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Perennial Plants that will Grow in Partial or light shade

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.

Plant Profiles

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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  
Bitter Root Lewisia cotyledon  
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 coronarium  
Caladium Colocasia esculenta Caladium is a frost tender, perennial tuber which is grown for its colorful foliage rather than flowers. The leaves are usually a combination of different shades of red, pink, green, white.
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 Jasmine Gelsemium sempervirens Semi-evergreen, yellow trumpet blooms in spring, quickly climbs to great heights where it forms masses of foliage and bloom
Columbine Aquilegia  
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 12" Easy growing clumps of dainty green foliage, short sprays of soft yellow flowers throughout the Summer
Corydalis scouleri Corydalis scouleri  
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  
Foxgloves Digitalis purpurea  
Fairy Wings    
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 grown from seed or propagated from softwood cuttings
Gloriosa daisy Rudbeckia hirta  
Heart Leaf Bergenia Bergenia cordifolia  
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
Fire Lily Clivia miniata Clivias will bloom better and more consistently when they are pot bound. The seeds MUST be removed from the pods and planted while they are still fresh.
Lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis  
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 naturally in most temperate areas of the world, primarily in lightly shaded areas. Thousands of these 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  
Rodgersia Rodgersia aesculifolia Rodgersias stand up to wet soils and shaded situations. They produce large clusters of light pink or white flower in the Spring or early Summer
Siberian bugloss Brunnera macrophylla Grows 10" tall and 20" wide, with heart shaped leaves and blue "forget-me-not" flowers in late spring. USDA planting zones 3-7
St. John's Wort Hypericum calycinum St. John's Wort is a vigorous grower that is useful for erosion control but it can be invasive.
Solomon's Seal Polygonatum multiflorum The Solomon's Seal is a shade loving, deciduous perennial that produces large, slow spreading clumps of arching, three feet stems lined with pairs of bright green leaves. In late spring, clusters of 2-5 elongated bell shaped, greenish-white flowers will hang beneath each pair of leaves.
Wild Ginger Asarum arifolium Partial to full shade, USDA planting zones 5-9
Violets Viola  
     
     
     
     


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