Having a shady garden is not the pain in the backside that many people think it is! There are loads of beautiful, easy perennials that flourish in shade! We recommend heavily amending your soil with as much organic matter as possible- most shade loving plants are native to woodland environments and require a fertile, enriched soil to do their best. (This is especially important if you must contend with very dry soil.) Here are some perennials that flourish in shade and are easy to grow!
Hosta- Hostas are very popular, very long lived, and very easy to grow. There are literally thousands of varieties, with leaves in every shape and size and color imaginable! As a general rule, the green to golden hostas are the most tolerant of sun, whereas the blue leafed ones need the most shade. Hostas are not drought resistant and require a rich, moist soil. They do produce small, lily-like flowers on tall stems and though some people don’t think they are very showy, many of them are fragrant and cut nicely for bouquets.
Astilbe- These are lovely perennials with showy, fluffy plumes of flowers in white, red, pink, or purple. They also have attractive, dark green foliage and look best when grown in clumps. They combine well with hostas as they favor similar growing conditions.
Ferns- Ferns are probably the most beautiful of all the non-flowering plants. They like moist, organically enriched soil and shelter from the wind. There are many kinds of ferns to choose from, some are large and some are smaller. They make an attractive background for shady annuals and will multiply where they are happy.
Primula- Also called primroses, these are smallish perennials with brightly colored flowers in early spring. They make tidy little clumps and look wonderful planted in small groups. Primulas should have good moisture conditions but soil should not be too rich.
Ligularia- These are gorgeous perennials with enormous, exotic looking leaves and strange, yellow or orange flowers in late summer. These plants do best in a moist area and want neither full shade nor full sun. A dappled, filtered light (such as provided by a deciduous tree) is perfect. Morning sun with shade from the hot afternoon sun also suits them well. They are long lived and form thick, luxurious clumps over time.
Ajuga- Also called carpet bugle or bugleweed, this is a little carpeting perennial often with metallic looking foliage. Tiny spikes of blue-purple flowers appear in June. Ajuga spreads quickly without being aggressive, and likes moist soil. It makes excellent “filler” for shady gardens and looks good creeping among stones or near a pond or fountain.
Bugbane, Cimicfuga- Bugbanes are not common garden perennials, possibly because of the unattractive name, possibly because they are often expensive. Either way, these are very long lived perennials worth adding to your garden. They establish slowly, but improve every year and become more glorious with each passing season. The leaves can either be green or purple, and they are lacy and finely cut. In late summer, tall spikes of elegant, wand-like flowers appear. (These are usually white or soft pink.) They have an unusual, pleasant-scent that is said to repel insects and hence the name. Growing up to 5 ft. tall, this perennial makes a dramatic and stunning backdrop!
Lady’s Mantle- This is an underused, very hardy perennial that establishes quickly and always looks wonderful! Light green, softly fuzzy scalloped leaves have a unique way of holding drops of water, and the chartreuse or acid green flowers that appear in a great froth are fabulous for creating contrast! As this plant grows wider then tall, it is excellent for borders or growing in between more robust plants such as ferns or hostas. Lady’s mantle is not a fussy plant and will grow in most sites and soils.
Colombine- Often sold as a “shade” plant, the truth is that colombines will be much happier if they have at least partial sun. Morning sun and shade for the rest of the day is fine, or even a few hours of late afternoon sun is beneficial. Colombines like cool, moist roots and produce dazzling, nectar rich flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds. They will self seed freely if allowed to do so and come in a wide variety of sizes and colors.
Bleeding Heart- Although bleeding hearts will grow in full shade, they will flower more profusely if they get at least a few hours of sun per day. They produce pendant, bright pink or white blossoms in late spring and flower for weeks! Easy to grow, old fashioned, beautiful, and very hardy. Always a good choice!
Goutweed- If you have a large shady area that you really just need to fill in with something green and attractive, this is your plant! Growing from creeping rootstalks, goutweed (also called snow on the mountain) will rapidly establish and form thick, weed restricting colonies! The pale green leaves are attractively variegated in shades of white and cream and positively glow in a shady situation! It will quickly swamp any plant in its way and is usually best grown in a confined space.
Lily of the Valley- Similar to goutweed in its ambitions to take over the world, lily of the valley can fill the same amount of space but might take a bit longer to do it. This lovely perennial grows only a few inches tall and they will form carpets of thick, dark green leaves and very pure white, heavily scented blossoms in May. Occasionally, showy orange-red berries will follow the blooms. Keep in mind that lily of the valley is very toxic if eaten- so don’t eat it!
So go ahead – take back that shady area of your yard. A garden with a few strategically placed perennials can turn a boring, difficult area of your yard into something spectacular. And be sure to leave space for a lawnchair or two – gardens are most appreciated when they are experienced, not just admired from afar!
