Shade-loving plants for the garden: perennials and undemanding

If you want to create a beautiful garden but don't have enough sunlight, don't despair. There are many plants that thrive in shade and require little care. In this article, we'll look at a variety of easy-to-grow shade-loving perennials for the garden.

Ferns

Ferns are among the most well-known shade-loving plants, growing well in partial shade. They can be used to create green areas in the garden, as well as to decorate container gardens and flower beds. Ferns look great in combination with other shade-loving plants, such as creeping bugleweed or saxifrage.

Sod plants

Turf crops are plants that thrive in shade and can be used to create green areas in the garden. They require little maintenance and can be used as groundcover to strengthen the soil. Some of the most popular turf crops include ivy, wild asarum, and periwinkle.

Ivy, European asarum, periwinkle

Ivy, wild ass, and periwinkle thrive in partial shade. They can be used to decorate walls and fences, as well as to create green areas in the garden. Ivy is the most popular choice for edging walls and fences, wild ass for creating green areas, and periwinkle for decorating flower beds.

Creeping Jenny

Creeping bugleweed thrives in shade and can be used to create green areas in the garden. It has beautiful bright green leaves and small white flowers.

Sweet bedstraw

Sweet bedstraw (Galium odoratum) is a small perennial plant with fragrant leaves, commonly used as a ground cover for shaded areas of the garden. The plant grows to a height of about 30 cm and blooms in May and June with small white flowers. The leaves are round and arranged in pairs along the stem. Sweet bedstraw requires little care and can grow in any soil, but prefers moist conditions.

Spleen

Podophyllum is a tall perennial plant with large leaves and beautiful flowers. It grows up to 60 cm and has broad, marbled leaves that can reach up to 30 cm in length. The flowers appear in April-May; they are large and white, and the fruits are red and berry-like. Podophyllum prefers partial shade and moist soil, but can also grow in sunny areas if the soil is sufficiently moist.

Saxifraga shadow

Saxifraga umbrosa (common saxifrage) is a compact perennial plant with small flowers, grown as a ground cover for gardens with partial shade. The plant reaches a height of 20 cm and has small, green leaves. Flowers, which appear in June and July, are white, pink, or red. Saxifraga umbrosa can survive in a variety of conditions, including shade in fertile soil. It is ideal for gardens with uneven terrain and areas where the soil tends to dry out.

Shade-loving trees

Shade-loving garden trees can be a beautiful addition to any garden. Here are a few examples of trees that thrive in shade.

European beech

Beech is an excellent tree for creating a shaded garden path. It has a beautiful crown that creates dense shade. Beech can grow up to 20 meters, but will be somewhat smaller in the shade. Beech has green leaves that turn a beautiful brown in the fall.

Common ash

Ash is another tree that tolerates shade well. It can grow up to 25 meters tall and has a dense crown. Ash has green leaves that turn yellow-orange in the fall.

Mountain ash

It can grow up to 20 meters and produces beautiful white flowers in spring and red berries in autumn. Rowan trees have green leaves that turn a beautiful yellow in autumn.

Elm

The elm is a shade-tolerant tree. It can reach a height of 25 meters. The elm has green leaves that turn yellow-orange in the fall.

Canadian hemlock

The Canadian hemlock is a cone-shaped tree that also thrives in shade. It can grow up to 30 meters tall and has a dense crown. The Canadian hemlock has green leaves that do not fall off in winter.

Herbs that tolerate shade well

Herbs can be a wonderful addition to shady areas of the garden.

Snowy, forest hedgehog

Snowdrop (Chionodoxa) is a genus of small bulbous plants that bloom in spring, usually in March-April, before the trees leaf out. It is a shade-loving garden plant. It produces beautiful flowers in delicate shades of purple, pink, and blue. They will delight you every spring season.

Oatmeal

Fescue (Arrhenatherum elatius) is a tall grass that can reach a height of 1 meter. It prefers partial shade to shade and can be used as an ornamental grass in the garden. Fescue blooms in summer, and its panicles can be golden or silvery.

Low shade-loving perennials

Some perennials don't grow very tall, but they can still make great additions to your garden.

Fragrant violet

The sweet violet (Viola odorata) is a low-growing, shade-loving plant that blooms throughout the season. It has beautiful leaves and fragrant flowers, which can be white, pink, or blue.

Lungwort

Lungwort (Brunnera macrophylla) is another low-growing plant with heart-shaped leaves and blue flowers. It blooms in the spring. Lungwort prefers shade and moderately moist soil.

Lily of the valley

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a perennial plant that blooms in spring. Its fragrant white flowers are borne on low stems. The plant forms a carpet of green leaves. Lilies of the valley grow well in shade and partial shade.

Garden hellebore

Garden hellebore (Helleborus) is a perennial plant that thrives in shade. It is a flowering plant with large flowers in a variety of shades, including white, pink, purple, and green. Garden hellebore thrives in moist soil and can be propagated by division of tubers or from seed.

Primrose small-toothed

Primrose (Anemone nemorosa) is a perennial plant with white, pink, or blue flowers. The leaves of the primrose are green and quite small. The plant grows well in moist soil.

Tall perennial plants

To create deep, shady corners of the garden, you can use tall perennial plants that thrive in low-light conditions.

Japanese hosta

Japanese hosta is one of the most popular perennial shade plants. It has large, heart-shaped leaves that can be green or splashed with yellow or white. Hosta flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the plant attracts attention with its beautiful foliage.

Black cohosh

Black cohosh is a tall perennial plant that thrives in shade and partial shade. It features racemose inflorescences of white or pink flowers and green leaves with silvery veins. The plant blooms in June and July and can reach a height of 1.5 meters.

Japanese anemone

The Japanese anemone blooms with beautiful double flowers in white, pink, or purple. The plant blooms in August-September and can reach a height of 1.5 meters. The Japanese anemone thrives in shade and partial shade, and its beautiful flowers will be a true highlight of any garden.

Lady's slipper

Lady's slipper has beautiful green or yellow leaves and large white or pink flowers. It blooms in July and August. Lady's slipper can reach a height of 1.5 meters. It is an excellent choice for creating compositions in shady corners of the garden.

Astilbe

Astilbe is a shade-loving perennial plant with beautiful flowers. Its leaves come in various shades of green, from light to dark green, and its flowers can be white, pink, red, or purple. It thrives in shady locations in well-drained soil.

Astilbe can be used as a mass plant or as an ornamental shrub. It looks beautiful alongside other flowers, such as fuchsias and geraniums. Astilbe prefers moist soil and regular watering.

Daylilies

Daylilies (Hemerocallis) have large, vibrant flowers that can be white, yellow, orange, or red. Daylily leaves are green and linear.

Daylilies can be used to create flower beds or along paths and trails. They prefer moist soil and regular watering.

As you can see, there are many different shade-loving perennials that can be used to create beautiful flowerbeds and enhance shady corners in your garden. When choosing plants for shady areas, ensure they will thrive in your garden's conditions and that you can provide them with adequate moisture. By considering these factors, you can create a beautiful and healthy shade garden that will bring you joy for many years to come.