Shade Loving Perennials

Shade loving perennials have to be one of the most appealing aspects of the perennial plants. Not all perennials are appropriate for shady areas, but you can find many, many varieties that are.

Some of my favorites!

Hosta (opens new window) is one of my most favorite of all of the shade loving perennials! They can range from as low as 6 inches to 3 feet in height, and vary as much in width. Some hostas make an excellent addition to a border garden, and you’ll see them running along the side of a house. (This is actually where I intend to plant them in my brother's yard!) Then there are others that are more ‘specimen-type’ plants.

You’ll often see hostas (opens new window) grouped together under trees. Planting them in this fashion protects the trees from lawn mower damage, makes cutting the grass easier because you’re eliminating any edging, and it adds a lot of beauty to your yard. I have several large trees throughout my yard, and I have started what I refer to as HOSTA FIESTA at the base of one of them. I have planted several different varieties of hosta, which I obtained from friends, neighbors, local nurseries, and on-line catalogs.

While this project started out quite meager, it has truly blossomed, and is becoming an admirable part of my landscape. Last year I added approximately 30 tulip bulbs within HOSTA FIESTA, to bloom prior to the start of the hosta season. I am planning on adding another 30 tulip bulbs this year, to bring in additional spring color. This is definitely one of my favorite parts of my landscape. Once hostas are established in an area, they are VERY self-sufficient, requiring little to no maintenance. I love it!!

Spring Hill Nurseries (opens new window) has a huge list of perennial flowers available for purchase! This is a particularly great place to shop for perennials not only because of the large variety, but because of the packages that they sell, which make it much easier for planting in your yard. Spring Hill Nurseries has complete gardens for purchase such as a Blue Perennial Garden which focuses on flowers in shades of blue, a 3 Season Garden which focuses on ensuring there are blooms during each of the 3 seasons, and plenty of Shade Gardens which focuses on plants that thrive in shady conditions. These gardens come with a landscape design so the plants are laid out in the best possible locations, and all you need to do is get them into the ground. It doesn’t get ANY easier than that! (Well, unless someone else plants them for you!)

Ostrich Fern is another one of the shade loving perennials that I have naturalized into my own backyard landscape. This plant produces tall, sturdy leaves that remain in a standing position throughout the growing season. Each crown produces several offshoots year after year, allowing you to produce a healthy grouping from a small number of plants in a few short years.

I have seen this plant for sale at many local nurseries, however do yourself a favor...if you want to add this plant to your backyard landscape design, ask your friends and neighbors. Chances are very good that they have several in their yard which they would be happy to share.

Left unattended, these plants will fill up a shady corner quite nicely with little to no maintenance. Some people like to plant a low-growing vine around the ferns to prevent weeds, however I have noticed that this is not necessary. As long as you are willing to keep the weeds at bay for the first few years, the ferns will fill in the entire area if given the opportunity. (Tip: They happen to like partly sunny locations as well!) There are other fern varieties available, but the Ostrich Fern is one of the more common, at least in the Midwest United States.

Bleeding Heart (opens new window) plants are another one of the shade loving perennials. The typical plant has pink flowers with white tips, although there are some all white flowering types available. This plant grows to about 3 feet in height, although there are some dwarf varieties available. This is a classic favorite for many gardeners.

Lily of the Valley is not one of my personal favorites, however I’m discussing it here because many people enjoy this plant. Lily of the Valley looks like short tulip leaves that sport these tiny white flowers in the center. The fragrance is pleasing, and these shade loving perennials are fans of the deep shade and have a healthy spreading habit. I don’t particularly care for them because they don’t do much, and depending on where they’re planted, they can be invasive. Decide for yourself! They are often seen naturalized in shady areas alongside Ostrich Ferns.

Phlox is one of those shade loving perennials that has numerous color choices and varieties to choose from. The flowers are very pretty, and look great in a naturalized setting. As a matter of fact, they combine well with Ostrich Fern and Lily of the Valley!! :)

I hope this information has been helpful to you, and that you reap all of the joys and benefits of planting a shady garden.

Have fun creating your very own shady paradise!

Didn't find what you're looking for? Search for it here:

Gurney's Seed and Nursery (opens new window) is one of my favorite online/catalog companies to order plants from. I have purchased apple trees and blueberry bushes from them, and lots of vegetable seeds. One of my orders failed to contain an item, and I found their customer service department to be friendly and easy to reach. The problem was resolved very quickly. Take a look for yourself!

Nature Hills Nursery (opens new window) has a large variety of perennials and other live plants available on their site.

Return from Shade Loving Perennials to Landscaping Plant Guide