Best Perennial Flowers for Shade in Your Garden

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Bleeding Heart

Bleeding heart is another flower that blooms well in deep shade. This plant is a spring bloomer, with the flowers lasting for several weeks, and it grows two to three feet tall. The flowers are delicate heart-shaped drops in shades of pink with white tips. Bleeding heart foliage might die back in the hot months of summer, and it should return the next year. Aim to keep its soil evenly moist but not soggy throughout the growing season.

• Name: Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Color Varieties: White with pink
• Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained

Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal are dainty, white fairy bells that dangle from the curving arch of a single, graceful stem. Plants grow to 6 feet tall, colonizing slowly and blooming for a short time in early to mid spring. The elegant foliage remains, adding interest into summer. Flowers are followed by deep blue berries that attract birds and small mammals. Solomon’s Seal is mildly toxic to people and pets.

• Name: Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Color Varieties: White
• Sun Exposure: Part to full shade
• Soil Needs: Acidic, neutral, average

Hosta

Hostas offer dozens of choices for leaf variation, flower color, and size. Clumping, decorative foliage is the main attraction, but bloom spikes, rising high above leaves in mid-summer, are just as notable. Hostas serve as a staple in shady areas where other plants fail to thrive, working equally well as ground covers and fillers for empty space. Hostas are toxic to cats and dogs.

• Name: Hosta (Hosta spp.)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Color Varieties: White, purple, pink
• Sun Exposure: Shade, part sun
• Soil Needs: Acidic, moist, well drained

Hellebore

Few plants add winter bloom and color to the shade garden like Hellebore. In southern zones flowers appear as early as Christmas according it the common name Lenten or Christmas rose. Flowers nestle amid dark green, palm-shaped leaves with an attractive clumping habit and retained foliage adds year-long interest. Hellebore prefers shade in summer and sun in winter making it a great choice to plant under trees. Hellebore is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

• Name: Hellebore (Helleborus × hybridus)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Color Varieties: White, pink, purple, yellow
• Sun Exposure: Shade in summer, sun in winter
• Soil Needs: Alkaline, neutral, well drained

Vinca Minor

In addition to being a dependable shade plant, vinca minor, is also evergreen. This short 3- to 6-inch vining plant is commonly called periwinkle and establishes rapidly as a ground cover in difficult spots. Five petaled flowers bloom in March, early April and sporadically throughout the growing season. Vinca minor adapts easily to soil type and wet areas and is listed as invasive in parts of California. It is toxic to dog, cats and horses.

• Name: Vinca Minor (Vinca minor)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
• Color Varieties: Blue, lavender, purple, white
• Sun Exposure: Part sun to full shade
• Soil Needs: Neutral, average, wet

Indian Pink

Indian Pink is a striking wildflower native to the eastern and southeastern half of the U.S. Blooms with vibrant red throats topped by bright yellow star-shaped petals open atop 12- to 18-inch stems. Indian Pink can be slow to start but once established spreads nicely in small clumps to attract hummingbirds and pollinators. Flowers open from mid-spring to early June. Indian pink is toxic to people and dogs, cats and horses.

• Name: Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
• Color Varieties: Red, yellow
• Sun Exposure: Part sun, part shade
• Soil Needs: Alkaline, neutral, well drained

Wild Geranium

There are so many varieties of wild geranium, commonly called cranesbill, you’re sure to find one to grow in your garden. Color, light and soil requirements, and hardiness zone can vary so look for a type native to your area. This is a dependable foundation plant for shade gardens, colonizing neatly in rounded groupings with pretty flowers in late spring through summer, depending on variety.

• Name: Wild Geranium (Geranium spp.)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Color Varieties: Blue, lavender, pink, purple, white
• Sun Exposure: Full shade, part sun
• Soil Needs: Slightly acidic, moist, well drained

Wood Poppy

The bright yellow blooms of wood poppy are one of the earliest to add a splash of color in spring. Coarse, deeply lobed foliage appears as early as February and is followed shortly by four-petaled flowers that continue through mid-summer and often rebloom in fall. Wood poppies are grow best in filtered sunlight.

• Name: Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
• Color Varieties: Bright yellow
• Sun Exposure: Filtered sun, part shade
• Soil Needs: Acidic, rich, moist

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s ladder is one of easiest to grow, true blue flowers, adapting from part sun to almost complete shade. The fern-like foliage is attractive enough to stand on its own, and the addition of the dainty, bell-shaped flowers make this wildflower a favorite for shady spots. Jacob’s ladder blooms from late spring into summer.

• Name: Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
• Color Varieties: Blue, purple, white, pink
• Sun Exposure: Part sun, part shade
• Soil Needs: Neutral, acidic, well drained

Copper Iris

If your woodland garden is wet as well as shady, considering growing copper iris. Richly colored flowers are small and flat topped with drooping petals in shades uncommon to other irises. This wildflower features grass-like foliage and spreads through rhizome. It blooms from late spring to mid summer, naturalizing in wetland areas with a little morning sun and afternoon shade. Copper iris is a nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies.

• Name: Copper Iris (Iris fulva)
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
• Color Varieties: Copper, orange, red
• Sun Exposure: Part sun, part shade
• Soil Needs: Neutral, moist