer.
- Brunnera – has tiny blue forget-me-not type flowers that bloom in the spring (seen in the picture below).
- Corydalis – sometimes referred to as yellow bleeding hearts, but I’m not sure if they are even in the same family.
- Ligularia – beautiful foliage with spikes of yellow flowers.
- Coral Bells – many, many varieties grown mainly for their lovely foliage.
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria) – a lovely plant with spotted foliage and pink flowers in the summer.
- Hydrangeas – lots of varieties work well in shade, especially Annabelle.
- Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium) – very cool foliage.
- Foxglove – see the picture below.
- Columbine (Aquilegia) – a late spring early summer bloomer that works well in part shade.
To add consistent pops of color in my shade gardens, I always add a variety of annuals.
Annuals for Shade:
- Impatiens
- New Guinea Impatiens
- Coleus
- Wax Begonias
- Tuberous Begonias
- Caladium – grown from a bulb and in warmer zones as a perennial
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)
- Fushia
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
- Lobelia
Here is my good friend, Julie’s shade garden oasis. It really is gorgeous!
Tips for Gardening in Shade
My shade gardens are the best low maintenance gardens. Once they are mulched in the spring, it’s just some very minimal weeding and watering to keep them looking good. Here are a few Shade Garden Tips that I’ve found helpful:
Shade vs. Partial Shade
Shade means less that 2 hours of sun a day. Partial Shade means 2 – 4 hours of sun per day. I could probably do an entire post on light requirements in the garden, but I’m just going to keep it simple. I’ve found that you just have to experiment in your own garden. For example, if a partial shade plant is subjected to 4 hours of hot afternoon sun per day, it will more than likely fry. Just play around and see how your plants fair. If they don’t like a spot, move them to a new one.
Mulch
Whether you use shredded leaves and/or grass clippings or you use a purchased mulch, you’ll find that mulch is a gardener’s best friend. It breaks down and helps to nourish the soil, it keeps the weeds down, it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye and makes the plants and flowers pop.
Dry Shade
I have a few areas of dry shade and while there are some perennials that do okay in dry shade, I believe shade plants look better when they are well watered. The problems can be remedied by winding either a soaker hose through the plants, or by installing a DIY Drip Watering System. One of the top items on my to do list this spring is to install this irrigation drip system set up in my new Shade area that we worked on last year. Our Shade Garden Makeover is an astonishing transformation, so check out the before, after and all the details, when you’ve finished up here.
Battling Slugs
Slugs are a common problem in shade gardens. I tried several methods of controlling slugs in my shade gardens and the best one by far is an organic product called Sluggo. I sprinkle it around the base of the plants in the spring when they are first emerging and again in mid to late June. I’ve tried egg shells, beer and a few other methods, and Sluggo wins.
Invasive Plants
Here’s a pretty little area under some tall pine trees with lamium, various types of hosta and ostrich ferns. Ostrich ferns are so pretty and you’ll see lots of them in my pictures today, but I cannot recommend them. You see I have a love/hate relationship with ostrich ferns. They spread by very long runner-type roots and unless one is very diligent and constantly weeds them out, they will take over an area in as little as one season. I worked hard to contain them in a few small areas at my former home. I take so much flack for calling Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) “invasive” because they are native to North America. They do tend to crowd other perennials out and they know no boundaries. So beware.
There are Ostrich Ferns at my new home and I will work to either contain them or annihilate them. It sounds harsh, I know, but if you’ve ever had them take over a garden, you’ll understand what I mean. Here’s a list of plants I recommend staying away from – Plants You Don’t Want In Your Garden.
Shade Garden Ideas
There are so many fun and interesting varieties of Hosta, and miniature hostas are some of my favorites. Below is an area with several different varieties of hosta, including quite a collection of miniature hostas. These pictures are from my former home and I still regret not moving more of these hostas.
In the shady area below, we had to have the lower branches of the pine trees trimmed and this became a beautiful shade garden area. Bleeding Hearts are one of my favorite shade plants and the one below was huge and loved its home in the dense, moist shade. Again tons of beautiful, unruly Ostrich Ferns.
Another one of my favorite flowers (I know, I say that a lot) is Foxglove (digitalis). It’s a biennial that does well in part shade.
Shade Garden Decor Ideas
Once all the spring chores are done in the garden and the mulch has been added, I love to add some garden decor pieces to my gardens. Whether it’s natural elements like stone or logs, or an upcycled item, it’s fun to add some whimsy to the gardens.
A place to sit and a water feature can take an ordinary shade garden and turn it into something extraordinary.
This old vintage chair has made several appearances in my gardens. Here it is again featured with a Twist and Shout Hydrangea, an Asiatic Lily and a galvanized pot of Fushcia.
This is another little area under pine trees where I added some birch logs to create a bit of whimsy. Be sure to add some annuals like these impatiens and hypoestes (polka dot plant) to shady areas for some pops of color.
A good friend of mine who just happens to be a gardener too, puts together the cutest little vignettes. Just by plopping down a rustic birdhouse on a stump she added a ton of personality to this shady area.
The same friend picked up this wheelbarrow (probably from a neighbor’s trash) and upcycled it for a planter. From the minute I saw her flower planter wheelbarrow, I knew I was going to do the same and I did. You’ll see my old wheelbarrow turned planter in lots of posts.
Container gardens are so fun to put together and work perfect for filling in spots in the gardens that need help over the summer. The shady container below is filled with New Guinea Impatiens, Caladium, Coleus, Impatiens and a Fern. I added in the glass totem that I made from thrift store finds. Pop over and check out my post on Creative Flower Container Gardens for some more ideas.
Below is a Tipsy Pot taking over a bare spot where a shrub was removed.
Do you have some shady areas that you’ll be working on this spring and summer? Hopefully, you’ve picked up a few tips and ideas for your shade garden today. Here are a few of my Shade Garden Makeovers for more inspiration:
20 Perennials for Shade
Shade Garden Makeover
Small Shade Garden Transformation
Feel free to share the pictures on Pinterest, or to save them for later reference. You’ll see a Pin button when you hover in the upper left-hand corner of the picture and there are more collages to pin at the bottom of the post.
I came across this article – Shade Plants: 15 Garden Greats to Grow in Full or Partial Shade and I thought it had a good list of additional plants, more along the lines of native or forest type plants. The writer has a quirky style and I think you might find it entertaining as well as informative. Again, be sure to do your research if you’re concerned about invasive or aggressive species in your area.
As always, thanks a bunch for stopping by! Please make yourself at home and hang out for awhile in the gardens. I’d love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment and tell me about your shade garden or ask a question.
Happy gardening,
Joanna
p.s. I’d love to have you follow me on Pinterest. Lots of great gardening ideas and tons of gardener’s eye candy.
Pins to Share:
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an avid gardener with a passion for shade gardening, I can confidently say that I have first-hand expertise and a depth of knowledge in this area. Over the years, I have cultivated both sun and shade gardens, but I must admit, my favorite place to take a break is in one of the shady spots. There's something so tranquil and serene about shade gardens that draws me in.
However, shade gardening does come with its fair share of challenges. That's why I invite you on this virtual shade garden tour, where I'll share some tips and ideas for gardening in shade. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, I hope you'll find inspiration and useful tricks to try in your own shade gardens.
When it comes to designing your shade garden, try not to overthink it, especially if you're just starting out. The beauty of gardening with perennials is that most of them don't mind being moved around. If you need some help with garden design, I recommend checking out Flower Garden Design, which covers the general principles of garden design that can be applied to shade gardens as well.
In your shade garden, be sure to use a variety of perennials to add different textures and colors. Don't be afraid to mix in some annuals for vibrant pops of color. Now, let me share some of my favorite perennials for shade:
- Hosta: With thousands of varieties to choose from, Hosta is a versatile and beautiful shade-loving plant.
- Ferns: Japanese Painted Fern, Maidenhair Fern, and Lady Fern are some of my favorites.
- Lamium: This lovely groundcover flowers throughout the season.
- Bugleweed (Ajuga): Another groundcover that blooms in spring.
- Bleeding Heart: This perennial can grow quite large and blooms in the spring.
- Astilbe: With lots of different varieties, Astilbe blooms in early summer.
- Goatsbeard: Its spikes of white plume flowers bloom for a few weeks in mid-summer.
- Brunnera: This plant has tiny blue forget-me-not type flowers that bloom in the spring.
- Corydalis: Also known as yellow bleeding hearts, this plant has unique foliage.
- Ligularia: With beautiful foliage and spikes of yellow flowers, Ligularia adds a touch of elegance to shade gardens.
- Coral Bells: Many varieties of Coral Bells are grown mainly for their lovely foliage.
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria): This plant has spotted foliage and pink flowers in the summer.
- Hydrangeas: Lots of varieties of Hydrangeas work well in shade, especially Annabelle.
- Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium): This plant has very cool foliage.
- Foxglove: A biennial that does well in part shade.
- Columbine (Aquilegia): A late spring to early summer bloomer that thrives in part shade.
To add consistent pops of color to my shade gardens, I always incorporate a variety of annuals. Here are some annuals that thrive in shade:
- Impatiens
- New Guinea Impatiens
- Coleus
- Wax Begonias
- Tuberous Begonias
- Caladium (grown from a bulb and acts as a perennial in warmer zones)
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes)
- Fuchsia
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
- Lobelia
Now, let's talk about some tips for gardening in shade. Personally, I find that my shade gardens require the least maintenance. Once I mulch them in the spring, it's just some minimal weeding and watering to keep them looking good. Here are a few helpful tips:
-
Shade vs. Partial Shade: Shade means less than 2 hours of sun a day, while partial shade means 2-4 hours of sun per day. It's essential to experiment in your own garden to see how your plants fare in different light conditions. If a partial shade plant is subjected to 4 hours of hot afternoon sun per day, it will likely not thrive. Don't be afraid to move your plants to a new spot if they don't like their current location.
-
Mulch: Whether you use shredded leaves, grass clippings, or purchased mulch, mulch is a gardener's best friend. It nourishes the soil, prevents weed growth, and enhances the overall appearance of your garden.
-
Dry Shade: If you have areas of dry shade, it's important to ensure that your shade plants are well-watered. Consider installing a soaker hose or a DIY drip watering system to provide consistent moisture to your plants.
-
Battling Slugs: Slugs can be a common problem in shade gardens. I've tried various methods, but the best solution I've found is an organic product called Sluggo. Sprinkle it around the base of your plants in the spring when they first emerge and again in mid to late June for effective slug control.
-
Invasive Plants: Some shade plants, like Ostrich Ferns, can be invasive and take over your garden if not properly managed. Be diligent in weeding out these invasive plants or consider containing them in specific areas to prevent them from spreading.
When it comes to shade garden ideas, the possibilities are endless. You can create beautiful vignettes, incorporate natural elements like stone or logs, or upcycle items to add whimsy to your gardens. A place to sit and a water feature can also transform an ordinary shade garden into something extraordinary.
Remember, it's important to do your research and choose plants that are suitable for your specific gardening zone. This will help you avoid invasive or aggressive species that could cause problems in your garden.
I hope you found these tips and ideas helpful for your shade garden endeavors. If you have any questions or want to share your own shade gardening experiences, please leave a comment. Happy gardening!
