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Wild Willy

Perennial plants that grow well in partial shade
or lightly shaded areas of the garden

Most garden stores and nurseries will carry a limited stock of only
the most popular shade garden plants
(Hostas, Ferns, Helleborus, etc...).
If you want to find the really unique and special shade plants, you will need to find a local nursery that specializes in shade plants and will be able to help you choose suitable shade plants for your area.

Plants and Flowers to Grow in the Shady part of your Garden

Algerian Ivy Hedera canariensis Zones 4-7, full sun to deep shade, 6-8 inch variegated leaves
Anemone Anemonella thalictroides Anemone grow to about 9 inches tall from tuberous roots. Anemone blooms with the first wave of wildflowers in spring.
Beard Tongue Penstemon Barbatus Tubular flowers in red, pink, purple, or white will be sure to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Bitter Root Lewisia cotyledon Lewisias are easily hybridized, and propagated by seed which may be sown in Spring or Fall. Most Lewisias are hardy to USDA zone 5.
Black Mondo Grass Ophiopogon planiscapus Black Mondo Grass is low-growing with narrow black foliage. Small violet-pink blooms in late Spring, shiny black berries
Bugleweed Ajuga reptens Ajuga grows well in full shade to full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions as long as soil is well drained.
Bunchberry Cornus canadensis A low growing (4-6") , shade loving, ground covering, forest dwelling, perennial wildflower
Butterfly lily Hedychium coccineum Hedychium is only hardy in USDA zones 9-11, so unfortunately it is only suited for growing in warmer climates
Caladium Colocasia esculenta Caladiums are frost tender. They are grown for their colorful (shades of red, pink, green, white) foliage.
Campanula Campanula Campanulas prefer full sun and rich, well drained soil. They should be kept well watered, especially when in bloom.
Calendula Calendula officinalis Calendula is a bright and cheery plant that blooms all summer from June until frost.
Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens Semi-evergreen, yellow trumpet blooms in spring, quickly climbs to great heights where it forms masses of foliage and bloom
Columbine Aquilegia Columbines are a favorite flower for hummingbirds, and are excellent additions to rock gardens or in a native woodland planting
Coral Bells Heuchera sanguinea Glossy, 3 inch, deeply lobed green to purple leaves; clusters of scarlet flowers on a stout 15" red stems in early-mid Spring
Cornflower Centauria montana An easy to grow, upright perennial which forms large clumps, typically reaching three feet tall.
Corydalis lutea Corydalis lutea Easy growing clumps of dainty green foliage, short sprays of soft yellow flowers throughout the Summer
Corydalis sempervivens Corydalis sempervivens Pink Corydalis prefers moist, shaded areas but is occasionally found growing on a rocky hillside.
Cyclamen Cyclamen persicum The most important criteria for success with growing a Cyclamen are cool temperatures, fresh air, and ample moisture.
Deer Fern Blechnum spicant Deer Ferns resemble miniature Sword ferns but smaller with rounded fronds. They are drought tolerate but do best if kept damp
Dragon Lily Dracunculus vulgaris Dracunculus vulgaris is known by many names, Dragon Lily, Voodoo Lily, Viagra Lily and the "tell it like it is" name of Stink Lily.
English Ivy Hedera helix Fast growing, hardy evergreen vine for shade or partial sun, good for screening
False Solomon's Seal Smilacina racemosa False Solomon's Seal should be grown in well drained but moist, slightly acidic soil
False Spirea Astilbe chinensis The fern like foliage and the showy plume flowers of False Spirea make them a favorite summer flowering perennial.
Forget-me-not Myosotis palustris Dense mat of small green leaves covered with tiny blue flowers. Full sun to shade. Zone 3-9.
Foxgloves Digitalis purpurea Foxgloves prefer moist, well draining, fertile soil but can survive drought and almost any growing conditions.
Fairy Wings Epimedium Fairy Wings (Bishops Cap) will survive in one of the most difficult situations in the garden; the dry shade beneath a tree.
Forget-me-not Myosotis palustris Dense mat of small green leaves covered with tiny blue flowers. Full sun to shade. Zone 3-9.
Fuchsia Fuchsia Fuchsia care is often determined by where you live and your climate. Fuchsias can be seed grown or struck from softwood cuttings
Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta This bright yellow,daisy-like flower grows to a height of 24-36 inches and is excellent to use in cut flower arrangements
Heart Leaf Bergenia Bergenia cordifolia Bergenia's clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers are produced atop twelve inch burgundy stems in the early spring.
Heavenly Bamboo Nandina domestica Nandina may be grown in partial shade, but the foliage colors will be much more intense if it is grown in full sun
Kafir Lily Clivia miniata Clivias will not tolerate temperatures much below 50° F., so they are most commonly grown as house plants.
Meadow Rue Thalictrum minus Adiantifolium Ferny foliage is good for cutting, Butterfly Plant, Deer Resistant
Pacific Maidenhair Fern Adiantum pedatum The hardy Pacific Maidenhair Fern can add a bit of graceful elegance to any shaded area
Moss Many varieties Mosses grow primarily in lightly shaded areas. Thousands of tiny Moss plants will bunch together to make a single patch of moss.
Plantain lily Hosta Decorative, large clumps of lush foliage and spikes of lily shaped flowers later in summer. Hardy in zones 3-9
Pinesap Hypopitys monotropa Pinesaps are foliageless forest wildflowers, native to the Northwest.
Pitcher Plants Sarracenia These prehistoric looking plants are characterized by leaves that curve into tubular funnels which catch and digest insects.
Primrose Primula Primroses provide you with early spring blooms in almost every color of the rainbow.
Rodgersia Rodgersia aesculifolia Rodgersias stand up to wet soils and shaded situations. They produce large clusters of light pink or white flowers in the Spring
Siberian bugloss Brunnera macrophylla Grows 15" - 24" tall, with heart shaped leaves and tiny violet "forget-me-not" flowers in late spring. Planting zones 3-7
St. Johnswort Hypericum calycinum St. Johnswort is a vigorous grower that is useful for erosion control but it can be invasive.
Solomon's Seal Polygonatum multiflorum Solomon's Seal requires a rich, humus soil acid soil (pH 5.0 to 7.0). They need constantly moist soil.
Wild Ginger Asarum arifolium Partial to full shade, USDA planting zones 5-9
Violets Viola pedata Violets can be directly sown into the garden at anytime from spring through fall.