Themed plant discovery
Shade Garden Plants
Discover plants that thrive in part shade and full shade, from lush foliage to reliable long-season blooms.
Use this guide to build layered shade borders, brighten north-facing corners, and find dependable plants for low-light beds.
184186 plants found
Featured plants
24
Perennial
Thunberg's astilbe
Astilbe thunbergii
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.5–1m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Perennial
Great forget-me-not
Brunnera macrophylla
Boraginaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.3–0.5m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Evergreen
Breckland thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Lamiaceae
Partial Shade
Low
Zone 4–9
0.1–0.3m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Perennial
Hosta pulchella
Hosta pulchella
Asparagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
0.2–0.4m
Blooms: Jul, Aug, Sep
Grass
Evergreen
Carex
Carex japonica
Cyperaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.3–0.6m
Shrub
Evergreen
yew
Taxus media
Taxaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–7
1.5–4m
Grass
Bush grass
Calamagrostis epigejos
Poaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
0.6–1.5m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Tree
Mazzard cherry
Prunus avium
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
10–15m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Giant herb-robert
Geranium maderense
Geraniaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
0.4–0.6m
Blooms: Apr, May, Jun
Perennial
Garden lovage
Levisticum officinale
Apiaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
1–1.5m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Perennial
Lady's Mantle
Alchemilla pseudothmarii
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.4–0.7m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Tree
Evergreen
Cedar of lebanon
Cedrus libani
Pinaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
10–20m
Tree
Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Fagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
12–25m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Heuchera sichotensis
Heuchera sichotensis
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.3–0.6m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Hortensia
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangeaceae
Partial Shade
High
Zone 5–9
1–2m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Tree
Linden
Tilia cordata
Malvaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
15–20m
Blooms: Jul
Perennial
Coralbells
Heuchera sanguinea
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.3–0.6m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Shrub
Bladdernut
Staphylea fremonti
Staphyleaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
1.5–3m
Blooms: May, Jun
Shrub
Evergreen
Cherry Laurel
Laurocerasus australis
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 6–9
1.5–3m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Evergreen
Codriophorus acicularis
Codriophorus acicularis
Grimmiaceae
Partial Shade
High
Zone 3–9
0.02–0.05m
Shrub
Viburnum
Viburnum hollickii
Viburnaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
1.5–3m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Evergreen
Allantodiopsis erosa
Allantodiopsis erosa
Full Shade
High
Zone 6–9
0.3–0.8m
Perennial
Evergreen
Cyathodium spurium
Cyathodium spurium
Cyathodiaceae
Full Shade
High
Zone 7–10
0.01–0.05m
Perennial
Evergreen
Orthodicranum fulvum
Orthodicranum fulvum
Dicranaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.02–0.05m
Why this theme works
Shade gardens succeed when foliage texture, flower timing, and hardiness are balanced around lower light. These plants help you build structure without fighting the site.
FAQ
What belongs in a shade garden?
Start with plants that match the core site conditions for a shade garden, then layer in foliage, structure, and bloom for a longer season.
How do I plan a shade garden?
Choose the right site conditions first, shortlist plants that fit them, and sketch the mix in Plantory before you buy anything.
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