Do you have a shaded area in your garden where it seems like nothing will grow there? Full shade areas can look dreary but don’t worry, there are plants to suit every garden, and all you need is a little creativity. From ground cover to perennial flowers and grasses, check out our favourite shade-loving plants to add to any shaded spot in the garden.

Is my garden full shade or partial shade?

To grow healthy plants in shady areas, it is important to match the degree of shade that a plant needs or will tolerate with available light.

Partial Shade: A garden with half sun and half shade. There is some direct sun but for less than half the hours of daylight.

Full Shade: Under trees, shrubs, and buildings. Less than 2 hours of direct sun a day.

Perennials

Image: Mondarda Blaustrumpf

Looking for a beautiful perennial to brighten up a shaded spot? Acanthus mollis Whitewater produces tall spikes of white flowers against their backdrop of dark green variegated foliage; a perfect addition to borders or large patio containers.

This fascinating clump-forming perennial produces mint-scented flowers in a deep purple shade. Monarda Blaustrumpf makes the perfect addition for flower beds and borders and thrives in semi or full shade where other perennials may struggle.

Geranium Versicolor is ideal for borders or patio pots to add striking and unusual blooms to your garden with their vivid pink veined white flowers. These beautiful shade-loving plants are great for brightening up a dark space.

Ground Cover

Image: Vinca major Variegata

Not all Euphorbias do well in shade but Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ is an exception. This rapid growing ground cover plant produces amazing dark purple foliage with lime-green flowers in Spring. Ideal for borders, patio pots or containers.

This reliable evergreen shrub is perfect for bringing some colour to shady areas. Vinca major Variegata produces pretty violet-blue flowers from late spring into summer; a perfect plant for growing anywhere in the garden, even underneath trees.

Ferns

Asplenium scolopendrium is an evergreen fern with luscious upright green foliage. This hardy evergreen needs little attention in the garden, provides colour all year round and can even be grown in woodland/under trees or shady borders.

With a mass of golden yellow leaves and striking red stems, this exotic Athyrium Vidalii is guaranteed to provide a dash of unique colouring to even the shadiest parts of the garden. Beautiful shade-loving plants for adding texture to the garden all year round.

Grasses

Image: Carex Prairie Fire

Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’s’ extraordinarily eye-catching green leaves with bright orange tips change into a dark orange colour with brown flowers in the summertime. This stunning evergreen perennial grass is perfect for containers or a shady border.

With stunning needle-like leaves, Festuca Golden Toupee produces grey-green leaves that turn a bright yellow in the spring. Great for adding stunning vibrant hues to shaded spots. This versatile grass is ideal for containers, in gravel, in the border or alongside other grasses.

Bulbs

Image: Anemone Blanda

Brighten up any shady spot with Anemones. These joyful, daisy-like blooms flower in beautiful shades of blue, pink and white. Perfect for a rockery or spring-flowering containers.

A smooth cocktail of colours, purple buds opening to apricot, with rose shadings. Geum Mai Tai has fuzzy, dark green pinnate leaves and erect purple stems holding the semi-double flowers. These hardy perennial plants will flower all summer from June right through to September and are suitable for partially shaded borders in the garden.

Climbers

American Ivy brings a douse of colour to the garden with its reddish-bronze foliage. A vigorous shade-loving climber that can add beauty to any wall, trellis or building.