Shade Loving Plants
Shade gardens can be just as vibrant and dynamic as sunny spaces, with a wide range of plants that offer bold foliage, delicate blooms, and rich textures perfect for brightening low-light areas. Take a peek at the plants we love to use!
Plants that like Shade
When we think of vibrant gardens and lush landscapes, it’s often the sun-loving plants that steal the spotlight, basking in full rays, flaunting vivid blooms, and dominating garden center displays. These bright, sun-soaked favorites tend to get all the glory, leaving shade-loving plants in the literal and figurative shadows. But there’s a quiet magic to the shaded corners of a garden, where dappled light filters through trees, moisture lingers a little longer, and cool tranquility invites a different kind of beauty to unfold. Shade gardens may not scream for attention, but they reward the thoughtful gardener with rich textures, subtle colors, and an atmosphere of calm and depth that’s hard to replicate in sunnier spaces.
We’re shining a light on these underrated heroes of the plant world! The ferns, the coral bells, and other shade dwellers that thrive out of the spotlight and bring life to the overlooked places in your landscape. It’s time to give shade its moment.
Ferns are the quiet poets of the plant world. Graceful, timeless, and perfectly suited for the cool embrace of shade. While other plants chase the sun, ferns flourish in the softened light beneath trees, along streambanks, and in the sheltered corners of gardens where few others dare to thrive. With their intricate fronds, endless shades of green, and almost prehistoric charm, ferns bring texture, movement, and a sense of calm to shady spaces. They don’t clamor for attention with bold flowers or bright colors, but instead offer a steady, soothing presence that transforms dim areas into lush, green sanctuaries.
Athyrium ‘Godzilla’
A bold, oversized fern with silvery-green fronds that makes a dramatic statement in moist, shady gardens.
Athyrium x ‘Ghost’
An elegant hybrid with upright, silvery-gray fronds and a subtle shimmer that brightens up shady spaces.
Athyrium niponicum ‘Regal Red’
A striking Japanese painted fern with deep red centers and silvery-purple fronds that bring vibrant color to the shade.
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’
A colorful evergreen fern with coppery-red new growth that matures to glossy green, adding year-round interest to the shade garden.
Try them out and see that they can elevate your garden’s understory and bring a fresh appreciation for the beauty found in the shadows!
Heucheras are a versatile and vibrant addition to any shade garden, known for their striking foliage and ability to thrive in low-light conditions. From soft greens to rich purples and bronzy hues, their leaves add year-round color and texture where many plants fade into the background. These hardy perennials don’t just survive in the shade—they shine, offering mounded forms that fill in garden beds beautifully and send up delicate flower spikes that attract pollinators. Whether used as groundcover, edging, or a bold contrast to ferns, Heucheras bring dependable beauty and easygoing charm to the shadier parts of the landscape.
Heuchera longiflora
This option features soft, scalloped leaves and airy flower spikes that lend a woodland charm.
Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’
‘Autumn Bride’ lights up the late season with its bright green foliage and creamy-white blooms.
Heuchera villosa ‘Bronze Wave’
For rich texture and depth, ‘Bronze Wave’ offers dramatic bronze-toned leaves that hold their color even in heavy shade.
Heuchera x ‘Plum Pudding’
‘Plum Pudding’ adds a touch of elegance with its deep purple, glossy foliage that provides contrast and drama.
Whether planted in groups or tucked among ferns and sedges, these Heucheras bring color, texture, and resilience to shady spots throughout the seasons.
Shady gardens don’t have to be all green and subdued tones. There are plenty of vibrant, shade-loving plants that bring unexpected color to darker corners. Beyond the familiar ferns and Heucheras, a wide range of perennials and groundcovers offer rich hues, from jewel-toned blooms to variegated foliage that brightens even the dimmest spots. These plants prove that color isn’t reserved for sunny borders, shade can be just as lively and expressive. Whether you're looking to add splashes of blue, purple, or creamy white, there are plenty of bold, beautiful options that thrive out of the sun and bring fresh energy to your woodland beds and sheltered spaces. Check out some of our faves!
Meehania cordata
A charming groundcover with scalloped, fuzzy leaves and soft lavender-blue flowers that brighten shady woodland edges.
Mertensia virginica
Also known as Virginia bluebells, this spring ephemeral bursts to life with nodding clusters of pink-to-blue bell-shaped flowers.
Phlox divaricata ‘Blue Moon’
A fragrant, low-growing phlox with rich violet-blue blooms that create a soft carpet of color in spring shade gardens.
Tiarella cordifolia ‘Running Tapestry’
A fast-spreading foamflower with deeply lobed, patterned foliage and frothy white flower spikes that light up the understory.
Viola walteri ‘Silver Gem’
A trailing violet with silvery-blue foliage and delicate purple flowers, perfect for spilling over shady edges and pathways.
