Themed plant discovery
Shade Garden Plants
Discover plants that thrive in part shade and full shade, from lush foliage to reliable long-season blooms.
Use this guide to build layered shade borders, brighten north-facing corners, and find dependable plants for low-light beds.
184120 plants found
Featured plants
24
Perennial
Shining starwort
Stellaria nitens
Caryophyllaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
0.2–0.5m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Tree
Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Fagaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
12–25m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Evergreen
Cedar of lebanon
Cedrus libani
Pinaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
10–20m
Shrub
Hortensia
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangeaceae
Partial Shade
High
Zone 5–9
1–2m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Tree
Mazzard cherry
Prunus avium
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
10–15m
Blooms: Apr, May
Perennial
Coralbells
Heuchera sanguinea
Saxifragaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
0.3–0.6m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Tree
Linden
Tilia cordata
Malvaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
15–20m
Blooms: Jul
Tree
Alligator-wood
Liquidambar styraciflua
Altingiaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–9
12–20m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum subsp. septemlobum
Sapindaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
5–10m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum elongatum
Cercidiphyllaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 4–8
10–15m
Blooms: May, Jun
Tree
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum f. latilobatum
Sapindaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
5–10m
Blooms: Apr, May
Tree
Red maple
Acer rubrum
Sapindaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
12–20m
Blooms: Mar, Apr
Shrub
European gooseberry
Ribes uva-crispa
Grossulariaceae
Full Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
1–1.5m
Blooms: Apr, May
Shrub
Evergreen
Blue honeysuckle
Lonicera caerulea
Caprifoliaceae
Partial Shade
Low
Zone 3–9
1–2m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Garden currant
Ribes rubrum
Grossulariaceae
Full Shade
Medium
Zone 3–7
1–2m
Blooms: Apr, May
Shrub
Common lilac
Syringa vulgaris
Oleaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
1.5–3m
Blooms: May, Jun
Perennial
Common garden peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Paeoniaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.7–1m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Orange-eye
Buddleja davidii
Scrophulariaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–8
1–3m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Perennial
Alpine strawberry
Fragaria vesca
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.1–0.2m
Blooms: Apr, May, Jun
Shrub
Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–9
1.5–2m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Evergreen
Labrador tea
Rhododendron groenlandicum
Ericaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 2–6
0.5–1.5m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Perennial
Garden lady's-mantle
Alchemilla mollis
Rosaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.4–0.6m
Blooms: Jun, Jul, Aug
Perennial
European columbine
Aquilegia vulgaris
Ranunculaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 3–8
0.5–1m
Blooms: May, Jun, Jul
Shrub
Rough-leaf hydrangea
Hydrangea aspera
Hydrangeaceae
Partial Shade
Medium
Zone 5–9
1–3m
Blooms: Jul, Aug, Sep
Why this theme works
Shade gardens succeed when foliage texture, flower timing, and hardiness are balanced around lower light. These plants help you build structure without fighting the site.
FAQ
What belongs in a shade garden?
Start with plants that match the core site conditions for a shade garden, then layer in foliage, structure, and bloom for a longer season.
How do I plan a shade garden?
Choose the right site conditions first, shortlist plants that fit them, and sketch the mix in Plantory before you buy anything.
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