Turn That Shaded Spot From a Problem Area Into a Showcase
My picks for best perennials for shade run the gamut from plants with gorgeous flowers to those grown more for their pretty leaves. In some cases, you'll be lucky enough to have both of these features on the same plant (or perhaps a little surprise; see below). By growing these beauties, you can transform that shaded spot in your landscaping from a problem area into your pride and joy.
Note that, in my ten selections below, I did not include any spring bulb plants. But I did want to remind you shade gardeners right at the outset to take advantage of the earliest bloomers, such as snowdrops. These precocious posies emerge long before the deciduous trees leaf out. Here's why that's important to remember: areas of your landscaping that are shaded later in the year by large specimens such as maple trees receive ample sunshine in early spring -- and therefore plenty of light for the earliest bloomers to thrive. Take advantage of this opportunity to inject additional color into your landscaping.
All of the perennials for shade listed here demonstrate good cold-hardiness. Another criterion for my selections was diversity: you'll find a variety of flower colors below, as well as variations in height, plant texture, etc.
1. Lenten Rose: the Sepal is Your Pal
Oriental Hellebore (Helleborus orientalis) photo explains the common name, "Lenten rose."
As I said above, sometimes you get lucky and have pretty flowers and nice foliage on the same plant. Such is the case for my first entry, Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis). Although I must amend that statement slightly for you sticklers out there.
You see, botanists regard what the average person sees as flower petals on this perennial for shade as "sepals," instead. Does that bother you any? No, I didn't think so. Call it what you like, but the object shown in the picture at left is downright lovely, looking ever so much like a rose bud. It will open later and persist through the summer heat.
Granted, the spring color will fade some, but that's where the foliage comes into play. If the plant is grown in a shady spot, its shiny, leathery, dark-green, intense-looking leaves will retain their beauty throughout the summer.
2. Bleeding Hearts: I "Heart" the Choices
Picture of bleeding heart. The flower is truly heart-shaped, "bleeding" a drop.
David Beaulieu
The common bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) provides the introduction to this class of perennials for shade for many people. It's a classic, but don't stop there! Other types of Dicentra worth planting in your landscaping include:
If you're seeking attractive leaves to complement the interesting blooms, fringed bleeding hearts are the best choice of the three.
My wife and I have a favorite walk in late spring on which we see Dutchman's breeches growing wild. The location is the north side of a wooded slope. So you know the plant is shade-tolerant. This is not a perennial, however, that you would grow for its foliage: it's a so-called "spring ephemeral," meaning that its foliage disappears soon after blooming time.
3. Jack-in-the-Pulpit: Forgiveness Rewarded
Photo: Jack-in-the-pulpit berries. Picture shows fall Jack-in-the-pulpit berries.
Speaking of wild plants, jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is a real doozie. It's a woodland plant in my part of New England, so naturally I associate it with woodland gardens, which are really just a sub-class of shade gardens.
This is one perennial for shade that certainly isn't grown for its flowers. But remember I mentioned a "little surprise" above? Jack-in-the-pulpit rewards those willing to forgive its floral deficiency with a brightly-colored bunch of red berries (photo at left).
4. Bunchberry, Lap Dog of the Dogwood World
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) is another native plant in my neck of the woods (and another berry-bearer, as you can probably guess from the common name). It's in the same genus as the dogwood trees, but don't let that fool you: this is a tiny plant (thus its inclusion in this list of perennials for shade), essentially a wildflower.
As with all the entries on this list, click the link above the picture to access detailed information about the shade perennial in question.
5. Spotted Deadnettle: It's Better Than It Sounds
Picture of Purple lamium, with silver leaves. Purple lamium's a nice addition to the shade garden.
Let's face it: "deadnettle" is not the most appealing plant name in the world. First of all, seeing "dead" within the name doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Secondly, the other part of the name may put you in mind of another "nettle" that is quite weedy (and causes skin irritation, to boot).
OK, now it's time to put such negative thoughts out of your mind. Here are some facts to set you straight about spotted deadnettle (Lamium maculatum). It is another plant on my list that furnishes color both through its flowers and through its foliage. As one of the plants with silver foliage, this ground cover will brighten a shaded area, making it less gloomy even when it's not in bloom.
There are a number of similar perennials related to the 'Purple Dragon' deadnettle shown in the photo. One you may wish to avoid, however, is yellow archangel. It's a lovely plant, but the problem is that it tends to be invasive.
6. Hosta: Perennial for Shade -- With Some Exceptions
As my photo of Hosta 'Halcyon' reveals, it's a blue type. It holds its color well.
Hosta is a no-brainer in picking the best perennials for shade, as long as you're one who can appreciate what foliage plants bring to your landscaping. Everyone thinks shade when they hear mention of hosta, but do note that there are exceptions: the ones with golden leaves, for example, need enough sunlight to achieve their splendid coloration. Exceptions prove the rule, however, and one type of hosta that I recommend to dress up a shady spot is the plant shown in the image: Hosta 'Halcyon.'
7. Leopard Plant: One Versatile Cat
Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' picture. This leopard plant loves shade.
Some kinds of Ligularia have spots, thus the common name, Leopard plant. Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' may lack those spots, but it has plenty else to purr about. It sports big, pretty leaves like many hostas do, but no hosta with which I'm familiar has such interesting flowers.
But its appearance only begins to tell the story of this perennial's versatility. While I'm grouping it with shade perennials here, it can stand some sunlight if watered sufficiently. Speaking of water, it can be grown in spots too wet for many other plants to handle. So 'Britt-Marie Crawford' gives you some wiggle room in terms of location.
8. Columbine: Unique Blooms, Clover-Like Leaves
Columbine flowers come in a variety of colors. I show a yellow one in my image as a reminder that such brightly-colored flowers may be a good choice for shaded spots: they bring cheer to otherwise gloomy areas of your landscaping. Generally speaking, though, what makes columbine flowers so special is their unique shape.
This perennial for shade also has nice foliage (variegated in some cultivars), which is clover-like, especially early in the growing season. Insects called "leafminers" do mark up the leaves, but I find their mining tunnels rather mesmerizing, not off-putting. Those of you who know your forest trees have perhaps experienced similar doodling under tree bark. In the case of trees a beetle is responsible, and the phenomenon is known as a "brood gallery." Bug art, anyone?
By the way, don't confuse columbine (Aquilegia) with columbine meadow rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium), which is another good perennial for shade.
9. High on Jacob's Ladder
I mentioned above that my selections vary in terms of texture, and Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) is a good example of one with a fine texture. When you have different textures to play with, you can create contrasts. In the perennial shade garden, that could mean pairing coarse-textured plants such as hosta or Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' with Jacob's ladder, whose very name is a reference to the unusual shape of its foliage (think "rungs of a ladder").
10. Virginia Bluebells: Don't Worry, the Blue Comes Later
I end my list with another perennial for shade that you wouldn't want to grow for its foliage -- well, not if you're seeking a foliage plant for the summer, anyhow. The leaves of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), like those of Dutchman's breeches (see above under Bleeding Hearts), just up and vanish on you by midsummer. That is, the perennial enters a period of dormancy. That's OK, though, because as you can tell by the name, it's all about the flowers with this spring plant.
Oh, and by the way, you lovers of true-blue flowers, the pink-lavender color you see in the image at left does eventually morph into blue.
Let me end with a word of wisdom to those who are new to creating shade gardens. Few plants will produce impressive blooming displays in deep shade. When we garden writers speak of planting in shaded areas, we are typically referring to partial shade, as I am above.