Awhile back, I did a post on shade tolerant flowers. Then, I thought to myself, what is better than shade tolerant flowers? Shade tolerant perennials, that’s what. You only have to plant them once, but still, you get year after year of color. Perfecto.
First, remember that in most cases, shade tolerant doesn’t mean fully shaded. Almost all flowers require some level of dappled light. That having been said, most of these perennials will tolerate being in largely shaded {think: wooded} areas.
- Bee Balm. Bee balm is named that for a reason. It will attract bees {butterflies and hummingbirds} to your garden. It usually has kind of a burst of color flower–shaped like a firework.
- Violets. Violets actually will volunteer year after year–so put them in a place you don’t mind them spreading. They are really pretty little flowers that kind of remind me of pansies.
- Lily of the Valley. I love Lily of the Valley. It is a mass of green with pretty little pops of white flowers. They smell amazing to boot.
- Hydrangea. If you want to add a HUGE impact to a shady spot, Hydrangea is the way to go. They come in a huge variety of color. Hydrangea actually cannot tolerate heat, so shady spots are perfect for them.
- Bleeding Heart. These heart-shaped flowers will bloom in the spring. There are several blooms to each stem, which causes the stem to kind of droop over, giving them an even better visual appeal.
- Forget Me Not. Quite frankly, I would plant these for the name, but if that isn’t enough for you, then the clumps of tiny colored flowers will surely draw you in. They typically flower May through October, so you will get a long season of flowers.
- Foxglove. Foxglove have tall stalks of bell shaped flowers. They come in a variety of colors and add a lot of color to a shady area.
- Bellflower. Bellflowers have an almost wild flower look about them. They are deeply colored, and they will bloom all through the dead of summer, if provided some shade.
- Hellebore. The great thing about these flowers is that they will bloom in EARLY spring, so they are like a beacon of hope for the upcoming season change. They have soft looking flowers–but be aware, they can be poisonous, so best not to plant them if you have pets or small children.
- Astilbe. These flowers remind me of giant feathers. They can get quite tall, so you can layer something in front of them in your landscaping and still have high impact.
Do you have any favorite shade tolerant perennials? What are they?
~Mavis
Looking for more information on growing shade tolerant flowers in the garden? Here are a few of my favorite books on the subject:
Looking for a good gardening book? Gardening books hold kind of a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t be the gardener I am today {or maybe not a gardener at all} if it weren’t for a few gardening books I picked up years ago. I spent almost the entire winter of 2008/2009 reading up on gardening. I found some incredible reads that taught me so much and made me realize how much I didn’t know. So I’ve never stopped reading gardening books.
Here are just a few of my favorites:
- Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
- The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
- Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
- Sugar Snaps and Strawberries
- The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
- The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook
Lori H says
thanks for the suggestions! I would add ferns, Solomon’s Seal and pink Turtleheads.
Bobbie Landis says
Great! Clivia does well in the shade , has spectacular orange long lasting blooms that produce bright red large “seeds” on long stems by Christmas! Truly remarkable plant! Two kinds: one kind has broad strap leaves and the other has thinner strappy leaves! I always planted in clumps interspersed with ferns and Richmond Begonias! Sword ferns look best! ❤️✝️
Tamara says
Hosts and Japanese Anemone also do well in shade.
Rosaleen says
Great information, thanks!
Jumbe says
I will add Trillium, Sweet Woodruff and Oxalis Oregana
Cecily says
Sweet Cicely! Can you tell why I love it?
Beks says
Thanks for the suggestions! There are trees almost completely surrounding my yard, and I’d like to dress the place up with lots of flowers, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to. now I know I can!
Jennifer says
Several years ago I planted violets in pots in the Spring. Now I have them EVERYWHERE in my “grass”. They are really pretty, but since we limit the use of herbicides I’m stuck with them. I try to make the best of it by picking the tiny flowers and putting them in tiny cups. Lol. Any suggestions? I dont want to hurt the good bugs. I noticed an abundance of lady bugs crawling in my grass. So maybe I’ll just live with them.
Mare says
Leave them! You’ll have an English lawn.
HollyG says
Hosta, astilbe, bleeding hearts, ferns
Veronica says
Foxglove is poisonous to cattle, at least. Thought your readers might need to know.
Elizabeth says
Foxglove are poisonous to everyone. Every part. They affect the heart. In fact, foxglove is an ingredient in the heart medication “Digitalis”. That doesn’t mean, don’t plant these beauties, it does mean please do very thorough research before planting foxglove, especially if children and animals have access to your garden.
Katherine says
I planted multiple varieties of heuchera and hosta in my shade garden.
Emily says
I am so happy you listed violets as a flower. They were considered a weed where I grew up, but I have always loved them. Did you know the flowers are edible? They have a very mild flavor. I have seen them candied to make pretty decorations for cakes.
Judy says
Where can these be purchased?
Ashley says
I love love forget me nots! They thrive in our shady beds. I would add wild geraniums if you live in the east.
Janet says
After having spent many years growing hydrangeas it’s also important to realize that if you want them to bloom they will need at least 4-6 hours of morning sun every day. Putting them in complete shade will only produce leaves and very few flowers.
Deb says
Trollius, yellow rose of Texas seems to do well in partial shade, columbine, pansy.
Kim says
The picture on your pin (little purple flowers) what’s the name of this plant. I have them in my flower garden and not sure how that got there….lol
Tracy says
Those are violets. They are extremely prolific and will pop up out of nowhere. I love them, especially their tiny faces against the green of the Spring grass.
Susan says
Jacobs ladder is great in the shade – looks like a fern but also blooms in the spring
D. Teg says
It would be nice to know where the comments come from. Some areas of our country are hotter/cooler than others. I live in Houston thanks!!!
Jan says
Do not plant violets! Unless you want total ground cover! They are worse than a weed! Can’t get rid of them!
Dawn says
I have at least 12 varieties of violets, including yellow and white ones & I love them all! They will spread beyond flowerbed boundaries however. I would add celandine poppies and brunnera (spelling?). I also grow May apples, blood root & wild larkspur in my shaded wildflower garden. Zone 5