We Found The Best Perennials For Your Garden’s Shadiest Spots
10) Canadian Wild Ginger
This tough shade plant not only provides your garden with gorgeously green foliage but also brings ground coverage—not to mention purplish-brown flowers that show up in the spring. Use the plant in your woodland garden or as a border for part of your yard, but keep in mind that it’s likely to spread into large colonies over the years. Canadian wild ginger is also deer-resistant and thrives in partial shade.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 4 to 6
13) Toad Lily
Think of the toad lily as a shade-loving orchid—its unique, spotted flowers bloom in shades of white, purple, and pink. The toad lily will bloom in late summer to fall, and it does best in fully shaded areas.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
15) Vinca Minor
Vinca minor—which goes by a few names, including periwinkle or creeping myrtle—is a charming flowering plant that covers the ground. The dark green leaves are a beautiful contrast to its delicate purple petals, which appear in late spring and thrive in full shade.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 4 to 9
33) Lungwort
This lovely, unassuming shade perennial, once believed to cure lung ailments, has pretty splashes of silver on its foliage. Salmon buds open into beautiful blue flowers in spring—and they're deer- and rabbit-resistant.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 3 to 9
34) Epimedium
This shade perennial is a low-growing ground cover that blooms in the spring. The delicate flowers are quite exquisite, but they don’t like foot traffic, so plant them where you won’t be walking or working in the garden frequently.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 4 to 8
35) Virginia Bluebells
Virginia bluebells are native shade perennials that look amazing when planted in a group under tall trees. They prefer moist soil, and the plants are ephemeral, meaning they disappear during the heat of summer. Not to worry: They’ll be back (and spread) next year.
Soil: Moist but well-draining
Hardiness zones: 3 to 8
