Perennial Plants for Shade

Areas of the landscape cloaked in shade may occur because tall structures block the sun or because trees create an umbrella effect, fully blocking (full shade) or partially blocking (dappled shade) sunlight from reaching ground level plants. Even in full shade, plants will grow. You may choose perennial plants based on their height potential and whether they bloom.

1/2 to 1 Foot

Flowering options include: barrenwort with small flowers over shiny, heart-shaped leaves; lily of the valley with tiny white or pink, highly fragrant bell-shaped flowers amidst long, slender leaves; and periwinkle with tiny blue flowers. Non-flowering options include bugleweed with bronze or purple leaves; and English ivy with all green leaves.

1 to 2 Feet

Flowering options include: astilbe with feathery blooms suitable for floral arrangements; bleeding heart with dime-sized heart-shaped blooms on drooping stems; and coral bells with tiny, bell-shaped blooms on long stems. Non-flowering options include ferns with green or rusty-colored foliage, and hosta with all-green or variegated foliage.

2 to 4 Feet

Flowering options include: Bee balm with its star-burst shaped blooms; balloon flower with its balloon-shaped buds that open to five-pointed blooms; and Solomon's seal with large, variegated hosta and cream-colored blooms. Ostrich fern, with its green, feather-like foliage, is a non-flowering option.