Full shade gardening: Perennials perfect for shade gardens

Understanding that different perennial plants respond differently to shade. Knowing what plants to choose is key, as you need your perennials to adjust to the shady parts of your garden.

What does shade do?

All plants require sunlight to produce the sugars necessary for their energy and to create the organic molecules that compose them. When plants are in the shade, their growth, flowering, and overall production can decrease, and those that are not well-suited to low-light conditions may perish. Therefore, choosing the right perennials is essential.

Perennials that are great for shady gardens

Hosta plants

Cherished for their rich leaves, this versatile and low-maintenance perennial provides an excellent textural contrast in shady gardens. With a diverse array of shapes, colours, and sizes ranging from small to compact large varieties, hostas add a sense of tranquillity to any shade garden.

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Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny is a low-growing, evergreen perennial that typically thrives in damp, wet areas, particularly in semi-shade. While these plants prefer moist conditions, they can also tolerate drier environments and can grow in full sun as long as the soil remains consistently moist.

Falling stars

Falling stars thrive best in a shaded garden but can tolerate full sun. Under ideal conditions, these plants can grow tall, adding a sense of openness and lightness to your garden with their drooping orange flowers. The flowers provide an architectural quality to needed shade gardens.

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Polka dot plant

Polka dot perennial plants are grown as spreading perennials and require a protected spot in the garden where they will receive filtered bright light, but not too much direct sunlight, which can burn their leaves. These eye-catching plants have brightly oval, low-growing leaves, just growing to a maximum height of about 30cm, but what they may lack in stature, they make up for in colour. Polka dot plants do pop in the garden as a ground cover or as a contrast plant for other shade-loving plants.