Plants that Thrive in Shade

One of the secrets of a successful garden is choosing the right plant for the location.

Determining the area’s sun and wind exposure, and soil type are key in selecting plants.

Most plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight to thrive. But there are varieties that will do well with less.

We’ve put together our list of favorite options:

*Denotes Midwest native woodland plant

Perennials that will Tolerate Part-shade to Shade

• Aconitum*
• Alchemilla
• Anemone*
• Aquilgia
• Arabis
• Arctostaphylis
• Aruncus*
• Astrantia
• Aster Alpinus
• Astilbe
• Bergenia
• Campanula (many species)
• Carex
• Celadine Poppy
• Chasmentium
• Chrysogonum
• Cimicifuga/Actea*
• Climbing hydrangea
• Corydalis
• Delphinium
• Dicentra
• Digitalis
• Discampia
• Filipendula
• Geranium
• Helleborus*
• Hemorocallis
• Heuchera
• Hosta
• Liriope
• Lilium
• Lobelia
• Lysimachia punctata
• Mysotis sylvatica
• Phlox divaricata*
• Phlox stolonifera*
• Podophyllum peltatum*
• Polemonium
• Primula
• Prunella
• Thalictrum*
• Tiarella*
• Tricyrtis
• Trollius
• Viola cornuta

Annuals for Shade

• Begonia (Wax)
• Begonia (Tuberous)
• Browallia
• Caladium
• Cally lily
• Clarkia (Godettias) — part shade
• Coleus hybrids
• Fuchsia
• Impatiens
• Lisianthus
• Lobelia
• Mimulos
• Nicotiana
• Nierembergia — part shade
• Torenia

Shade – with Moisture

• Chelone
• Primula Vulgaris
• Rodgersia
• Myosotis

Shade – Tolerates Dry

• Aquilegea
• Trillium
• Convallaria Majalis
• Solomon’s Seal
• Celandine Puppy
• Uvularia Grandeflera

Grasses

• Molinia Caerulea
• Chasmantium Latefolium
• Hachanechloa Macro
• Carex (many varieties)

Shade Tolerant Perennials

• Acanthus
• Arum*
• Arisaema Triphyllum*
• Asarum*
• Astilbe
• Brunnera
• Chrysogonum
• Cimicifuga racemosa/actea*
• Convallaria*
• Corydalis
• Dicentra
• Epimedium*
• Fern
• Helleborus*
• Hosta
• Gaultheria
• Gallium
• Ligularia
• Liriope
• Lobelia
• Mertensia virginica*
• Polygonatum
• Primula
• Pulmonaria
• Thalictrum*
• Tiarella*
• Trillium*
• Tradescantia
• Tricyrtis
• Viola odorata

Perennial Ground Covers for Shade

• Aegopodium
• Ajuga
• Asarum
• Convallaria
• Galium odoratum
• Hedera sp
• Houttuynia
• Lamiastrum
• Lamium
• Lysimachia Nummularia
• Pachysandra
• Persicaria
• Sagina
• Vinca Minor

Shrubs

• Azalea
• Buxus
• Claycnthus
• Clethra
• Deciduous Azalea
• Euonymus fortunei
• Hydrangea
• Ilex
• Itea
• Kerria japonic
• Kerria
• Kalmialatifolia
• Mahonia
• Microbiota
• Pieris japonica
• Rhododendron
• Tsuga canadensis
• Taxus

Trees

• Dogwood
• Flowering Almond
• Japanese Maples
• Sweetbay Magnolia

Needs Organic Matter

• Bergenia Cardifolia
• Phlox Divaricata
• Jacobs Ladder
• Creeping Anemone
• Ajuga Reptans
• Dornicum — Leopardis Bane
• Iris Cristata