13 Shade-Loving Flowers To Grow In Your Gardens

Shaded gardening can be difficult, but with the right shade-loving flowers you can create an often-overlooked world of beauty. Consider shade as a chance to build a rich, peaceful garden rather than a limitation. Choosing plants that can flourish in lower light levels is crucial.

One often gets confused with partial or full shade. Partial shade receives three to six hours of sunlight per day, and full shade receives less than three hours. To grow shade-loving flowering plants you need to have a good understanding of this concept.

With the correct strategy, you can turn dull, shaded areas into lively, flourishing ones. Now, let’s explore our selection of 13 flowers that thrive in shade and will bring vibrancy and color to your landscape.

What Is Shade Gardening?

Shade gardening is the practice of growing plants in locations that don’t receive direct sunlight for most of the day. These spaces are usually located on the north-facing sides of properties, next to buildings, or behind trees. Adapting to less sunshine is more important than simply accepting it.

Shade gardening offers many benefits. It is a relaxing retreat, and shaded gardens are typically calmer and cooler. Additionally, there is less water evaporation in these places, so you will need to water less. Moreover, shade-loving flowering plants have distinctive leaves and breathtaking blossoms.

13 Shade-Loving Flowers

1. SunPatiens

Even though these shade-loving flowers have sun in their name they can thrive in shaded areas. SunPatiens are a cross of two different impatiens varieties – New Guinea Impatiens and shade-loving Impatiens walleriana. Therefore, SunPatiens can be considered both shade and sun-loving plants. These shade-loving flowering plants thrive from spring to the first frost. Moreover, their variegated leaves have a dazzling appearance.

2. Alternanthera

These ornamental plants are popularly grown for their dark purple leaves but they also produce small purple or white flowers on tall spikes throughout the growing season. Also known as the “Purple Knight” these shade-loving flowers are perfect to give a dark accent to your garden. These annual flowers are very hardy and easy to grow. Moreover, Alternanthera can be grown as bedding plants or container plants.

3. Fuchsia

The hanging red and violet flowers of Fuchsia are cherished by many gardeners. These shade-loving flowers are perfect for containers and create a great display in any garden. You can pair different varieties of these plants as they feature vibrant colors such as lavender, pastel pink, white, and red. Some varieties of Fuchsia also come in solid colors such as orange or deep red. Moreover, these shade-loving flowering plants are pollinator-friendly and attract hummingbirds.

4. Flowering Tobacco 

The vibrant star-shaped flowers of Nicotiana or flowering tobacco attract butterflies and moths. These fragrant plants have a sweet scent and come in a variety of colors such as white, red, pink, and even lime. Flowering tobacco are old-fashioned shade-loving flowers that tolerate heat and humidity and are a great choice for containers. One unique thing about these shade-loving flowering plants is that their leaves grow bigger in shade rather than in full sun.

5. Diamond Frost Euphorbia

The cluster of white blooms of these shade-loving flowering plants resemble fluffy frost. Moreover, Diamond Frost Euphorbia does not stop blooming until hard frost. The grayish-green leaves of these plants along with the white flowers create an attractive display in gardens. You can grow these plants in partial or full shade, in full shade their flowers may diminish quickly but they’ll produce an abundance of flowers.

6. Bolivian Begonia

Similar to wax begonia these shade-loving flowers bloom all summer long but unlike wax begonia, Bolivian begonia have more attractive blooms. These summer flowers come in a variety of colors such as pink, orange, red, white, and more. The trailing blooms of these shade-loving flowering plants hang like bells from the stems. Bolivian begonia are great for hanging baskets in vertical gardens. If grown in containers make sure to shift them indoors in winter.

7. Caladium

These shade-loving flowering plants are known for their beautiful ornamental leaves. However, Caladium also produces small purple or white flowers in summer. The tubular flowers grow on tall spikes above the foliage. Moreover, the heart-shaped leaves of Caladiums come in a splash of colors such as pink, green, white, and more. Caladiums are easy to grow and show signs such as leaves dropping and yellowing leaves if they are not being taken care of properly.

8. Sweet Alyssum

The sweet-scented dainty, white flowers of these shade-loving flowers are easy to grow and attract pollinators such as butterflies to your garden. Sweet Alyssum are also fall flowers that tolerate light frost. These low-growing annuals are perfect for window boxes, containers, and baskets. Choose from varieties like White Knight or Snow Princess that are sun and heat-tolerant and are quite sturdy.

9. Coleus

Another shade-loving flowering plant that is cherished for its foliage is Coleus. Even though Coleus produces small flowers in shades of white, purple, blue, and pink, many gardeners tend to trim them to promote more foliage growth. The variegated foliage of these shade-loving flowers comes in a variety of colors and unique patterns Coleus adapts to full sun or shade and therefore, can be grown in both conditions.

10. Torenia

These pollinator-friendly shade-loving flowers attract hummingbirds to gardens. Torenia, also known as the Wishbone flower or Blue butterfly flower is native to Asia and produces small and delicate flowers that come in shades of blue, purple, pink, white, and more. The prolonged blooming period and easy-to-care routine of these plants make them a great choice for hanging baskets and cut flower arrangements.

11. Hellebores

Also known as Lenten roses these flowers bloom in winter through early spring. Even though these perennial shade-loving flowers look delicate they are quite hardy. Hellebores come in shades of green, white, purple, and pink and create a vibrant winter garden. Moreover, depending on the variety these plants can grow 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. Hellebores are easy-to-grow and long-living plants that come back each year.

12. Bleeding Heart

These shade-loving flowering plants are known for their unique heart-shaped flowers that dangle from the long arching stems. Bleeding heart plants create an eye-catching display in any garden. These plants are very hardy and can grow in any soil type except clay and they are also resistant to deers. The delicate pink and white blooms of these shade-loving flowers are produced from late spring to early summer. The plant produces new flowers throughout the season.

13. Astilbe

These perennial shade-loving flowers are very hardy and produce feathery stalks of white, red, or pink flowers that look beautiful rising over fern-like leaves. Astilbe blooms from mid to late summer and can thrive in either full sun or partial shade. These pollinator-friendly plants are great for most gardens and landscapes. Astilbe grows up to 4 feet tall and wide and requires minimal care to thrive.

Conclusion

Shade-loving flowers are a great choice for any garden that receives limited sunlight. These shade-tolerant plants are very easy to grow and produce beautiful flowers that can help you create an attractive garden filled with vibrant colors. So make sure to grow these shade-loving flowering plants to improve your gardening skills and create a lovely garden. Download the Plantora app to learn more about such amazing plants and their plant care.