Summer is just around the corner, but not every backyard or garden will see full or even partial sun this season.
You might believe having a shade garden means vibrant blooms are unachievable in your outdoor space, but think again. These bright perennials for shade will keep your garden feeling lively and colorful year after year.
Meet the Expert
Dagny Kream is a gardening expert and content creator at The Cottage Peach.
Astilbe
Credit: The Spruce / LetÃcia Almeida
Astilbe (Astilbe spp.) is a feathery-looking flower that will bring purple, pink, red, and white clouds of color to shaded outdoor spaces in USDA zones 3-8.
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“Astilbe grows best a shady spot with consistent moisture and rich soil,” gardening expert Dagny Kream says. “Birds love the seed heads, and they will continue to add great visual texture to your garden long after the blooms have passed.”
This perennial won’t need much besides shade and moisture—just make sure your soil is slightly acidic, supplement the soil with phosphorus via a fertilizer, and divide the plants every few years.
Foxglove
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
For a cottage-inspired garden that feel straight out of the English countryside, look no further than foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). These bell-shaped blooms can grow up to five feet tall, and do best in partially-shaded areas.
Plant foxglove in USDA zones 4-10 and in slightly acidic, moist, and well-draining soil. Use a drip hose to water when the top two inches of soil are dry, avoid watering from above, and be sure to keep an eye out for signs of crown rot and powdery mildew.
Warning
Foxglove is highly toxic to both humans and pets, so plant with care and always handle with gloves.
Bleeding Heart
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Known for its uniquely shaped flowers, bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) is an ideal choice for partially to fully-shaded areas in USDA zones 3-9, and thrives in woodland-like settings.
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“Bleeding heart is a delicate option for a shade garden, with little heart shaped pendant flowers in pink or white strung along arching stems in early spring,” Kream says. “It pairs naturally with anything that emerges late because it goes dormant by midsummer, so you’ll need something behind it to fill the gap.”
These plants prefer a lightly moist, neutral soil with a few inches of compost worked through. Make sure to avoid overwatering, and keep bleeding hearts out of direct sunlight or their blooming period will end early.
Toad Lily
Credit: Anna Suslina / Getty Images
Toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) is another standout choice for the shady spots in your garden, with purple and white speckled blooms that are sure to catch eyes in late summer and fall.
“Toad lily is excellent in partial to full shade locations with consistent moisture,” Kream says. “Once you’ve planted it, just leave it alone. It spreads slowly and rewards patience.”
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Plant toad lilies in USDA zones 4-8 and in slightly acidic, loamy, well-draining soil. Add half-strength liquid fertilizer and compost, and make sure the soil stays consistently moist but not soggy.
Primrose
Credit: Hana Richterova / Getty Images
If you live in USDA zones 2-8 and are looking for a low-maintenance perennial that can withstand winter temperatures—and actually requires them to bloom—primroses (Primula spp.) are the perfect choice.
With over 500 species and an endless array of colors to choose from, there’s one thing every type of primrose has in common: they all love to live in the partially-shaded, cooler areas of a garden.
Plant yours in rich, well-draining, and acidic soil—preferably near a tree to emulate their natural habitat. Fertilizer needs depend on the variety you choose, but not much other care is needed aside from keeping the soil evenly moist and occasionally dividing up clusters.
Ligularia
Credit: Koichi Oda / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Ligularia (Ligularia spp.) is an ornamental plant that can grow up to 4 feet tall, loves cool shade and moisture, and can work beautifully next to backyard ponds and in rain gardens.
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“Ligularia can be dramatic, both visually and in it’s sensitivity to afternoon heat—but the enormous foliage and striking yellow flower spikes stop me in my tracks and make them worth the drama,” Kream says.
You can grow ligularia in USDA zones 4-8. Try to plant it in fertile humus or neutral soils near water sources, and cut your plants back to ground level after first frost.
“This flower will wilt and look like it’s dying when exposed to extreme temperatures, but it will recover by evening and be ready to show off again the next day,” Kream says.
Lungwort
Credit: Jessica Kopecky Design / Getty Images
By nature, perennials come back year after year— but lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) is a special one, because its appearance changes over time.
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“The flowers have the unique feature of shifting from pink to blue as they age,” Kream shares. “The silver spotted foliage adds interest all season even after flowering.”
Grow yours in partial to full shade, and neutral or slightly alkaline humus soil that is kept consistently moist but never soggy.
Use a bit of compost and all-purpose fertilizer each spring, and try to keep lungwort plants out of direct sunlight or hot temperatures.
Read the original article on The Spruce
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