Do you dream of a sunny garden filled with blooming plants? Just because your backyard or patio doesn't get much sunlight doesn't mean you can't have a lush garden. You just need to know the best shade-loving varieties to plant. With summer upon us, now is the best time to get your plants growing. Here are 4 shade-loving perennials to plant and some helpful tips to help your plants thrive even without the sun.
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Hydrangea
Looking for a beautiful, colorful shade-loving perennial? Look no further than hydrangeas. These beautiful flowers will instantly elevate any garden. Courtney Sixx, founder of Bouquet Box, says the flower “adds a touch of soft beauty.”
If you love blue, pink, purple and white flowers, there's a hydrangea variety perfect for your garden. Six's favorite color? “It's a shade of blue with a purplish tint.”
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Hosta
Prefer plants with more leaves than flowers? Try growing hostas. “They come in a variety of solid colors, variegated varieties and different sizes,” says Six.
Bliss Bendall, a certified horticulturist at the New York Botanical Garden, is also a big fan of hostas because they're not that difficult to care for: “Hostas are very hardy and, if planted in the right spot, can thrive in your garden for decades. Once they start to grow and become established in your garden, they require minimal maintenance, meaning they don't need a ton of water or fertilizer to thrive year after year.”
She recommends watering generously after planting and then frequently, especially during hot, dry weather, until the plants are established and thriving. “Cut back the leaves. [off] Prune in late fall to encourage new, better growth for the following spring and summer, but you can leave them on to prune in the spring instead. Some varieties even manage to stay beautifully green through the winter, depending on what part of the country you live in, among other things.”
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Fern
Most people think of ferns as just houseplants. However, ferns are also perennials that are perfect for planting in a shady spot in your backyard. If you want to grow plants but you live in the city and have a small balcony or don't have enough outdoor space in your home, choose ferns.
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Camellia bush
But what if you have a larger yard and lots of space to fill? Camellias are worth considering. Camellias can grow as large as 5-7 feet wide and 6-14 feet tall.
Camellia trees are also a favorite of Six's because of their great color options. “Just because it's shade doesn't mean it's all green,” she explains. “I like to add color contrast in my shade gardens with multiple colors, especially pinks, blues, and purples.”
Tips for Growing Shade-Loving Perennials
Paris Larricata, plant expert at The Sill, recommends doing a little research before heading to your local nursery to choose plants: “To create a successful shade-loving perennial garden, you need to carefully choose plants appropriate for your hardiness zone, and choose plants that will thrive in full shade.”
Before planting, she suggests first enriching the soil with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure: “This helps build soil structure and improves drainage and fertility.”
When planting, she recommends digging a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball: “When placing the plant in the hole, make sure the base of the plant is level with the soil surface before putting the soil back in. A two- to three-inch layer of mulch can help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and suppress weeds, but keep the mulch away from the base of the plant to prevent rotting.”
Finally, she shared that it's best to water newly planted gardens generously and thoroughly, especially to help the plants' roots establish.
