A shady border can be difficult to find the right plants for. GrowLovelyGarden can help you to plant the right plants so your garden looks great in the shade.
Here are 20 plants that will thrive in a full shady border, adding texture, color, and interest:
- Hosta (Hosta spp.) – A classic shade-loving perennial with large, lush foliage in a variety of textures and colors.
- Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) – Delicate, feathery flowers in pink, white, or red, perfect for adding a soft texture.
- Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) – Beautiful, silvery-green fronds with hints of purple or red.
- Heuchera (Heuchera spp.) – Known for colorful foliage in shades of red, orange, purple, or silver, with small, bell-shaped flowers.
- Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) – Heart-shaped flowers that hang gracefully from arching stems.
- Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) – Elegant, arching stems with dangling white flowers and decorative foliage.
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) – Attractive foliage with striking blue or pink flowers that bloom early in the season.
- Ferns (e.g., Lady Fern, Ostrich Fern) – Ferns offer lovely texture and thrive in shaded environments.
- Toad Lily (Tricyrtis spp.) – Exotic, speckled flowers that bloom in the late summer to fall, adding intrigue to shady spots.
- Foamflower (Tiarella spp.) – Small, white, or pink flowers held above attractive, foliage with a rich texture.
- Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla) – Heart-shaped leaves with blue, forget-me-not-like flowers in the spring.
- Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) – Tall spikes of tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white.
- Lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis) – Gorgeous spikes of blue or red flowers, ideal for part to full shade.
- Bergenia (Bergenia spp.) – Large, leathery leaves with pink or white flowers, adding texture and color.
- Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) – Beautiful, late-blooming flowers in shades of white, pink, or purple, perfect for shaded borders.
- Lamium (Lamium maculatum) – Spreading ground cover with silver-spotted leaves and pink or white flowers.
- Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata) – A fast-growing ground cover with heart-shaped leaves that change color as the season progresses.
- Columbine (Aquilegia spp.) – Delicate, bell-shaped flowers in a variety of colors, ideal for the shade garden.
- Trollius (Trollius europaeus) – Bright, globe-shaped flowers in yellow or orange that add a pop of color to shady borders.
- Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria spp.) – Known for its attractive spotted leaves and early spring blooms in shades of blue, pink, or white.
These plants will thrive in shady environments, providing a beautiful and varied display of flowers and foliage in your garden throughout the seasons.