Browse a list of popular plants, and you’ll see a full assortment of perennials, herbs, and woody native flowering plants that thrive in full shade, from native plants to poppies to wildflowers. It’s easy to neglect shade-loving varieties when planning a garden, but they have so much to offer to the landscape in terms of aesthetics and ease of care.
Moss
There are two different types of mosses used in landscaping. The first, called Acrocarpous moss, is tightly packed and ideal for areas with invasive weeds or where you want to replace traditional grasses. These varieties spread slower than their cousins, Pleurocarpous mosses, which move quickly along the ground and can regenerate from small pieces. Pleurocarpous varieties are often used in rock gardens. Mosses are perfect for landscaping and very forgiving, thriving in almost every type of soil except for sand. When placing these shade-loving plants in a landscape, establish the companion plantings first, adding the moss only after the foundation is well laid.
Virginia Blue Bells
Bluebells are not only charming but are also a versatile bloom, thriving in both full and partial shade. Virginia bluebells are native to midwestern and eastern United States but do well in most home gardens. Because they like consistent moisture, it’s best to plant bluebells under trees or other shaded areas. These beauties will blossom and spread throughout the springtime and taper off with full summer heat. They can be direct seeded, though it’s a slow process, or planted as bulbs or seedlings. Once established, these perennials will return to delight you every spring.
Trilliums
Another perennial beauty, trilliums, are hearty wildflowers with a distinctive tri-petaled charm. They come in various colors, like white, red, purple, and gold blossoms from over 40 species. They are best planted as seedlings or rhizome cuttings as the trillium seed is slow to germinate, taking two years or more to establish. Trilliums prefer rich soil that is kept evenly moist but will thrive once established without any additional care or attention.
May Apple Plants
The May apple, or Podophyllum, is a shade lover ideal for ground cover. Their umbrella-like leaf canopy accents other shade plants nicely, making May apples perfect for pairing with blossoming species in a designed landscape. They bloom themselves but only for a few weeks in mid to late spring through the foliage provides many more months of enjoyment before fading in late summer. May apple plants can handle drier conditions and spread to the point of invasiveness if you’re not careful. Their ripe fruits are edible but cause indigestion for some gardeners, so proceed with caution if you decide to give them a taste.
Columbine Flowers
With such a delicate and beautiful aesthetic, it is surprising how hearty columbine flowers are. Though partial shade with well-drained soil is recommended, they can survive in relatively harsh conditions and are resistant to drought. These perennial darlings attract hummingbirds and are often used in cottage gardens with herbs and other wildflowers. Columbine flowers will reseed themselves liberally, but the perennial bulb will fade faster if you allow them to go to seed.
Lily of the Valley Plants
The delicate, dancing, dropping blossoms of the Lily of the Valley spell spring to many gardeners. They do well in outside beds and containers but prefer well-amended soil with good drainage in all planting situations. Lily of the Valley plants thrives in partial shade that is consistently moist. However, they adapt comfortably to various settings and forgive when care is less than ideal—plant bulbs in the late fall for a spectacular spring display.
Your yard and garden have a variety of growing conditions as you move from area to area. Shade gardens offer an excellent foundation for your landscape, providing wide spaces with plantings that are both pleasing and easy to maintain, making them ideal additions to any garden plan.