Of course we all know that plants need two things for life: sun and water. But there are some garden areas, especially in heavily wooded locations that just can’t escape having some areas of shade. Just because you have shade in your garden however, does not mean that it should be wasted space. There are many plants that do very well in shade and some in fact, that will only thrive in shaded areas. You just need to determine what kind of shade you have and then pick out your favorite shady plants!
There are a few different types of shade and it’s important to know which you’re dealing with before you start buying plants. Partial sun and partial shade are two terms that are sometimes used to mean the same thing but there are subtle differences with the two. If a plant requires partial sun they will need less sun than plants that are defined as partial shade plants. Both types need anywhere from three to six hours of sunlight every day but those that are partial sun should receive closer to only three hours of sun. Full shade plants need complete shade all day long. Dappled sunlight, which is sunlight that is filtered through surrounding trees and shrubs is okay for these types of plants but direct sunlight should definitely be avoided.
Although there may be areas in your garden that are fully shaded, there are plants that will do very well in this environment. These types of plants include: Hostas, Barrenwort, Bergenia, Bunchberry, Ferns, Foamflower, Helleborus, English Ivy, Jack in the Pulpit, Lily of the Valley, Shamrock Strawberry, Virginia Bluebells, and Wood Poppy Golden. Many plants will do exceptionally well with partial shade. Some of these types include: Astilbe, Bear’s Breech, Bleeding Heart, Coral Bells, Forget Me Nots, Ginger, Jacob’s Ladder, Marsh Marigold, Merrybells, Primrose, Toad Lily, and Viola.
Most garden areas have some area of shade, especially those in small yards that have many overhanging trees or big, bushy shrubs nearby. It’s inevitable due to the movement of the sun and the placement of other greenery. These are two things that you cannot change but you can still make the most of that shady area in your garden by simply reading about what types of plants will do well in that area and by asking your local nursery. Nurseries are always a good resource as they will have expertise about plants that will do well in your specific climate and area. If you find that you’re having a very hard time planting in shade, turn that area into something else, such as a bird refuge complete with a house, bath and seeds spread about. Shady areas don’t mean useless areas so start taking advantage of all the areas of your garden and turn it into a masterpiece!