15 Stunning Shade Loving Perennials for Your Garden

Shade gardens aren’t known for their bright colors.  However, the beauty that shade loving perennials have is very rich and full of subtle hues and textures.  I love the serene nature of shade gardens.  Yellow-leaved Hosta with tiny narrow leaves, silvery purple ferns, shiny green ground covers.  All of it adds up to a beauty all of it’s own.  

These are my recommendations for wonderful shade loving perennials that will provide you with lots of interest in your shady areas.  I’m giving you a main category of plants with a specific recommendation of a variety I like within each category.  

1. AJUGA: (Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’) This 6”H groundcover has white/pink/green variegated foliage with blue flowers.  Great ground cover with lots of interest. Sun to part shade.  Zone 4.  

2. AQUILEGIA: (a.k.a. Columbine) (Aquilegia ‘Bedermeier’) This Columbine has mixed pastel flowers that last May – July.  Columbines have a very beautiful flower.  Be aware that deer may browse on Columbine, so plan accordingly.  Columbine are a garden classic!  Sun to part shade.  Zone 3.

3. ARUNCUS: (a.k.a. Goatsbeard) (Aruncus ‘Misty Lace’)  While the most commonly known Goatsbeard variety looks like a rustic large white Astilbe, this ‘Misty Lace’ variety is smaller and more delicate looking standing only 18” tall with while blossoms on red stems.  Deer resistant.  Part shade.  Zone 4.

4. ASTILBE: (Astilbe ‘Delft Lace’)  This large Astilbe is fantastic!  It stands 36” tall with serrated ferny foliage that is tinted red.  The blossoms are soft pink and plume shaped.  It almost looks like it is glowing!  Give your shade area a real ‘pop’ of interest!  This one is a stunner!  Don’t worry, deer tend to leave Astilbe alone.  Part Shade.  Zone 3.  

5. ATHYRIUM:  (Fern ‘Japanese Painted’)  This small fern has a dazzling multi colored display of greens, creams and pink hues which set it apart from other ferns.  Very interesting!  Makes a dark area glow.  Use in part shade to full shade areas.  Deer don’t tend to eat ferns!  Zone 4.

6. BERGENIA: (Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’)  This perennial offers interests in more than one season!  Rosy red flowers in the spring, and then the green leaves turn to maroon in the fall.  Plant this in a partly shaded area.  Zone 3.

7. BRUNNERA:  (a.k.a. Bugloss)  (Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’)  This flower looks like a ‘forget-me-not’.  It has lavender-blue flowers April – June and the heart shaped leaves are silvery dark green.  Try using this instead of hosta.  Interesting substitution.  Plant in a part shade area.  Zone 3.   

8. CHELONE:  (a.k.a. Turtlehead)  (Chelone ‘Hot Lips’)  Try this shade loving perennial for a bit more interest later in the season.  This plant stands 3’ tall and has deep pink flowers August – Sept.  It likes a wetter area, so plan accordingly.  Plant in part shade to full shade areas.  Zone 4.

9. CIMICIFUGA:  (a.k.a. Bugbane or Snakeroot)  (Cimicifugia ‘Hillside Black Beauty’)  This tall plant is great for the rear of the border, especially if there is a light colored backdrop so that the gorgeous foliage which is a dark purple/blackish/bronze color really stands out.  The flowers are like white bottle brushes.  This one is so pretty.  Serrated leaves.  Looks great against a white fence in a shady spot.  Plant in a partly shaded area.  Zone 3-5 depending on variety.

10. DICENTRA:  (a.k.a. Bleeding Heart) (Dicentra exima ‘Luxuriant’)  This bleeding heart is different than the Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart.  It is much smaller (15”H), has ferny foliage, and pink flowers that bloom in May.  It does not go dormant early like the Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart does.  When old fashioned bleeding hearts quit blooming, they go dormant and therefore can be hard to work into a design.  This plant has flowers that will give you long lasting, repeat, pink blossoms.   Very nice look.  Plant in part shade to full shade areas.  Zone 3.

11. GALIUM:  (a.k.a. Sweet Woodruff)  Very nice 6” ground cover with white blossoms in the spring.  Delicate appearance.   Plant in part shade to full shade areas.  Zone 4.

12. HELLEBORUS:  (a.k.a. Lenten Rose)  (Helleborus ‘Brandywine’)  12”-18” Height.  Mixture of dark red, pink and apricot blooms in March. Plant in part shade to full shade areas.  Zone 4.

13. HEUCHERA:  (a.k.a. Coralbells)  (Heuchera ‘Citronelle’)  Coralbells are a staple in any semi shaded to shaded area.  This variety will add a punch of color to your dark shady areas.  It has large, lime-yellow leaves with white flowers.  Gorgeous!  Plant in a partly shaded area.  Zone 3.

14. HOSTA:  (Hosta ‘June’) Hosta’s are the all time best shade perennial in my opinion.  Easy to grow and so many varieties!  This one called “June” is 18” and has light yellow leaves with dark blue green edges.  It almost has a powdery look.  Lavender flowers.  Plant in part shade to full shade areas.  Zone 3.

15. VINCA:  (a.k.a. Myrtle)  (Vinca ‘Ralph Shugert’)  This is your classic vinca ground cover but with a twist… it’s got variegated foliage with blue flowers.  Leaves are small and shiny.  Plant in full shade.

Be sure to research these varieties a little before you select them just to know about the specific details that may pertain to your site… such as deep shade vs light shade, moist vs dry soil conditions and are there deer in your area.  These perennial varieties will be sure to please!  

The photo shows a small shade garden area that has a stone bench and stone stepping stones.  There are a variety of shade loving perennials.  The owner loves to just stop by this spot and enjoy the view of the lake.  Many people think of perennial gardens being all about tons of color.  Not necessarily.  Shade gardens are very different.  Not much color, but tons of personality.  Subtle hues.  Rich textures.  Flowers that make you want to stop and inspect them.  Don’t miss out on the joys of a shade garden.  

Ask me about incorporating your favorite perennials into your landscape design.  As your Landscape Designer, I would love to help you enjoy your own beautiful shade garden.