Does you garden get a lot of shade? Or are you looking for more ideas to get some color into your shady spots? Well today I thought I should share my favorite 14 shade tolerant perennials with you.
I LOVE planting perennials because unlike annuals, perennials will come back year after year and therefore are always a good investment in my book. I’m all about making gardening as simple as possible and with perennials, I always feel good knowing that once they’re in the ground, all I need to do is a little maintenance and I’ll be able to enjoy them for a very, very long time.
So without further ado, here are my top 14 shade tolerant perennials.
Hostas
Since moving to New England, hostas have become one of my favorite plants in the garden. They’re hardy, tolerant of a wide range of soils and their leaves continue to produce well into the fall months.
They also look great in pots which make them the perfect “base” plant if you like to swap out annuals with the seasons.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is named that for a reason. It will attract bees {butterflies and hummingbirds} to your garden. It usually has a kind of burst of color flower–shaped like a firework.
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.
Begonia
If you live in zones 6-9 begonias (begonia grandis), can be grown as a perennial. I’ve only ever grown begonias as a house plant but I am looking forward to growing this variety in the future.
Ferns
Ferns always make a great addition to heavily shaded gardens. And while they are not my favorite plant, lots of people love them.
Hydrangea
If you want to add a HUGE impact to a shady spot, Hydrangea is the way to go. I’ve grown them at every house we’ve ever had and just adore them. Hydrangeas come in a huge variety of colors as well and the Bloomstruck variety is my favorite.
Hydrangeas actually cannot tolerate heat, so slightly shady spots are perfect for them.
Bleeding Heart
Sweet little heart shaped flowers that in cooler climates, mostly bloom in the spring but may continue to bloom all summer. With several blooms to each stem, bleeding hearts tend to droop over, giving them an even better visual appeal.
Astilbe
These flowers remind me of giant colorful feathers. They can get quite tall, so you can layer something shorter in front of them in your landscaping and still have high impact.
Violas
While considered a weed in some areas, I Iove to see their tiny flowers pop up in the early spring {and sometimes late fall}.
Forget Me Not
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 can get a nice long season of flowers.
Japanese Anemone
These low-maintenance flowers do best are often found in cottage gardens and woodland settings and are fairly easy to grow. They are deer resistant too. Which in my book is always a bonus!
Foxgloves
I adore foxgloves! Foxgloves have tall stalks of bell shaped flowers. They come in a variety of colors and add a lot of color to a shady area. They are poisonous though, so beware.
Bellflower
Bellflowers have an almost wildflower look about them. They are deeply colored, and they will bloom all through the dead of summer, if provided some shade. They tend to spread slowly too so I find after a few years it’s nice to divide them and pass along a few to friends.
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. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, hellebore have lovely soft looking flowers. But be aware, they can be poisonous, so best not to plant them if you have pets or small children.
Those are my favorite 14 shade tolerant perennials. Do you have any favorites that I didn’t mention?
~Mavis
Rosemary says
Growing up, I remember Lily of the Valley flowers in our yard. We didn’t plant them (obviously the previous tenants or landlord did). I loved seeing them appear every spring. Now I have hydrangeas – they are in a mostly shady spot and do very well. I think these are one of my favorite flowers! Right now the bushes have lots of buds – May is typically when my hydrangeas bloom. I can’t wait!
Linda says
I refuse to plant year after year, so always try to buy perennials. Actually, all my flowers are in pots.
Diane says
One of my neighbors is obsessed with hydrangeas! So much so that you can barely see the lower portion of her home. It has sort of spoiled my appreciation of hydrangeas. Lesson learned is plant with a plan. Also hydrangeas cover very well over time.
Lisa says
The deer love my hostas. Eat them right up to the house. I have to plant something else. These are great ideas.
Pat Marino says
Lisa, the deer feast on my hostas too, so before sunset, I’ve cover the new growth with pots, then uncover in the morning. My thoughts are that maybe I can convince them to eat elsewhere. They also love my daylilies. I’m near Buffalo, NY and our deer have a smorgasbord at night. Ahhh, nature!
Ramona says
Years ago when I was much younger than I am now a friend was at my house. She was admiring the little blue flowers in my planter box. We both couldn’t think of their names. Then we both almost at the same time said Forget Me Nots and started laughing.