We grow perennial and annual shade-loving flowers for the garden. Perennial shade-loving flowers and shrubs for the garden Flowering perennials for shady places

On any garden plot, there are places where shadow predominates. Typically, such places are formed near high blind fences, northern walls of a house, bathhouses, and country houses. You can’t plant vegetables and fruit and berry bushes there; they, as a rule, need the sun to grow, but you can easily plant flowers that love shade there! Website website She will be happy to tell you which flowers to plant in the shade to decorate your suburban area.

Flowers growing in the shade, even the deepest

1. Primrose

Wonderful short one perennial primrose and its hybrids thrive in the shade. They can grow at the front edge of the flower bed, in the shade of taller, sun-loving flowers. The height of shade-loving primroses is 10 - 20 cm, of various colors. The most interesting types of primroses to grow are auricular ones. Its flowers are double, with various rims. Primrose is difficult to grow at home from seeds, so most often they propagate by dividing old bushes, or purchase new ones. This flower is one of the first to bloom in the garden and delights with its flowering from April to May.

2. Lungwort

These flowers that love shade are familiar to many from childhood. It is the one that grows in the shade of the forest, and if you taste the bed of the peduncle, it will taste sweet. This is where the name of this color comes from. The leaves of this plant have white spots, the flowers change color from pink to blue. There are varieties with whole green leaves and varied flower colors. Plant height is 30 - 40 cm. It can grow strongly and is classified as a ground cover flower, since the flowers can bush a lot. Lungwort is divided and replanted once every 3 years. Refers to spring flowering plants. Flowering time: April - May.

3. Rogersia

It is similar to ornamental rhubarb and can grow in a shady, moist border. The leaves are palmate on long petioles, the flowers without petals are collected in fluffy panicles. It is a perennial and is propagated by dividing bushes in spring or autumn.

These are tall flowers shadow lovers in the garden, grow up to 1.8 m in height, compact plants up to 1 meter. An excellent plant for decorating country fences and buildings.

Tips for caring for Rogers:

• water abundantly during drought;
• In autumn, cut at the root.

4. Smilatsina

A border perennial with arched stems crowned with racemes of tiny star-shaped flowers. Fragrant flowers are often replaced by red berries. This is a plant for a wooded corner of the garden that is best left undisturbed. And if you are deciding which flowers grow in the shade, and forest-like shade, it is definitely Smilacina, which grows quickly, forming beautiful decorative bushes and creates a soulful landscape design for the site.

Flower height 60 - 90 cm. The most best view for growing in the garden - Smilacina racemosa, forming large bushes. Flowering period from May to June.

Tips for caring for smilacina:

• shading is required;
• in spring the soil needs to be mulched;
• propagated by dividing bushes in spring.

5. Tiarella

Above the wintering leaves, which turn bronze or red in the fall, racemose inflorescences of small fluffy flowers rise in the summer. Grows well under trees.

Perennial. Flowering time depends on the species. Tiarella Verri blooms from June to September and does not spread. Tiarella multifolia blooms in May - June. According to the duration of flowering, these are long-blooming flowers. The height of the plants is average, 30 - 50 cm. These garden flowers blooming in the shade do not tolerate direct sun and lack of moisture.

There is one feature for all flowers in the shade - all shade-loving flowers need to be planted on humus-rich soil.

What flowers grow in shade and partial shade

As practice shows, really very shady places, similar to forest shadow, are few and far between in a summer cottage. All the flowers listed above love just such a dull shadow. Most often, semi-shaded areas form in the garden, and for them we have made an additional selection of which flowers can be planted in the shade.

6. Dicentra

An excellent border perennial and rock garden perennial with a plant height of 30 cm. Wonderful flowers- medallions hang from arched peduncles above the feathery foliage. These shade flowers need a protected place to grow: young leaves suffer from cold winds. These flowers can be planted in the shade of trees. Flowering time is from May to June. Color - pink, pinkish-lilac, red.

Dicentra care advice:

• The roots of the plant do not lie deep, so the soil around the stems is not loosened.

7. Hosta

Hosta is grown for its gorgeous foliage. These are decorative leafy garden flowers in the shade - the pride of any gardener. The foliage has longitudinal stripes of yellowish or white color, bluish-green. Hosta blooms in paniculate inflorescences, with numerous bell-like flowers that bloom in June - August. Grows well in partial shade, under trees. Belongs to border perennials.

Propagated by dividing bushes and nests in the spring. Plant height 50 cm.

Hosta care tip:

• add organic matter before planting;
• the soil where the hosta is planted should be well-drained;
• protect the plant from slugs.

8. Violet

There are different types of violets, which are also called pansies. But, if you are choosing a list for the garden, from the category of which flowers bloom in the shade, then you need a perennial violet. This:

• Fragrant violet Viola odorata - 10 - 15 cm. White or blue color. Fragrant. Flowers with a diameter of 2 cm. Blooms in May.
• Horned violet Viola cornuta - 20 cm. Lilac. Blooming all summer from May to September.
• Labrador violet Viola labradorica - 10 cm. Violet - blue. Blooms in spring and early summer.
• Yellow violet Viola lutea and two-flowered Viola biflora - 10 cm. Yellow. Blooms in May - June.

Perennial violets definitely need shade. Faded inflorescences should be removed regularly. The plant is protected from slugs. During drought, watering is necessary.

9. Phlox

There are perennial and annual phloxes. And both types are the kind of flowers that love light shade. They bloom profusely in the second half of summer. Dwarf perennial phlox species are grown in rock gardens.

Phlox blooms in inflorescences of small bell-shaped flowers, the total size of the inflorescences reaches 10 cm in diameter. Flowers with rounded or pointed petals. More popular modern varieties such as Phlox Drummond 'Tapestry Mixed' are more compact and more vibrantly colored than older varieties. The height of perennial plants is 50 - 80 cm, annual phlox reaches 20 - 50 cm.

Phlox care:

• when planting they add organic fertilizers into the soil;
• in spring, the soil around the bushes is mulched;
• if necessary, tie up the stems;
• water moderately;
• at the end of autumn perennial phlox need to be cut at the root.

10. Astilbe

Feels great in light partial shade on the site. Requires fertile soil. Therefore, before planting astilbe, you need to add organic matter. Spectacular paniculate inflorescences can be left on the bush until autumn. Pinnately dissected leaves often take on a copper tint in spring. During drought, plants need to be watered. There is a drought-resistant species - this is Chinese astilbe.

A fairly tall plant - 90 cm, can grow in the background or middle ground of a flower bed. Used as a border perennial and rock garden perennial. These flowers need to be planted in the shade.

11. Snowdrop

Bulbous primrose. Small graceful flowers are the harbingers of spring. Blooms in early spring, one of the first in the garden, in April - May.

The snowdrop is similar to the whiteflower, but it has three inner "petals" with green tips, while the outer three are pure white. A low-growing flower, about 15 - 20 cm in height. Loves humus-rich soil and light shade. These lovely flowers need to be planted in the shade.

12. Strawberries

A shade-loving groundcover plant grown for its flowers and berries. The characteristic trifoliate leaves can decorate a shady garden and create an atmospheric corner.

Strawberries grow quickly and can choke out weaker plants. It blooms in May - June, at the end of June - July the delicious and fragrant berries ripen. Suitable for creating a herb garden. Plant height 10 cm - 20 cm.

13. Catchment

Traditional columbines have white or blue flowers with short spurs. Nowadays varieties with long spurs, double varieties, and also dwarf ones for rock gardens have been bred.

These are flowers that love shade and bloom in the shade in the first half of summer, from May to June. For long-term flowering, you need to remove faded flowers and water abundantly during drought. They grow well in constantly moist and shady places.

They reproduce by seeds, which can be sown directly into open ground in the spring or by dividing overgrown perennial bushes.

14. Daylily

Blooming in light shade, these flowers appear in midsummer, above rosettes of strap-shaped leaves on long stalks. Each flower lives only 1 day, but the flowering communication of the plant continues for many weeks.

An unpretentious, easy to grow plant. Requires watering during drought, can grow along the banks of reservoirs and along the house. Plant height is 90 cm. Flower color is yellow, orange, dark red. Perennial, which reproduces by dividing bushes.

15. Begonia everblooming and begonia species with tubers

Begonia is an ever-blooming plant, usually grown as an annual that grows well in partial shade. The color of the round, fleshy leaves varies from pale green to chocolate brown. The size of flowers can vary from 2 to 15 cm. Color from white to almost black. When planting begonias, add compost to the beds. Planted at the end of June (not in May!) Begonia blooms, which loves shade from June to September.

16. Ivy

Almost everyone summer cottage Climbing plants for the north side of the house would not be a problem. It is here that a deep shadow forms, little grows, and despite this, I really want to green up this particular part of the lot. There are not many climbing plants that can be planted on the north side of the house and they will do well there. This is exactly what the unpretentious evergreen vine, ivy, belongs to. Ivy does not harm trees or buildings and can grow wildly.

It is quite difficult to arrange shady areas of the garden because there are few plants that like such conditions. If it's in the shade of a large tree, the soil in that area is usually quite barren and too wet. The arrangement of such an inhospitable place should be carefully considered. The most reliable plants for shady corners or ledges located on the north side are ivy, ferns and periwinkles, which will certainly grow even in very poorly lit areas. When we have more ambition, we can try growing other shade-loving plants for the garden, preferably low-maintenance perennials.

There are many species that grow in the sun, but there is no such choice in the shade. Many plants tolerate partial shade (become less colored or bloom less profusely), but there are shaded areas in the garden with a small amount sunlight. In such conditions there are, for example, plants growing near the northern wall of buildings or under the crowns of trees and shrubs.

Ferns

Ferns can grow in the shade and need moderately moist soil.

The most popular ferns in gardens are:

Sod plants

Below are ground cover perennials with photos that will sod the soil and tolerate shade.

Ivy, European hoofweed, periwinkle

These plants have very low light requirements. Ivy, european clefthoof and common periwinkle grow best in fertile, moist soil, but also tolerate worse conditions. These plants will certainly tolerate even very shaded areas.

Creeping tenacious

This perennial grows in clumps, creates creeping shoots underground, can be grown in shaded areas, and protects the soil from landslides. The plant blooms with blue flowers collected in an inflorescence of spikes. Tenacious blooms from May to August, garden varieties often have brown-red leaves.

Fragrant bedstraw

These shade-loving flowers bloom from April to June, with small flowers in clusters. The plant emits an odor similar to hay.

Pachysandra apex

Japanese milk (pachysandra) – evergreen. It blooms in May and has rather inconspicuous flowers. These shade-tolerant garden plants can be grown in the shade of trees, creating a beautiful green carpet of soil.

Spleen

The plant includes shade-loving annuals or perennials of the Saxifraga family. The name of the plant comes from its use in diseases of the spleen. The perennial spleen loves moist soil and has evergreen, leathery leaves. The plant blooms in May with small star-shaped flowers, white, red in the middle, collected in loose panicles.

Saxifraga shadow

Small perennial plants often form an extensive, non-flowering turf. Saxifraga is a widespread plant throughout the northern hemisphere. Pink flowers collected in a dense inflorescence. Saxifragas like a semi-shaded and moist position with fertile soil. The plant looks very decorative in masses, in large spaces.

Herbs that tolerate shade well

Some herbs grow well in the shade. Let's consider which shade-tolerant plants are the most popular from the herbaceous group.

Ozhika snowy, forest

Ozhika snow and forest - widely known shade-loving perennials. You can plant zhika under trees and shrubs, but it cannot always be in deep shade.

Forest ozhika is an evergreen plant with leaves with long hair.

fescue

Gray fescue, marsh fescue, and low sedge are evergreen or semi-evergreen shade-tolerant perennials from the grass family.

Low shade-loving perennials

Fragrant violet

These are excellent shade-loving flowers for the garden with small blue-violet flowers and an exceptionally pleasant scent. Violet blooms from March to May, grows easily, and spreads quite quickly. It is important to take into account its ability to quickly spread throughout the garden before the violet takes over unplanned areas.

Lungwort

Red lungwort blooms in March-May, the flowers are brick-red, the plant has a height of 30-40 cm, can grow under trees and shrubs.

Sugar lungwort is a plant for semi-shady and shady places. Loves moist and fertile soil. It has decorative, dark green leaves, decorated with contrasting white and silver spots. The flowers are initially coral-red in color and become pink, blue or purple when they open. Blooms from March to April. The plant forms dense, dense bushes that cover the ground.

Noble liverwort

The herbaceous evergreen liverwort creates low carpets; the leaves, in good conditions, remain throughout the winter - green at the top and yellowish underneath. It can be used as a green carpet under tall trees.

Lily of the valley

These flowers reproduce by rhizomes and love shaded places. However, in strong shade they bloom less, but the leaves develop well. Lilies of the valley require a position at least half a day out of sun. Small bell-shaped flowers with a characteristic aroma.

Garden hellebore

This amazing flower is the first to bloom in our gardens. In mild winters, flowers may appear even in December. Hellebore should grow in shady positions: in damp and secluded places.

Doronicum eastern

The plant blooms in May with golden yellow flowers. Feels good in loose, wet conditions garden soil, prefers semi-shaded positions, not heavily shaded.

Primrose fine-toothed

These are shade-loving garden flowers; strong sun damages the plant. Primrose grows best in light partial shade. The soil should be fertile, loamy, constantly moist (in summer it should not dry out). The soil reaction is neutral.

Tall perennials

Below are tall garden plants that can grow in partial shade.

Japanese hosta

Funkia or hosta grows best in fertile, slightly wet ground in partial shade, although tolerates a sunny position. The main decoration of the plant is large, interestingly colored leaves.

Volzhanka vulgare

A perennial plant that forms large thickets up to 2 m high. The inflorescence is paniculate, blooms in June-July. Volzhanka - extremely shade-loving herbaceous plant. The perennial is easy to grow, grows in almost any soil, and can grow in one place for many years. Frost-resistant, not susceptible to diseases and pests.

Voronets racemosus

The plant of the ranunculaceae family is also called black cohosh. Grows best in shaded or partially shaded areas and blooms in August-September. Small flowers, collected in a thick cluster, resemble a candle, and have a strong scent. Voronets inflorescences reach a height of 60 cm.

Buzulnik toothed

Grows well in shady, damp places. In bright sun it may dry out. Buzulnik has baskets of yellowish flowers and blooms in August-September. Large leaves are also decorative.

Japanese anemone

Anemone loves partial shade and sandy loamy, moist soils. Grows up to 90 cm. Blooms in late summer, usually with pink flowers.

Zarzhitsa

Cortuza Mattioli or zarzhitsa is a medium-tall perennial, rarely found in our gardens, with decorative purple-violet leaves and bell-shaped flowers. It blooms from May to July, the soil should be fertile, moist, and the position should be semi-shaded.

Lady's slipper

The lady's slipper or lady's slipper belongs to the orchid family and is rarely found in gardens. Loves shaded places and thickets, blooms in May, has a pleasant scent of vanilla and lemon.

Waller's touch-me-not

Impatiens valerian is a herbaceous perennial native to Africa. In our climate it is often grown as an annual. Prefers to grow in the shade, blooms profusely in a wide range of colors, the flowers are very decorative. Has a long flowering period.

Astilbe

The perennial is known as false spirea. A light trail of inflorescences will enliven the dark parts of the garden. Astilbe needs to be provided with appropriate conditions - fertile and moist soil. Astilbes are often planted on the banks of ponds and reservoirs.

Daylilies

Shade-tolerant garden flowers with lily-like blooms, hardy and easy to grow. The perennial tolerates partial shade well. There are many interesting varieties daylilies with original flowers, some look like sprinkled with gold brocade, others have velvet petals, others resemble exotic butterflies.

Bulbous and tuberous plants for semi-shady positions

Snowdrops

These are low plants with white drooping flowers, blooming in March, and do not mind shade. Snowdrops are one of the first spring flowers to decorate the garden. They are frost tolerant.

Dodecatheon vulgaris

A tuberous plant, quite rare in our gardens, blooms spectacularly and is frost-resistant. Dodecatheon can grow in partial shade and should be planted in the company of other perennials because it wilts after flowering.

Corydalis

Belongs to the Dymyankovye subfamily. A low or medium-sized herbaceous plant that grows in temperate regions. It blooms in May with flowers of pink, blue, purple, and white.

Checkered hazel grouse

An herbaceous perennial with drooping flowers with a characteristic pockmarked pattern on the petals. It can be grown in dark and damp areas of rockeries, spring flower beds, planted under bushes or on lawns in the garden.

Perennial shade-tolerant shrubs

Common wolfberry

This shrub should grow in the shade. Wolfberry (wolfberry, plohovets), blooms early and abundantly with pink or white flowers. In June-July, the wolfberry bears fruit.

Fruit wolfberry very poisonous. It’s not for nothing that another name for wolfberry is deadly wolfberry. The plant should not be planted in gardens where children walk.

Hydrangea

The beautifully flowering hydrangea shrub can grow in shady areas, although it blooms less in such conditions. Hydrangea paniculata grows best in the shade.

Rhododendrons

These shade-loving shrubs prefer partial shade and even shade, secluded and sheltered positions from the wind. They bloom beautifully in May and early June. Rhododendrons need loose sand-humus and acidic soil with moderate humidity.

Holly holly

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) – ornamental shrub family Holly. Can grow in the shade, in the company of tall trees. Best places for holly - secluded, protected from the wind, with not too large temperature fluctuations. Bright midday sun can “burn” holly leaves. Holly is decorated with spherical fruits that contrast beautifully with dark green foliage. They remain on the bushes all winter, but the plant is sensitive to severe frosts.

Fuchsia

Perennial native to America. In our climate it is grown as an annual, as it is afraid of frost. Fuchsias can be planted in the ground in the summer in a shady or semi-shaded place - this shrub does not like strong sun. It is important to ensure sufficient soil moisture and regular fertilization. Fuchsia blooms throughout the summer and autumn. In winter, it should be moved to a cool room.

Trees

The following trees also tolerate shade well.

European beech

The tree grows well in fertile and slightly moist soil. Beech can grow in the shade.

Common ash

Ash grows quite quickly and is resistant to air pollution. Can grow in average soil (although prefers fertile soil). The tree can be planted in partial shade.

Mountain ash

Rowan is a small, resilient tree or shrub that grows on any soil and tolerates shade. From summer to winter, rowan is decorated with decorative orange-red fruits.

Elm

European and mountain elms require moist, fertile soil. They are frost tolerant and can grow in the shade, but can develop Dutch elm disease.

Canadian hemlock

Hemlock (tsuga canadensis) – conifer tree or shrub that prefers damp places, fertile soils. Dwarf varieties Suitable for small gardens, they can be planted in shady beds and rockeries.

Plants that can be grown under trees

The following plants can be grown under tall trees that provide a lot of shade:

• liverwort;
• snowdrops;
• lily of the valley;
• periwinkle;
• tenacious;
• touch-me-not;
• forget-me-nots;
• violets.

Plants for wet, coastal areas

Suitable for planting on shady banks of reservoirs and in damp places:

• astilbe;
• buzulnik;
• hellebore;
• marsh marigold;
• Japanese iris, Siberian iris, yellow iris;
• loosestrife;
• European swimsuit;
• point loosestrife;
• Anderson's Tradescantia, Virginian;
• ivy.

Fruit trees, shrubs, vegetables

It is quite difficult to grow in shaded areas fruit crops, because it's not enough shade-loving plants for dachas, vegetable gardens, orchards that like such conditions. If a large tree provides shade, the soil in that area is usually quite barren and too wet. The choice of crop plants for shady areas is smaller than for ornamental ones, but even in poorly lit areas you can try growing some fruits, vegetables or herbs. You need to choose plants that will at least tolerate partial shade.

Berry bushes, nuts

Most big choice shade-tolerant agricultural plants among shrubs because they are or were part of the forest floor.

Currant

This shrub is unpretentious, but it is worth feeding the soil with plenty of compost. Currants can grow in partial shade and are frost-resistant. There is a choice:

1. white currants (the sweetest, children like them);
2. red (more sour);
3. black - not very tasty when fresh, but excellent for canning, contains a lot of vitamin C.

The best date for planting currants is late autumn. Currant bushes grow best on humus, medium-heavy, sandy and loamy soil with sufficient moisture.

Gooseberry, yoshta

Gooseberries grow well in partial shade. It needs to be provided with slightly better soil than currants: fertile, fairly moist, with a slightly acidic reaction. Gooseberries have fruits with green, yellow or reddish skin, often covered with glandular hairs. Some varieties have smooth and shiny skin.

Yoshta is a hybrid of black currant and gooseberry. Grows well in partial shade. Yoshta and gooseberries can be planted, for example, under cherry trees.

Blueberry

This berry bush can grow in shady places. A plant with very low soil needs, it is suitable for light (sandy), acidic, humus, moist and airy soils. It is worth planting blueberries in groups because they need another bush for pollination. Blueberry fruits contain micro- and macroelements - calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A, group B.

Hazel (hazelnut)

Hazelnut is resistant to low temperatures and does not require special soil and climatic conditions. Peat and too wet soils are not recommended. He likes sun or partial shade. Hazel can grow in the shade, but produces fewer nuts. Unfortunately, the plant is often attacked by pests.

Raspberries

Raspberries can grow in sun or partial shade, are resistant to frost and drought, and do not place high demands on the soil.

Blackberry

The shrub grows in dry, light and sandy soil - the fruits are tasty, but the plant grows strongly, its growth needs to be controlled.

Chokeberry

Plant with low soil requirements. Grows well in a variety of soils. Withstands low temperatures down to -35 °C. Prefers positions from full sun to partial shade, the plant is resistant to pests.

Dogwood

Garden dogwood is an unpretentious shrub, grows well in sun and partial shade, tolerates calcareous soils, dry and polluted air. In full shade it bears little fruit and has a loose crown shape. The fruits are edible raw. Dogwood is used to make marmalade, preserves, jam, tinctures, and compotes.

Fruit trees

Most fruit trees need sun. You can plant an apple tree in partial shade. Typically, variety descriptions indicate that apple trees love sun, but they can also grow and produce in areas with less direct sunlight. Cherry and sweet cherry trees can grow and bear fruit in partial shade.

Vegetables and herbs

Choice of shade-tolerant vegetable crops very limited. You can plant:

1. Parsley - can grow in light, sandy, dry soil.
2. Red beets are best sown in light, moist soil.
3. Medical sage can grow in partial shade, on light, sandy, dry soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction.
4. Kale (Kale) is a biennial plant belonging to the cabbage family that prefers cold climates. Cabbage tolerates almost all soil types as long as adequate drainage is provided. The plant does not like drought and tolerates shade. Not affected by pests and diseases. After freezing, cabbage leaves become more tender and have a better taste, contain more sugar, and lose their characteristic bitterness, so they should be harvested after the first frost. Kale grows best in the cooler months of November and December.
5. Peppermint - likes rather heavy, relatively moist soils.

What do you need to remember when planting plants in the shade?

• many shade-loving garden plants have dark green (sometimes shiny) leaves;
• in such places you should avoid planting perennials with two-colored or multi-colored leaves (they will be unattractive and more difficult to grow);
• You should not plant plants that produce large flowers, with the exception of rhododendron and hydrangea;
• Care must be taken to ensure sufficient distances between plants (too high density can cause fungal diseases, increased activity mosquitoes);
• to illuminate shady corners, perennials should be planted with light colors leaves or flowers;
• from deciduous shrubs Azaleas with cream or pink flowers, hydrangeas with beautiful white flowers, boxwood, cotoneaster, dogwood, ligustrum, periwinkle look great;
• To make the composition of the flower beds interesting and varied, it is worth planting coniferous plants for the garden that prefer shady places, for example, yew.

Conclusion

Garden owners often struggle with the problem of using shady areas. As a rule, growing trees and shrubs does not represent big problem, the situation with low plants, such as perennials, is worse. Many species growing in such areas die or become less decorative. When chosen correctly, shady areas in the garden can be colorful and decorative.