Shining Light on Shade Gardens—Big or Small
With all this heat, a little shade sounds wonderful! However, shady gardens are also a gardening challenge that we get questions about quite often. With the right plants and the right design, a thriving (and colorful) shade garden is possible. So whether you've got a large shady area or just one low-light corner, check out the plants and solutions below.
Shade Plants
One of the most basic rules for successful gardening is "right plant, right place." If you're struggling to find the "right plant" for a "shady place," these plant lists can help. Find more than 80 colorful and functional plants to fill your shady garden spaces. Pictured: foxglove, hosta, and browallia.
20 Great Shade Plants
25 Shade Perennials
19 Shade Annuals
24 Shrubs for Shade
Shade Garden Ideas & Design
Did you know that not all shade is created equal? And, did you know that plants that are adapted to growing in low light have different care requirements than those that grow in full sun? Learn more about how to create and care for a beautiful (and colorful!) shade garden.
"While shady areas in the landscape can present a host of problems, including slow drainage, poor air circulation and low light, which can result in a failure of plants to thrive, they can also present opportunities if properly designed, prepared, and planted with shade-tolerant varieties."
— Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer
Pictured: A layered tapestry of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vines comprise this shady woodland garden. Designer: Vina Winters. Photo: Janet Loughrey.
Learn more: Shade - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
20 Best Hosta Companion Plants
These easy-care perennials are a shade garden favorite. But, are you curious about what to plant with these beauties? Here are 20 plants that will happily live in the shade with hostas (isn't it nice to take the guesswork out of it all?). Pictured: Shadowland® 'Empress Wu', Proven Winners' 2023 Hosta of the Year.
Shade Plants for a Window Box
Join Janey from @DigPlantWaterRepeat as she showcases her fantastic shade window box featuring polka dot plant, coleus, and euphorbia. Get ideas for bringing color, life, and brightness to those dark, shady areas of your home or garden with these versatile plants. Plus, when the season is over, they can all be brought inside and enjoyed as houseplants!
This content is brought to you by Weaver's Landscape Company in partnership with GardenDesign.com! We hope you, our existing & prospective clients, find this content useful & inspiring.
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