Evergreen
Beesia (Beesia deltophylla) – This slow spreader is great for covering ground under trees or in woodland gardens where other plants might not be as successful. The dark, evergreen leaves are glossy and heart shaped creating a nice, bold texture in the garden. In spring, slender flower stems rise above the foliage with small, star shaped flowers. Once established, Beesia can handle dry shade conditions.
Camellia – Perfect for a shady focal point, hedge, or espalier, Camellias offer blooms in late fall through late winter when other plants have stopped or aren’t ready to bloom yet bridging that bloom gap in the garden. Blooms come in shades of white, pink, and red and foliage is dark, gloss green. Flowers and stems also work well in cut flower arrangements.
Lenten Rose (Helleborus) – A must for the shady, winter garden, Hellebores (or Christmas/Lenten Rose) are great for the front of shady border beds. Their compact size makes them easy to fit in any size garden and are deer and bunny resistant. Single or double blooms rise above the thick, evergreen leaves in shades of white, pink, purple, or red. Hellebores are great for adding color and texture and add a unique mix to cut flower arrangements.
Leucothoe – This group of low growing shrubs work well in shady areas that tend to be more wet. Depending on the variety, foliage emerges in shades of red to bronze and either remains red or turns to green throughout the summer and gets some color back in fall. Small, white flowers are fragrant in late spring. Leucothoe also works well in woodland gardens.
Pieris – Pieris can be a great compact shrub that can add year-round height to the shade garden without being overbearing. They work well as a hedge or as a focal plant. Prized for their clusters of bell-shaped flowers in spring, their foliage is nothing to sleep on either. Some varieties, like ‘Little Heath’, have variegated leaves with new leaves being pink while others, like ‘Mountain Fire’, has bright red new growth that turns a deep green.
Perennial/Deciduous
Carex – These ornamental grasses are considered either semi-evergreen or evergreen depending on variety and how cold the winters are. The graceful, arching grass-like foliage provides great color and texture and can handle wet areas. They are also deer and bunny resistant which makes them perfect for woodland gardens. Carex can typically handle some sun so they work well for those partial shade areas that can sometimes be hard to plant in.
Hostas – Hostas add bold, lush textures to the shade garden. From bright chartreuse to dark blue and green, the foliage is the star of the show while the flower stalks in summer add vertical interest. Hostas work well as specimen plants, in containers, or planted en masse. They can handle dry shade areas and can even help with soil erosion.
Astilbes – The fern-like foliage provide great contrast to the plumes of flowers that erupt in summer. They are a showstopper in the shady garden, especially when planted en masse and the leftover seedheads continue to add interest into the winter. Astilbes do well in wetter areas like around water features and pools.
Japanese Tassel Fern (Polystichum polyblepharum) – This elegant fern adds a lush feel to the shade garden. Tassel Fern works well as an understory plant or groundcover especially when layered in with other flowering shrubs. The deep green leaves contrast nicely with the coppery stems and are deer and bunny resistant. While considered evergreen, they do look better when cut back in later winter/early spring before new fronds emerge.
Hydrangeas – Couldn’t leave the shade garden without mentioning hydrangeas. These are another plant that works well in partial shady areas with some varieties doing better with more sun or more shade. You can find hydrangea shrubs in all shapes and sizes making these incredibly versatile in the garden. While all are prized for their showy flowers, you can also use Oakleaf Hydrangeas in the garden to extend the season of interest with colorful fall foliage and leaving the flower heads on will provide an airy winter texture.
What are your favorite plants for the shady spots of your garden? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you!
