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11 shade-loving perennials that thrive in dark garden corners – including foxglove
If your garden has more shade than sun, these gorgeous plants are up to the task
Expert consulted: Daryl Beyers
Gardening in a space with varying degrees of sun exposure can be challenging. While sun-drenched borders may be alive with self-seeding wildflowers or freshly sown annuals in a riot of rich colour, deeply shaded corners often struggle, leaving behind bare, uninspiring patches.
This is where shade-loving plants come into their own. A wide array of perennials actually thrive in darker, more sheltered space of the garden, where direct sunlight rarely reaches. Here, in the comfort of those cool, shadowy conditions, they grow steadily and reliably offering striking foliage, delicate flowers and a darker kind of beauty.
While hostas and foxgloves are familiar favourites for shady spots, there are many lesser-known plants worth discovering. Read on to discover 10 beautiful perennials that will flourish in your shady garden.
More ideas for the shady spots in your garden:
- 5 shady garden design secrets that will transform your outdoor spac
- 5 vegetables to grow in shady gardens that aren't leafy greens
- 31 of the best garden plants and evergreen shrubs for shade
Spiderwort
Spiderwort, or tradescantia, is a plant that loves partial shade, rather than deep shade. It features an intricate flower and can grow 30 to 60 cm tall. "The variety 'Sweet Kate' has unique, chartreuse-coloured leaves," says Daryl Beyers, author of The New Gardener’s Handbook.
Viola
![viola cornuta "skippy. violet](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/f8a9cf5f-e6ad-41a4-87cc-fffea1e57486.jpeg?crop=0.534xw:1.00xh;0.466xw,0 "Viola cornuta "Skippy. violet")
These spring bloomers tolerate some sun, but they prefer partial to full shade, especially in the heat of summer. Violara odorata – or Sweet Violet – release an intoxicating fragrant. If you like to cook, violas are edible flowers.
Hellebore
These cold-tolerant plants produce unusual, long-lasting blooms in late winter or very early spring. Hellebores are sometimes known as the Lenten rose because they bloom around the time of Lent. Their foliage is evergreen.
Foamflower
Lobed foliage with red or purple veins make this plant unique. Also known as tiarella, foamflowers boasts floaty little blooms that resemble foam on long stems in late spring to early summer.
Astilbe
Lacey, toothed leaves and feathery plumes of pink, white, red or purple flowers bloom in profusion in early to midsummer. A little morning sun helps them bloom better.
Pulmonaria
This pretty ground cover blooms in early to late spring with delicate, bell-shaped flowers and spotted foliage. It looks best planted en masse. Also known as lungworts, the un-glamorous name comes from its historic usage to treat lung ailments.
Ligularia
With its striking, publish-red leaves, ligularia – also known as “leopard plant” – is an excellent choice for any shady garden. “There’s another variety that features yellow, daisy-looking flowers, and yet another called ‘The Rocket’ that boasts spikier blooms,” says Daryl.
Trillium
The triangular shape and three leaves below the blooms of this striking flower gives the plant its name. It’s hardy, showy and tolerates wet soil.
Foxglove
Although this perennial blooms well in full sun, it tolerates part shade, especially in warmer climates. The tall spiked flowers are a standard in cottage gardens and cutting gardens.
Solomon’s Seal
This perennial boasts a thick blanket of deep-green leaves that grow on upright red stems. Pendulous tuber-shaped flowers dangle from the stems in late spring and become bluish berries in the fall.
Ostrich fern
Fern proves popular for shady spots. How about a variation on the classic plant? British garden designer AnnMarie Powell recommends an underrated variety. "The fern Matteuccia struthiopteris thrives in the shadier depths," she tells us.
Charlyne Mattox is the Food and Crafts director with over 20 years recipe development, recipe editing, and crafting experience. Prior to starting at Country Living in 2014, she worked in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids before attending cooking school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She was nominated for a James Beard media award while a senior editor at Real Simple magazine and authored a cookbook Cooking with Seeds.
When not in the kitchen she loves to garden, focusing on growing flowers and kitchen herbs (of course), watering her 25 house plants, and knitting scarfs or hats she will never be able to wear in the always hot and steamy Alabama.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
Daryl Beyers is gardening certificate program coordinator at the New York Botanical Garden, where he helps shape the education department’s curriculum, and teaches the popular Fundamentals of Gardening course. He is also the author of The New Gardener's Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Grow a Beautiful and Bountiful Garden. He has had more than twenty-five years of professional landscaping experience, specializing in residential garden design and development.
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