Shade-loving plants
Shade gives the opportunity to grow some beautiful foliage plants. Shade is 'woodland' for many plants, cooler, more serene. Dry shade can be problematic, few plants can manage bone-dry conditions. Remember to water, or install a small irrigation system.; There are various degrees of shade with differing light levels: ; Full shade: is where very little if any sun hits the plants at any time of the day. It's also referred to as "dense" shade. ; Part shade is where an area gets direct sunlight for around 3 to 6 hours a day and at other times of the day some shade. ; Top tip: As there is more light during winter when the trees have lost their leaves, plant spring bulbs for early colour.
Ferns for shade
116 plants
Flowers for shade (bulbs)
202 plants
Flowers for shade (perennials)
502 plants
Flowers for shade (shrubs)
573 plants
Full shade, dry soil
445 plants
Full shade, moist soil
535 plants
Grasses for shade
109 plants
Hostas for shade
135 plants
Part shade, dry soil
578 plants
Part shade, moist soil
553 plants
Roses for shade
188 plants
Trees for shade
112 plants
All plants (2411)
Leucothoe fontanesiana
Switch ivy, Dog hobble, Drooping laurel
Ligustrum
Privet
Ligustrum lucidum 'Curly Wurly'
Chinese privet, Wax leaved privet, Glossy privet
Ligustrum lucidum 'Tricolor'
Chinese privet, Wax leaved privet, Glossy privet
Lilium Golden Splendor Group
Lily
Lilium pardalinum var. giganteum
Red giant, Sunset lily, Leopard lily, Panther lily
Lonicera ligustrina var. pileata
Privet honeysuckle, Box honeysuckle, Royal carpet honeysuckle, Shrubby honeysuckle
Lonicera pileata
Privet honeysuckle, Box honeysuckle, Royal carpet honeysuckle
Lonicera x americana
American honeysuckle
Loropetalum chinense
Fringe flower, Chinese fringe flower, Chinese loropetalum, Hazelberry
Loropetalum chinense
Fringe flower, Chinese fringe flower, Chinese loropetalum, Hazelberry
Lunaria rediviva
Honesty, Perennial honesty, Moonwort
Luzula
Woodrush
Luzula nivea
Snow rush, Snowy woodrush
Luzula sylvatica 'Aurea'
Greater wood rush, Sylvan woodrush
Luzula sylvatica 'Hohe Tatra'
Greater wood rush, Sylvan woodrush
Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata'
Greater wood rush, Sylvan woodrush
Mahonia
Barberry
Mahonia aquifolium
Oregon grape, Holly grape, Holly leaved barberry
Mahonia aquifolium 'Atropurpurea'
Oregon grape, Holly grape, Holly leaved barberry
Mahonia japonica
Japanese mahonia
Mahonia japonica Bealei Group
Beale's mahonia, Japanese mahonia
Mahonia nitens 'Cabaret'
Shiny barberry
Mahonia oiwakensis subsp. lomariifolia
Lomaria mahonia
Mahonia pinnata
Cluster holly grape, Shiny leaf barberry
Mahonia pumila
Dwarf barberry
Mahonia repens
Creeping barberry, Creeping mahonia
Mahonia x media
Hybrid barberry
Mahonia x media 'Buckland'
Hybrid barberry
Mahonia x media 'Lionel Fortescue'
Hybrid barberry
Mahonia x media 'Underway'
Hybrid barberry
Mahonia x wagneri 'Pinnacle'
Wagner's mahonia
Mahonia x wagneri 'Undulata'
Wagner's mahonia
Maianthemum
False lily of the valley, Mayflower
Maianthemum racemosum
False spikenard, Solomon's zigzag, Treacleberry
Matteuccia
Ostrich fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich fern, Ostrich plume fern, Shuttlecock fern
Meconopsis baileyi
Himalayan blue poppy, Asiatic poppy
Meconopsis napaulensis
Satin poppy
Meconopsis x sheldonii (ambig.)
Sheldon's Blue poppy
Melica altissima
Melic grass, Siberian melic grass, Tall melic grass
Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea'
Purple melic grass, Purple Siberian melic
Melica uniflora
Wood melic
Melica uniflora 'Variegata'
Wood melic
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm, Balm, Bee balm, Honey plant, Sweet Mary
Melittis melissophyllum
Bastard balm
Mertensia virginica
Virginian cowslip, Roanoke bells, Virginia bluebell
Milium effusum
Wood millet, Woodrush