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.
184119 plants found
Featured plants
24
Tree
Damson Plum
Prunus domestica subsp. insititia
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
3–5m
Blooms: Mar, Apr
Shrub
Hortensia
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangeaceae
Partial Shade
High
Zone 5–9
1–2m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Perennial
Coralbells
Heuchera sanguinea
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.3–0.6m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Tree
Linden
Tilia cordata
Malvaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
15–20m
Blooms: Jul
Tree
Mazzard cherry
Prunus avium
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
10–15m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Evergreen
Common spruce
Picea abies
Pinaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
15–30m
Tree
European bird cherry
Prunus padus
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
5–10m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Common snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
Amaryllidaceae
Full Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.1–0.2m
Blooms: Feb, Mar
Shrub
Orange-eye
Buddleja davidii
Scrophulariaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
1–3m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Shrub
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Oleaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
1.5–3m
Blooms: May, Jun
Perennial
Common garden peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Paeoniaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.7–1m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Crampbark
Viburnum opulus
Viburnaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
2–4m
Blooms: May, Jun
Tree
Red maple
Acer rubrum
Sapindaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
12–20m
Blooms: Mar, Apr
Shrub
Garden currant
Ribes rubrum
Grossulariaceae
Full Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
1–2m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Wild plum
Prunus domestica
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
4–8m
Blooms: Mar, Apr
Perennial
Evergreen
Sword-leaf Water Fern
Blechnum xiphophyllum
Aspleniaceae
Full Shade
High
Zone 5–8
0.3–0.6m
Perennial
Evergreen
Asarabacca
Asarum europaeum
Aristolochiaceae
Full Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.15–0.25m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Hosta pulchella
Hosta pulchella
Asparagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
0.2–0.4m
Blooms: Jul, Aug, Sep
Perennial
Great forget-me-not
Brunnera macrophylla
Boraginaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.3–0.5m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Thunberg's astilbe
Astilbe thunbergii
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.5–1m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Grass
Evergreen
Carex
Carex japonica
Cyperaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.3–0.6m
Perennial
August-lily
Hosta plantaginea
Asparagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
0.4–0.9m
Blooms: Jul, Aug, Sep
Perennial
Rock hosta
Hosta longipes
Asparagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
0.3–0.6m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Perennial
Giant herb-robert
Geranium maderense
Geraniaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
0.4–0.6m
Blooms: Apr, May, Jun
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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