Brightening the Shady Garden with Summer Perennials
Many gardeners feel limited by a lack of sunlight, but a shady yard is an incredible opportunity to play with dramatic textures, architectural foliage, and soft summer colors. If your garden is currently too dark, you don't necessarily need to cut down your beautiful trees, simply "limbing up" lower branches or thinning out a dense canopy can let in the perfect amount of dappled light. Conversely, if you have a full sun bed and want to grow some of these shade-loving gems, planting a few small understory trees or large shrubs will add instant height, visual interest, and the necessary canopy.
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Plants that evolved in the forest understory often sport larger leaves to capture every bit of available sunlight (think Hostas, Rodgersias, Astilbes, and Heuchera). Most shade perennials will actually thrive with a bit more sun, provided they get enough water. The reverse, however, is not true: sun-loving plants placed in the deep shade will quickly grow weak, long, and leggy. For the best results, give your shade plants a rich, moist, but well-drained soil.
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DEER RESISTANT PERENNIALS FOR SHADE
If deer are a constant pressure on your property, you can still achieve a lush, flowering oasis. These summer-blooming varieties are rarely bothered by wildlife:
Astilbes: Add vibrant pops of color to darker corners with their feather-like plumes, available in a range of sizes and shades.
Heucheras (Coral Bells): While they bloom beautifully for 3–4 weeks in midsummer, they are primarily grown for their foliage. From deep bronzes and dramatic purples to bright lime greens and reds, their color stands out all season.
Everblooming Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra): Unlike their traditional cousin (Dicentra spectabilis), which blooms only in spring and goes completely dormant in summer heat, the everblooming varieties will flower continuously from early summer straight into late summer while gently spreading.
Ferns, Rodgersia, & Thalictrum (Meadow Rue): Outstanding selections that offer structural foliage deer naturally avoid.
Bleeding Hearts
Sensitive Fern (native)
PERENNIALS GROUNDCOVERS FOR SHADE
Why spend money on bark mulch every year when you can carpet the bare ground with beautiful living plants? These options thrive and spread efficiently in partial to full shade:
Pachysandra: The ultimate groundcover for deep, dry shade where little else will grow.
Asarum (Wild Ginger), & Epimedium (Barrenwort): Excellent, low-maintenance choices to create a dense green carpet under trees.
Perennial Geraniums (Cranesbill): Incredibly tough and reliable. 'Rozanne' is our top-selling variety for its nonstop violet-blue blooms. We also highly recommend 'Album' (pure white flowers) and 'Karmina' (pink flowers with spectacular, rich autumn foliage).
Bellflowers (Campanula): Campanulas are fantastic choices for partial shade. Depending on your garden's specific architecture, we carry a wide variety of habits.
Ferns, Heuchera & Columbines
Heuchera
Thalictrum Tall Meadow Rue (native)
Our Go-To Shade Favorites
When you stop by the nursery, ask us about any of these favorites, we’ll help you find the perfect match for your garden's unique conditions.
Alchemilla (Lady's Mantle)
Epimedium (Barrenwort)
Ligularia
Anemone (Windflower)
Euphorbia (Spurge)
Pachysandra
Asarum (Wild Ginger)
Ferns (All Varieties)
Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal)
Astilbe
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Rodgersia
Cimicifuga (Bugbane)
Galium (Sweet Woodruff)
Sanguisorba (Burnet)
Clematis (Select Varieties)
Geranium (Cranesbill)
Thalictrum (Meadow Rue)
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Hakonechloa (Forest Grass)
