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17 Perennial Flowers That Love Shade

January 10, 2021

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Shade is the enemy of every beginner gardener.  It seems like your eye is drawn to every sun loving plant in the greenhouse and there are no exciting options for your shady perennial flower garden.

I’ve compiled 17 shade-loving perennials that are easy to grow in your landscape. These are the perennials I know and love in my zone 3 shade garden, and tend to be the best plants for shade here, but they should work well for you up to at least zone 5 or 6.

Disclaimer: I garden in USDA Hardiness Zone 2/3 and my advice and plant selections are based on my experience in that growing zone.  The good news is that unless you live in the Arctic or the Desert, my picks should work for you!  Please let me know in the comments if you have any plant suggestions for your particular growing area.

All Shade Isn’t Created Equal

While a tag on a plant may claim to tolerate full shade, even shade loving plants like some morning or evening sunshine.

Will the shade plant live in true full shade?  Of course.  But it won’t thrive, or grow as fast as you were hoping. If you are trying to create a flower bed in an area of your yard that never sees the light of day, you are better off to put in a rock garden, deck, or some sort of hardscape.

You can also purchase large annual shade flowers for a hit of colour in a full shade spot.  They won’t get much larger than their initial size, but you will have blooms all summer long.

Finally, if you have lots of landscaping to do in shade, you might like these posts:

  • 32 Perennials, Groundcover, and Shrubs to Grow Underneath a Tree.
  • 22 Shade Loving Annual Flowers
  • 23 Vegetables and Berries That Will Thrive in Part Shade.

Now, on to the best shade perennials!

Astilbe

A medium-sized plant that comes in lovely shades of white, pink, red, and purple.  Very hardy summer blooming perennial that likes moist to well-drained soil.

Bergamot (Bee Balm)

Bergamots also come in white, pink, red, and purple, and will tolerate all light conditions.  It can spread out easily, so make sure you remove any unwanted plants every year.

As the name suggests, bee balm attracts bees, so plant it to encourage pollination.

Want to know the 28 Most-Regretted Flowering Perennials?  Check them out in the link!

Bleeding Heart

Bleeding hearts hold a special place in my heart.  My family has a plant that was my great-grandma’s and everyone in the family has gotten part of it over the years whenever it needed to be divided.

This stunner comes in pink or white and blooms from late Spring to Early Summer. Bleeding heart is a very beginner-friendly plant, that is easy to grow.

Daylily

Orange daylilies (like the one pictured) get a bad rap for taking over a yard if not maintained.

Any other colour of day lily is more well behaved.  I highly recommend picking out something unique from your local greenhouse or a seed catalogue.

They flourish in any kind of light condition, although they may not bloom if they have too much shade.

16 Shade-loving perennial plants for your next flower bed.Click To Tweet

False Solomon’s Seal

A Spring-blooming plant with lovely green foliage and delicate white blooms.

Hosta

Hostas come in so many beautiful shades and variations of green, you’ll find it hard to choose just one!  A great shade plant for almost any soil condition.

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Goat’s Beard

Photo credit: https://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselectorimages/detail/WSY0034648_3656.jpg

Goat’s beard comes in all sizes and looks lovely paired with astilbes or underneath a tree.

Goutweed (Bishop’s Weed)

Need a plant that you can’t kill that will grow anywhere?  Goutweed is for you.  Just be warned, it can easily spread where you don’t want it, so either plant it in a contained area or be willing to dig out rogue plants every year.

Goutweed is hated so much by flower gardeners that it is the most hated perennial on my list of most regretted perennial flowers.

Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra)

Japanese Spurge or Pachysandra is a good ground cover for underneath a tree.  Be warned, it is has a habit of spreading and sends out lots of runners.

Related: 53 Most-Loved Flowering Perennials

Laminum (Dead Nettle)

Laminum comes in many colours and makes an attractive groundcover under a tree.  It can be invasive, but the flowers provide an important source of nectar for bees.

My favourite colour of Laminum is the one that is pink and blue–so stunning!

Ligularia

A lovely, tall plant with pretty yellow flowers.  Keep it in part shade for more height and blooms.

Lily of the Valley

One of the first Spring flowers to bloom in the garden.  The delicate white flowers have a beautiful scent.  Lily of the Valley makes a great ground cover underneath a tree, but can be invasive if unwanted new growth is allowed to grow.

Think you can't have a beautiful flower garden in the shade? Here's 15+ plants you'll want to growClick To Tweet

Ostrich Fern

Many of my readers love ostrich ferns, but they are my most-hated perennial.

Why?

Try pulling out over 300 of them in your backyard.

No, I’m not exaggerating.

I’m sure I’ll still have tons this Spring.  Anyone want a fern?

Purple Bellflower (Campanula)

The purple bellflower will grow in almost any light or soil condition.  Avoid the variety shown if at all possible, unless you have a patch of soil that everything else dies in. (If I sound negative, it’s because it’s my second most hated perennial that I’m currently doing battle with in my backyard.)

The clumping purple bellflower is much better behaved and is beautiful in floral arrangements.

Curious about my backyard? Check out the transformation we made this year.

Saxifrage (Rockfoil)

Saxifrage works best in rock gardens or at the edge of a flower bed.  There are a huge variety of colours to chose from, you’ll want to grow them all! In my neighbourhood, everyone seems to grow the yellow variety and the blooms last for quite a long time.

You can use it as a ground cover or grow it between rocks in a pathway.

Put mulch over the plant in winter to ensure it survives.

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Siberian Bugloss

Siberian Bugloss is an excellent ground cover under trees.  You’ll want to try the Jack Frost Variety for it’s variegated leaves and delicate blue blossoms.

Solomon’s Seal

A beautiful plant for a woodland garden.  It does well as a ground cover or in a flower bed.  Beware the berries, as they are poisonous to animals and children.

Looking for a couple of annual shade flowers to fill in the spots while your perennials are getting established?  Here’s 22 flowers you’ll love.

Whether you’re looking for a ground cover or something stunning for a front yard flower bed, there’s sure to be a flower in this list for you.

Have any suggestions?  I’d love to hear them!  Please make sure you state your location and hardiness zone if you know it.  (I’m writing from zone 2/3.)


WANT TO CREATE A PERENNIAL GARDEN THAT CONSTANTLY BLOOMS FROM SPRING TO FALL, WITHOUT CONSTANT WORK? HERE’S HOW. . . 

Everything you need to easily create your own perennial garden with constant blooms. You’ll get an easy to follow system, along with 5 templates and 5 done-for-you plans, plus fun bonuses.

LEARN MORE HERE!SaveSave


Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

10 Comments
Filed Under: Backyard Florist, Flowers, Gardening, Outdoor Life Tagged: Flowers, perennials, plants, shade

About Kristen Raney

Kristen is a former farm kid turned urban gardener who owns the popular gardening website, Shifting Roots.  She is obsessed with growing flowers and pushing the limits of what can be grown in her zone 3b garden.  She also loves to grow tomatoes, but oddly enough, dislikes eating them raw.

Comments

  1. Joanne Libonati says

    May 3, 2018 at 8:58 pm

    Love Astilbe. Mine are coming along nicely. I have three different Hostas in pots doing well so far. The other ones on your list I would consider weeds. You are correct when you say to choose unusual day lilies. I have a few on a Pinterest board which are lovely, but still only last a short time. I am hoping my Liatris will show up as usual. I like them too. One of my favourites to return every year is Montbretia. It has another name - Crocosmia. There are a couple others whose names I don't remember that are invasive, but have pretty flowers. I have a Heuchera in bloom now, I also have Columbines which are good at spreading themselves, but them I don't mind. I live in Burnaby, BC, right beside Vancouver.
    Reply
  2. Private Investigator in Mississauga says

    September 11, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    Grrr, I have a blog on my website and it sucks. I actually removed it, but may need to bring it back again. I was given by you motivation! Continue writing!
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      September 13, 2018 at 8:56 am

      You should! Blogging is a slog, but it's very rewarding. I wish you all the best in your renewed efforts.
      Reply
  3. Jesse says

    January 7, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    Nothing does well in total shade??. I am trying to start a garden on the north side of more house and it gets nothing!
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      January 8, 2019 at 10:36 am

      Stuff will grow, but it will just take a lot longer than you think it should. Even 3 hours makes such a difference. I'm not sure about the set-up of your house, but even if you could extend your flower bed out farther, have just mulch for 3-5 feet immediately beside the house, and then start where your flower garden is. Would that distance away from the house be enough to get a little bit of sun? If not, then I suggest hostas or ferns if you need something that will fill up the space quickly. Then, leave a bit of space so you can buy a few bigger shade annual flowers like begonias or impatiens and fill them in for a little colour. And finally--experiment. Remember that I live in zone 3 and if you live somewhere warmer you might have better success than I do with planting on the north side of the house.
      Reply
  4. Jesse says

    January 8, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    I was planning on Hostas and ferns with some lily of the valley and bleeding heartswhere there is some sun, and I am also zone 3.
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      January 9, 2019 at 7:32 am

      Those should do well. The Lily of the valley will certainly take over in a few years, but it will be fragrant and beautiful!
      Reply
  5. Sammi says

    January 9, 2019 at 3:56 am

    Delphiniums, mine are almost a problem, I have a little shady flower garden and these things are everywhere!!! The flowers are pretty but they get so tall they fall over and snap in half, or cover some of the other plants, or fall over onto the lawn and get mowed over (oops!) They're spreading outside of the garden too, every year I keep finding ones growing in the most random places in my front yard, lol! Only in shady places though
    Reply
    • Kristen Raney says

      January 9, 2019 at 7:33 am

      Interesting, I didn't know they could do well in the shade. Is it possible to stake them somehow, at least so they don't keep falling over? Or even put some peony cages around them when they are still growing?
      Reply
  6. Barbara says

    January 9, 2021 at 12:50 pm

    Great information. I would love to see or learn about perennials that do well in pine soil or around pine trees.
    Reply

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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

P.S. First time gardener? You'll want to download the quick start gardening guide below!

Recent Posts

  • How to Grow Eucalyptus for Cut Flowers (Even in a Short Growing Season!)
  • 26 Best Flowers to Grow for Dried Flower Arrangements
  • 17 Perennial Flowers That Love Shade
  • How to Design a Cut Flower Garden in Raised Beds
  • How to Start a Cut Flower Garden

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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Growing eucalyptus for the first time this year? Growing eucalyptus for the first time this year?  A new post is on the blog to walk you through it.  While in theory eucalyptus is easy to grow, it's challenging in my zone 3 garden for three reasons: ⁠
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➡️It needs a long time to mature⁠
➡️I have a short growing season⁠
➡️I live in a cool climate, and eucalyptus grows better when its warm.⁠
⁠
That said, you can see by this picture that it can be done!!⁠
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Are you growing eucalyptus this year?
Oh friends, if any of my nice, curated photos sums Oh friends, if any of my nice, curated photos sums up how this last week went, I think it's this one.  Babies crying, trying to stay calm, outwardly looking like it's all under control, but feeling very overwhelmed.⁠
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This post isn't gardening related, so feel free to scroll by if you're here only for the gardening content.⁠
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Thankfully it's January, and I keep reminding myself that the Internet will not break if I don't keep to my self-imposed posting schedule.  But it doesn't make a week full of teething-and-not-sleeping baby any easier. ⁠
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Felicity slept through the night for the first time ever last Monday, then proceeded to punish us with frequent wakings and terrible sleep until Saturday.  And as tough as this is in regular times, in Covid times its extra frustrating because I don't have my village.⁠
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I can't just call up another Mama friend and go for coffee at her house.  I can't take my son out for a Mommy-and-Dominic date because everything he'd want to do isn't really much of an option.  There's no playgroup or play place to just drop in on.  And forget just taking everybody out to get groceries just for a change of scenery.⁠
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I know people have way more serious problems than this, and I hope I don't sound whiny and entitled, it's not my intention.  Please know that I'm very grateful for my family and job and that so far we've been healthy. ⁠
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A lot of you who follow me do so in part because you are also juggling life with very little people through this strange time.  I hope that in occasionally sharing my struggles, it makes you feel better about your struggles. (You're struggling too sometimes. . . right?)
Do you tend to plan out your garden to the nth deg Do you tend to plan out your garden to the nth degree, do you just wing it, or are you somewhere in-between?⁠
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I tend to plan it all out, and then when I actually get out in the field, so to speak, the plan changes a little bit. ⁠
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If you need a garden planner that's both pretty & practical, my garden planner is available in the ebooks section.  It's only $9 and has lots of upgrades from the previous planner.  Use code CANADA if you're Canadian to account for the exchange.⁠
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P.S. You can see exactly what you're getting in the video--no surprises. ⁠
P.P.S  I get my planner bound and printed at a printing place.  Lots of people just print their own and put the sheets in a binder.
Are you gardening in containers this year? When y Are you gardening in containers this year?  When you're shopping for vegetable seeds, look for varieties that have names with words like patio, tiny, small, etc.  While lots of vegetable varieties will do fine in a container, you'll have an easier time with ones that are specifically bred for that situation.⁠
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I'm living the pepper dream in this photo. While I'm living the pepper dream in this photo.  While these ones are a bit on the small side, who doesn't want ripe peppers in July in zone 3?!?! ⁠
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Over the years I've gotten better at growing peppers, and I promise I'll spill my secrets in February when it's actually time to start them.  Until then, get yourself all or one of my four favourite varieties: ⁠
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🌶️Carmen⁠
🌶️Escamillo⁠
🌶️Candy Stripe⁠
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Have you flipped open a seed catalogue lately? It Have you flipped open a seed catalogue lately?  It's so easy to get completely overwhelmed, especially if you're new to gardening.  Why are there so many varieties of everything and which ones do I choose?⁠
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🥒 Do you care whether your vegetables are heirlooms or hybrids?  Heirlooms are the kind that have been around for 50+ years and you can save seeds from.  Believe it or not, this year we're prioritizing hybrids for some of our garden.  The Hermit @mgsraney is obsessed with production this year, so anything that's going in "his" greenhouse better be able to produce a lot.  I'm using more heirlooms in my "glamour garden" as we call it, because I want things that are pretty and I can save seeds from.⁠
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What do you prioritize when you're picking out seeds?⁠
Last week we started thinking about our plans for Last week we started thinking about our plans for cut flower gardening, now this week we start thinking about plans for our vegetable gardens.  Unlike cut flowers, there's not as many vegetables that need to be started ridiculously early.  However, it's still fun to plan and dream and get your thoughts sorted.⁠
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I'm curious--what size of garden do you have to work with?  Are you on an acreage or farm, city backyard, or do you have a couple of pots on an apartment patio?⁠
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As for me, I have quite a mix.  I have my container garden on my backyard deck, the small cut flower garden in my yard, then vegetables in raised beds.  We also garden at my Mother-in-law's acreage, so there's a giant garden over there where we're figuring out how to grow food on a larger scale.  Then finally, sometimes my Mom grows things for me in her garden if I'm nervous that I'll ruin them in my own garden--call it a backup garden if you will.⁠
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