Don’t get discouraged by shade; Mother Nature knows no boundaries.  While the shade might give you some limitations, beautiful shade gardens can and do exist. Many perennials, annuals and bulbs grow quite well in shade. Think ferns and bleeding heart — I love white bleeding heart.  And there are gorgeous large blue hostas such as Elegans, Hadspen Blue, and Krossa Regal that look like elephant ears. I also love the Sum & Substance hosta.

Here are more ideas to help you get started or continue gardening in the shade.  These plants will thrive and grow well in the shade:

Perennials for shade

• Bleeding heart – white, pink
• Lily-of-the-Valley
• Astilbe –  white, red, pink
• Ferns – try some showier varieties like Phyllitis Scolopendrium, zone 6-9
• Hellebores – black and deep purple, white, greens and pinks – unique and bold
• Heuchera (coral bells) – lime green, purples, variegated, peach, reds, browns
• Hosta – large blue varieties – Hadspen Blue, Elegans, Krossa Regal; large Sum & Substance – there are so many varieties of hostas, smaller ones for a neat and tidy border or large ones as focal point
• Lamium
• Ligularia
• Lilies – casa blanca, White Flower Farm strawberries and cream – these definitely prefer more sun, but I have grown them in some shade (put these in the sunniest part of your shade)
• Primroses
• Jack-in-the-pulpit
• Viola
• Columbine
• Bamboo
• Japanese forest grass – love this; creates such a clever focal point, and can be divided
• Siberian Iris

Bulbs for shade

• Crocus
• Cyclamen
• Snowdrops
• Grape hyacinth
• Daffodil

Annuals for shade

• Coleus
• Begonia
• Caladium
• Ipomoea (sweet-potato vine)
• Impatiens
• Persian shield
• Tender bulbs
• Colocasia (elephant ears) – my favorite – check out my previous post on elephant ears for some great photos of elephant ears; these can make a large bold, beautiful statement!

Some varieties of Hydrangea’s also do very well in shade like the Anna Bell Hydrangea