Shade Gardening
Shady gardens are filled with subtle colours and soft lighting, two characteristics that inspire serenity and solitude in the garden. Some may be tempted to think of gardening in the shade as a challenge to overcome, but not so. With the right combination of plants, a shade garden can be a celebration and sanctuary. Just keep in mind that not all shade gardens are equal. There is semi-shade, deep shade and everything in between. Check out the list of shade plants and introduce yourself to some you should consider to create your own shady sanctuary.
Varying Degrees of Shade
SUNNY SITE: Receives more than eight hours of direct sun each day, with most of that in the afternoon.
SEMI-SHADE: Receives sunlight for less than eight hours, or sun under the dappled shade of trees.
SHADE: Receives no direct sunlight, but may get some reflected off buildings.
DEEP SHADE: Receives no direct or indirect sunlight, for example underneath an evergreen tree or large dense shrub.
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PERENNIALS
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum)
Anemone (Anemone blanda)
Columbine (Aquilegia x hybrida)
Meadowsweet (Astilbe chinensis)
Pig squeak (Bergenia spp.)
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
Serbian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)
Black snakeroot (Actaea racemosa)
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Fumitory (Corydalis lutea)
Bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.)
Leopard’s bane (Doronicum cordatum)
Bishop’s hat (Epimedium spp.)
Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.)
Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Helleborus spp.
Plantain lily (Hosta spp.)
Crested iris (Iris cristata)
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
Pachysandra spp.
Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera)
Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium spp.)
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum)
Primula spp.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)
Sweet violet (Viola odorata)
ANNUALS
Begonia (tuberous and fibrous)
Slipper flower (Calceolaria integrifolia)
Coleus (Coleus hybridus)
Fuchsia
Impatiens
Monkeyflower (Mimulus spp.)
Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.)
Cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida)
BIENNIALS
Foxgloves (Digitalis spp.)
Honesty (Lunaria annua)
SHRUBS
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Azalea spp.
Barberry (Berberis spp.)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri)
Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus)
Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
Winter hazel (Corylopsis spp.)
European hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
Rock cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis)
Enkianthus campanulatus
Winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Forsythia spp.
Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis)
Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia)
Hydrangeas and hortensias (Hydrangea spp.)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)
Beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
Rhododendron spp.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Bridal wreath spirea (Spirea x vanhouttei)
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Viburnum spp.
VINES
Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata)
Evergreen clematis (Clematis armandii)
Anemone clematis (Clematis montana)
Jackman’s clematis (Clematis ‘Jackmanii’)
Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei var. radicans)
Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala var. petiolaris)
Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
EVERGREEN SHRUBS
Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)
Japanese laurel (Aucuba japonica)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica)
Fall flowering camellia (Camellia sasanqua)
Mexican mock orange (Choisya ternata)
Winter daphne (Daphne odora)
Fortune’s spindle (Euonymus fortunei)
Paperplant (Fatsia japonica)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Dog Hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana)
Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)
Mountain andromeda (Pieris floribunda)
Sweet box (Sarcococca hookerana)
Skimmia japonica
English yew (Taxus baccata)
SMALL TREES
Amur maple (Acer japonicum)
Laceleaf maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum)
Flamingo boxelder (Acer negundo ‘Flamingo’)
Alder (Alnus spp.)
Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana)
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)
Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonica)
