Top 10 Shade-Loving Plants
If you want to create full, lush plant coverage across all parts of your garden, you’ll need to contend with those shadier areas that don’t get as much sun.
Fortunately, there are plenty of plants that thrive in these conditions, just waiting to fill in those gaps under tree canopies, along fence lines and even indoors. Here are our top 10 shade-loving plants!
Violets
These woodland groundcovers offer delightfully fragrant flowers from late autumn through to spring. They prefer damp, full to part shaded spots, but will tolerate full sun in cooler areas.
Hellebores
These winter-flowering woodland plants are popular for semi-shaded spots in the garden. They are long lived and drought tolerant once established, and can be divided and spread for more ground coverage.
Ferns
Ferns are most at home in the shaded, moist conditions, and among the best plants for full shade. This makes them popular as indoor house plants, as well as in beds and rockeries.
Japanese Windflower
Also known as Japanese Anemone, these beautiful, autumn-flowering perennials have tall, graceful stems topped with single pink or white flowers. They love a semi-shaded position.
Oyster Plant
This fast growing, hardy evergreen features architectural leaves and tall spikes of white and purple flowers. Oyster plants will grow equally well in dry shade or full sun.
Gunnera Ornamental Rhubarb
Also known as Chilean Rhubarb, this spectacular, architectural plant features huge leaves of up to 2 metres across. It will grow in part shade, and loves a damp spot in the garden.
Liriope Summer Beauty
Liriopes are clumping, evergreen perennials with beautiful lilac purple coloured spikes in spring/summer. Almost indestructible, they grow equally well in full sun, part shade or full shade.
Arthropodium Matapouri Bay
Also known as the Renga Renga Lily, this clumping perennial has waxy, blue-green foliage that looks great all year round. It is happy in either full sun or part shade, and tolerates dry conditions.
Lily of the Valley
These tough little plants have pretty, bell-shaped spring flowers with a heavenly perfume. They’re great cool-climate full shade plants, preferring a cold, damp spot under a tree canopy.
Toad Lily
This easy-to-grow, hardy perennial bears striking, speckled flowers in white and dark purple. Happy in partial and full shade, they are great for naturalising in woodland garden borders.
Start planting today
Whether it’s a cool-climate woodland retreat or a backyard oasis in the tropics, every garden needs plants that love the shade. Garden Express has a huge selection available now, including some of the best plants for pots in the shade – indoor gardeners rejoice!
Current Sale
The problem with these email specials is the postage costs.
I often would like to buy one or two of these specials.
However, the postage costs usually doubles the price of the plant.
I realise you have to charge these costs but maybe occasionally have a special.
Maybe free postage for orders over, say, $20.
I feel that the amount of orders received would compensate.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards
Joe
Hi Joseph, thank you for your input. However, postage doesn’t double per plant as standard freight $11.50 per order. Hope this helps!
I really wish I knew what plants are wildlife edible for Tasmania?
We have moved
Maybe worthwhile contacting a local vet or perhaps a local wildlife group if they want to grow a wildlife friendly garden. Perhaps just remind them though that wildlife can easily decimate any plants that go in so they might be setting themselves up for a difficult time.
I cant seem to submit to your newsletter
Hi Andrew, if you are having trouble receiving emails please don’t hesitate to contact Customer Service on 1300 606 242.
Hi
What is the best flowering plants for shade part sun in the morning. The plants will go into planter boxes with Lillypillies.
Thanks Wendy