Brighten Up A Shady Area
Brighten Up Your Shade Garden
Shade doesn’t have to be dull! Brighten up areas shaded by trees, covered patios, and porches with colorful plants that thrive with a little protection from the sun. Mix and match seasonal annuals, dependable perennials, and beautiful shrubs to add color and texture to those shady spots.
Keep in mind that shade conditions can vary quite a bit. Some of these plants prefer bright filtered light or morning sun, while others tolerate deeper shade. Here in East Texas, protection from our intense afternoon sun can make a big difference for many shade-loving plants.
Flowering Annuals
• Impatiens – Create pillows of color in white, pink, violet, red, orange, salmon, and more. They’re a classic choice for shady beds and containers.
• New Guinea Impatiens – Larger and sturdier than traditional impatiens, with bold flowers and attractive foliage. Depending on the variety, they can tolerate a little more light but still appreciate protection from intense afternoon sun.
• Torenia – Also called Wishbone Flower, Torenia is available in upright and trailing varieties with colorful blooms in shades of purple, pink, white, and more. It’s especially useful for shady containers and hanging baskets.
• Begonias – These dependable plants offer colorful flowers and attractive foliage. Light requirements vary by type and variety, so check the plant tag when choosing the best location.
Colorful Annual Foliage
• Coleus – It’s hard to beat Coleus for colorful foliage. With countless combinations of green, burgundy, pink, red, yellow, and chartreuse, these plants are beautiful as accents or planted in groups. Sun tolerance varies greatly by variety.
• Kong Coleus – Known for its extra-large, colorful leaves, Kong Coleus makes a bold statement in shady containers and garden beds.
• Caladiums – Their heart-shaped leaves bring incredible color to shady areas with combinations of green, white, pink, and red. Light tolerance varies by variety, with some newer selections handling more sun than others.
Perennials for Shade
• Heuchera (Coral Bells) – Mounds of colorful foliage in lime green, burgundy, rose, silver, and multicolored combinations make Heuchera a beautiful addition to shady areas. In East Texas, good drainage and protection from hot afternoon sun are especially important.
• Hosta – Showy green, blue-green, and variegated foliage makes Hostas a shade-garden favorite. Many varieties also produce stalks of lavender or white flowers. They perform best with protection from our hottest afternoon sun and may go dormant during winter.
• Persian Shield – The striking purple and silver foliage makes this tropical-looking plant an attention-getter in shady beds and containers. It’s a tender perennial and may not reliably survive our colder winters outdoors.
• Sedge or Carex – Fine-textured blades in shades of green, chartreuse, gold, and variegated combinations make sedges beautiful for accents, borders, containers, and mass plantings. Growing requirements vary by species and variety.
• Ajuga – A low-growing groundcover with colorful foliage and short spikes of blue-purple flowers. It can spread readily when happy, making it useful for filling shady areas.
• Autumn Fern – New fronds emerge with beautiful coppery-bronze tones before maturing to green. It can remain evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on winter conditions.
• Holly Fern – Glossy, deep-green fronds bring wonderful texture to shady areas. It is generally evergreen to semi-evergreen in our area, although severe cold can damage the foliage.
Shrubs for Shady Areas
• Camellias – Camellias bring beautiful blooms to the cooler months. Sasanqua varieties generally bloom earlier in fall and early winter and tolerate more sun, while Japonica varieties typically bloom from winter into early spring and appreciate more protection from afternoon sun.
• Hydrangeas – With an incredible range of flower colors, sizes, and shapes, Hydrangeas are a favorite for areas with morning sun and afternoon shade. Light requirements vary by type, and some varieties tolerate considerably more sun than others.
• Aucuba – An excellent choice for deeper shade, Aucuba has glossy green foliage that may be splashed or spotted with yellow depending on the variety. Protect it from strong afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves.
• Mahonia – Different Mahonia varieties offer very different textures, from bold, leathery foliage to the softer appearance of selections such as Soft Caress. They can add year-round interest to partially shaded areas.
• Pittosporum – Terrible name, great plant! Pittosporum offers attractive green or variegated foliage and can tolerate some shade, although growth and density are generally best with brighter light. Cold hardiness also varies by variety.
Shade Can Still Be Colorful!
When choosing plants for a shady area, pay attention to how much light the space actually receives, what time of day it receives it, drainage, and the mature size of each plant. A spot with a few hours of gentle morning sun can support different plants than an area beneath a dense tree canopy.
Mix flowering plants with colorful foliage and different textures, and even the shadiest parts of your landscape can become some of the most interesting areas in your garden.