If you have shady spots in your backyard or front yard that you want to fill, the shade-loving perennials on this list are an excellent choice. Their rich foliage and generous blooms bring beauty and vitality to bare spots.
They can thrive on less sunlight than their full-sun perennial counterparts.
This list contains classic favorites, like hostas and hydrangeas, but you’ll find more unique options, too.
Given the many benefits of perennials, I think you’ll find them a good garden investment.
Why Choose Shade-Loving Plants?
Shady areas offer a unique opportunity to create cool, tranquil garden spaces. These areas are perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature without harsh sunlight.
Choosing the right shade-loving plants ensures your garden thrives, even in areas with limited light. Factors like hardiness zones, water needs, and bloom times can help you select the best plants for your garden.
Now that you’re ready to get inspired by the many perennials below, take some time to consider your plant hardiness zone and what’s native to your area before making your plant purchases.
Remember that your local garden center is one of the best places for plant advice, so visit them and seek their advice when making garden design decisions!
List of Beautiful Shade Perennials that Thrive in Shady Spots
- Hosta

This may be one of the most famous shade perennials and for good reason. This lovely, large-leaf plant thrives in partial to full shade and it does a brilliant job at covering up bare spaces.
- it’s low-maintenance
- it’s versatile: use it in garden borders, as ground clover, in containers, and in any sheltered area of your yard that needs to be filled
- it complements delicate and colorful flowers with its rich green foliage
Hostas are susceptible to snails and slugs, though. They love to feed on its leaves! It can be a nuisance, so you must be diligent and apply a natural insecticide.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight conditions: Best in part to full shade
Soil: Well-drained with medium moisture
2. Astilbes
The astilbe flower is another popular choice for shade gardens.
The plant is beloved for its tall, fern-like, feathery flower clusters that grow upright and pop bright colors.

Astilbe flower is a great shade perennial because:
- it makes for a striking show
- it blooms before other summer perennials
- it’s easy to care for
- it’s rabbit and deer-tolerant
- it grows well next to hostas and ferns in a garden border
- it adds height and interest to the garden
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Sunlight conditions: Best in full shade. Can burn in direct sunlight
Soil: Rich and well-drained with medium moisture
Water: Water regularly but avoid water-logged soil. Make sure soil never dries out completely during hotter months.
To learn more about this lovely shade perennial, visit my post on How to Care for Astilbes.
3. 3. Old Fashion Bleeding Heart

The old-fashioned bleeding heart is one of the prettiest flowers in existence. It loves to grow in shade gardens!
Reasons to love Old Fashion Bleeding Heart Plant:
-it’s low maintenance once established
-it can come back for years
-its unique, heart-shaped flowers that drop downward add intrigue to the garden
-it’s also beautiful in potted arrangements
-it pairs well with hostas and ferns
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Bloom time: late spring
Sunlight conditions: Best in full shade. Can burn in direct sunlight
Soil: Fertile and well-drained
Water: Water regularly, but avoid water-logged soil.
4. Anenome

There’s nothing like watching a beautiful fall garden grow as the weather changes to cooler temperatures.
The Japanese Anenome is a perfect shade perennial because:
-it comes in a variety of colors so it adds life to a fall garden
-it pairs beautifully with other shade plants like ferns, hostas, and Fireworks Goldenrod
-it spreads quickly in moist and fertile soil
-its deer-tolerant
-can tolerate part-sun
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Bloom time: August and September
Sunlight conditions: Part to full shade. Can tolerate partial sun
Soil: Fertile and well-drained
Water: Water regularly, but avoid water-logged soil.
5. Huerchea (Coral Bells)

If you’ve never grown this large-leafed beauty, make this the year you do! Coral bells are shade garden stunners and look great in container arrangements, too.
Their unique shades of dark purple or lime green make them impossible to miss in the garden. They also produce small flowers that bring pollinators to the garden – a major plus!
If you’re looking to bring abundant foliage to your yard, Coral Bells are an ideal choice.
- Hardiness Zone: 4–9
- Water Needs: Moderate; prefers well-drained soil.
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
6. Ferns
There’s a never-ending variety of ferns, so choose a variety that appeals to you and also thrives in your zone.

Ferns are just like hostas in that they can be the building block of a shade garden and offer tons of interest and cover large areas.
Here are a few other qualities that make ferns perfect for shade:
-their unique leaves can liven up sparse areas of your yard. Plant a few of them along a border for a beautiful walkway!
-they add a ton of texture and interest to plain landscapes
-they can thrive in full shade
-propagate them and use them as indoor plants!
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Bloom time: August and September
Sunlight conditions: Part to full shade
Soil: Rich, acidic, and well-drained
Water: Moist but keep good drainage
7. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas might be the most beloved shade perennial of all time!
That might be a slight exaggeration, but hydrangeas, with their large clusters of beautiful flowers, can bring life and romance to front yards.
Think French-country cottage style, with hydrangea shrubs bordering the entire front of the house. Gorgeous!
Hydrangeas have a long list of characteristics that make them the perfect shade perennial:
-they’re a low-maintenance perennial that isn’t too fussy
-their color can be changed to pink or blue by adjusting the acidity of the soil
-their large green leaves are stunning, too
-their sticky pollen makes them great for allergy-prone gardeners
-they can thrive in many different types of soil
-they attract pollinators
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Bloom time: depending on zone and variety, can bloom late spring to fall
Sunlight conditions: Part to full shade, depending on variety and zone
Soil: Well-draining soil
Water: Moist with excellent drainage
There are many types of hydrangea shrubs, so do your research before choosing the ones best suited for your garden.
To learn more about growing this plant, head to my post about how to grow hydrangeas.
8. Lily of the Valley
A quick glance at a photo of a lily of the valley flower makes it clear why it’s such a beautiful flower. It’s truly stunning.

It can be quite invasive and it spreads easily, which is a common complaint among gardeners. Make sure you are okay with this plant’s growth habits before planting it. Some people say that it can be difficult to get rid of once established..
Lily of the Valley is a good shade perennial because:
-it’s so beautiful and can work well in container arrangements
-it’s fragrant
-it’s deer and rabbit-tolerant
-its white arching flower petals and green foliage make it a showy choice
-can tolerate most soils
-is very resilient
-well suited to woodland gardens
-it symbolizes joy, luck, and purity
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Sunlight conditions: Part to full shade
Water: Consistently moist soil with good drainage
(If you’re looking to grow a fragrant garden, don’t miss this post!)
9. Periwinkle

Periwinkle is a classic garden flower that every gardener should consider growing, as long as it is suitable for their hardiness zone.
They’re a simple yet perfectly lovely flower that would work well in shade containers.
Here are some positive characteristics of the periwinkle plant:
-they spread quickly, which makes them perfect as ground covers
-they’re low-growing, making them ideal as fillers in containers
-their leaves are evergreen
-can be used as a trailing groundcover plant
-can be found in shades of white, blue, purple, and pink
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Bloom time: late spring to frost
Sunlight conditions: Part to full shade. Can tolerate full sun
Soil: Prefer humusy soil that’s well-drained but it can tolerate different soils
Water: Consistently moist soil with good drainage.
10. Jacob’s Ladder

If you’re looking for a long-blooming and showy shade perennial, Jacob’s Ladder is an excellent choice!
A few things about Jacob’s Ladder:
– it brings shades of blue and purple to the garden
-it self-seeds
-it’s deer-tolerant
-it’s an early bloomer, bringing life to the garden in early spring
-its beautiful foliage stays green all summer, even after flowers are done blooming
-it attracts pollinators
Hardiness zones: 3-7
Bloom time: late spring for several weeks
Sunlight conditions: Part shade but can tolerate full sun
Water: Medium moisture
11. Japenese Forest Grass

Shady areas of a yard can usually use some type of bushy foliage. If you need foliage with lots of texture, look no further than Japanese Forest Grass.
This is an especially great choice if you like adding interesting textures and leaves to your garden.
Pair it with your hostas or ferns for a stark but fitting contrast.
This shade perennial does well in zones 5 to 9 and blooms in mid-to-late Summer.
The color is more of a light green with yellow tones than a true or dark green, which actually makes it perfect for adding a layering effect to your garden.
Consider including this shade perennial to your garden plans when you do a full landscape design for your home!
12. Dwarf Crested Iris

If you’re looking for a shade perennial with lilac-blue flower blooms, plant a few Dwarf Crested Irises!
It’s a unique flower that adds an interesting flair to plain gardens.
A few things about Dwarf Crested Iris:
-its easy to grow
-its foliage makes a pretty ground cover, even after flowers are done blooming
-it’s low-growing
-it’s deer-resistant
-it makes a beautiful addition to garden borders
-it’s great in rock gardens and woodland gardens
-it’s a showy flower, so plant it in the front of your garden!
Hardiness zones: 5-8
Bloom time: early to late spring
Sunlight conditions: Part shade to full shade
Water: Consistent moisture
13. Hellebore
Hellebores are some of the prettiest perennials out there, but lots of gardeners aren’t familiar with the name.
Now you are! These beauties come in different colors so choose a shade you think will go well with the rest of your garden.
Hellebores grow well in zones 3 to 9, depending on the variety.
They can tolerate drought conditions and deer but do best in rich, well-drained soil and part to full shade.
One of the best things about this shade perennial is that it has a very long blooming time: it can bloom from late Winter through the end of April!
Add this pretty flower to your low-maintenance perennial garden and you won’t be disappointed.

14. Brunnera (False Forget-Me-Not)

Brunnera’s delicate blue flowers that grow on tall, thin stems are an excellent addition to the shade garden. They’re perfect for fans of cottage gardens or woodland gardens.
This low-maintenance perennial is an early bloomer, so plant it with your other early bloomers for a stunning show in your yard.
- Hardiness Zone: 3–8
- Water Needs: Moderate; thrives in moist, well-draining soil.
- Bloom Time: Spring
15. Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal features graceful, arching stems with dangling white flowers. Its foliage turns golden in the fall, providing multi-season interest. It’s a good choice for shaded woodland areas.
- Hardiness Zone: 3–9
- Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistently moist soil.
- Bloom Time: Spring
16. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)

Looking for an ultra-unique flower to add to your flower beds? Are you a fan of orchids?
Toad lilies excuse a unique, exotic elemtn to shade gardens with their orchid-like blooms. They’re lovely! They bloom around late summer through early fall, so they’re perfect for keeping your garden flourishing as the season comes to an end.
- Hardiness Zone: 4–8
- Water Needs: Moderate; prefers moist, rich soil.
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall
17. Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

If a striking, low-growing ground cover is what you need for your yard, try giving Lungwort a try.
Its silver-spotted leaves Lungwort add interest to the garden, filling in sparse spaces beautifully. You’ll find the blooms beautiful, too, in their shades of pink, blue, and white. This early spring bloomer help signal of start of the garden season!
- Hardiness Zone: 3–8
- Water Needs: Moderate; thrives in moist, rich soil.
- Bloom Time: Early spring
Tips for a Thriving Shade Garden
- Understand Light Levels: Keep in mind that all shade plants have a different light preference: some prefer partial, full, or filtered shade
- Use Mulch: Retain moisture and help soil temperature by adding a layer of mulch on top of the soil
- Layer Plants: Combine textures, heights, and colors for a dynamic garden.
- Monitor Pests: Shady areas can be prone to slugs and other bugs.
With these 17 stunning shade-loving plants, you can create a lush and beautif
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