Plants that like shade

As a plantsperson, one of the questions I’m asked the most is “what plants will grow in my shady border?” And, very happily, the answer is lots! Almost every garden has bits that don’t get much sun; the trick for long-term successful planting – as always – is to work with the real-life conditions of the space. It’s super simple; in shady areas, choose plants that like shade.

The sciencey bit

You’ve probably seen the symbols on plant labels at garden centres and nurseries, but what do the terms ‘full sun’, ‘part shade’, and ‘full shade’ actually mean and why is it important?

Different plants need different levels of sunlight to create the energy they need to function and grow. Plants that need sun for most of the day will struggle to grow if they don’t get it. On the other side of the spectrum, plants that need shade will often scorch, wilt, and die if faced with the power of too much direct sunlight.

Here’s my (very simplified) take on those terms:

Full sun

• unobstructed direct sunlight reaches the ground for most of the day (more than 6 hours each day at midsummer, including at midday when the sun is at its strongest)

• likely to be open and/or south facing faces

  
  

Full shade (deep shade)

• very little, if any, direct sunlight reaches the ground (2-3 hours each day at the most, and not at midday)

• often north-facing spots and/or spots shaded by dense (evergreen) trees, buildings, or structures like walls or fences

  
  

Part shade (light shade, dappled shade)

• sits in the middle (neither full sun, nor full shade)

• a bit of sun and a bit of shade at different times of the day (technically speaking, 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day, in the morning or in the afternoon – not at midday)

  
  

Luckily for us, most plants will grow well in a range of light conditions; full sun and part shade, part shade and full shade, or even the whole shebang – full sun, part shade, and full shade (these are the heroes of the plant world). Just check the label when you buy the plant to make sure it works for your intended spot.

A note on water

Don’t assume that the soil in a shady area will be wet, especially if you have a sandy or chalky soil, or there are large trees or shrubs nearby. If your soil is very dry, try adding a 5-10cm layer of organic mulch like garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure around the plants every autumn and spring. Organic mulches are great because, not only do they help the ground to retain moisture, but they will also help to supress weeds, improve the texture of the soil, and add nutrients. In addition, choose plants that are known to cope well with dry shade. Things like Japanese anemones (Anemone japonica), masterworts (Astrantia spp.), lily turf (Liriope muscari), or ivy-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium).

Right, science bit done. Now on to the really fun part - here are some of my favourite herbaceous plants that will add a bit of colour and interest to your shady garden borders.

Groundcover Plants

Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla)

These clump-forming herbaceous perennials make great groundcover plants in damp shady areas under deciduous trees or at the edge of woodland paths. They have the most gorgeous silvery-green heart-shaped leaves and, in spring, they produce sprays of dainty blue or white 'forget-me-not' type flowers. One of my favourite varieties is ‘Mr Morse’ which has pure white flowers and beautiful silver-dusted leaves. 

Whitehead, E.J. (2024) Brunnera macrophylla 'Mister Morse' [photograph]

Lungwort (Pulmonaria) 

Another spring flowerer, these herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials will thrive in moist soil in full or part shade. Their narrow silvery leaves are patterned and speckled, and the pretty, bell-shaped pink, blue, white or purple flowers that they produce in spring are great for early pollinators. They make fantastic groundcover plants for shady areas. Remove the old leaves after they’ve finished flowering and they’ll reward you with a fabulous display of fresh foliage all summer long.

Whitehead, E.J. (2026) Pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie' [photograph]

Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor)

These evergreen perennials will tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun all the way through to full shade. They form a dense mat of neat, ovate leaves over time, making them a very useful plant for suppressing weeds and filling in gaps in borders or under shrubs. From spring to early autumn, they produce delicate flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink or white. Some varieties also have variegated leaves. Due to their spreading nature, they can become a bit of a nuisance once established, so cut them back or pull them out from areas where you don’t want them to grow.

Whitehead, E.J. (2025) Vinca minor f. alba [photograph]

Bugle (Ajuga reptans)

There are many varieties of Ajuga that thrive in full or part shade. Their low-growing, evergreen habit makes them a great plant for groundcover at the edge of a shady border. In spring and summer, they produce upright spires of blue, purple, or pink flowers. They don’t like to dry out, so make sure the soil stays damp and they will soon form a gorgeous creeping carpet of decorative leaves.

Hans (2012) Ajuga reptans [photograph]

Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

This evergreen perennial will form a dense mat of glossy dark green leaves in part or full shade. In early summer, it produces stubby spikes of small white flowers that contrast nicely with the foliage. So long as the soil stays relatively damp, it makes a great option for troublesome areas between trees or shrubs. It spreads via underground stems, so may need cutting back or thinning out every few years.  

manfredrichter (2020) Pachysandra terminalis [photograph]

Big blue lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Another evergreen perennial, big blue lilyturf forms dense clumps of narrow, grass-like, dark green leaves. In the autumn, it produces upright spikes of purple flowers, followed by black berries. It will tolerate a range of soil conditions in full or part shade and will even cope with dry shade once it is established. It’s the perfect plant for edging shady spaces.

manseok_Kim (2020) Big blue lilyturf [photograph]

Ivy-leaved cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium)

These delicate plants are just gorgeous when planted in dry shade under a deciduous tree or shrub. Their patterned, ivy-shaped leaves create a carpet of silvery-green in the winter and spring before disappearing underground in the summer. In the autumn, they produce fragrant nodding flowers in shades of pink and white, followed by sticky seeds that are moved around the garden by ants. They love to self-seed but the little plantlets are easily removed when small.

Nennieinszweidrei (2021) Cyclamen hederifolium [photograph]

Lily of the valley (Convalaria majalis)

Lily of the valley are one of my absolute all-time favourite late spring flowers. Native to UK woodlands, I just love their delicate, bell-shaped, fragrant, white flowers. They’re happiest in part shade in a reliably moist soil where they’ll spread via rhizomes (underground stems) to form large colonies, making them great for seasonal groundcover. Lift and divide them after flowering if the clumps get too big, or if they spread too far. A point to note though - all parts of the plant are toxic if eaten, so be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves when handling them and avoid planting them in gardens used by children or pets.

Alicja (2018) Lily of the Valley [photograph]

Taller Highlights

Alum root (Heuchera)

Most varieties of Heuchera will tolerate part shade. With a rosette of lobed leaves and delicate bell-shaped pink or white flowers held high on slim stems in the summer, they come in a wide range of leaf colours, from purple, pink, and red, all the way through to acid green. Heuchera grow upwards from the crown, so you’ll need to lift and divide them every few years, taking healthy sections with roots and stems from around the edge of the mother plant in spring and planting them deep.

Whitehead, E.J. (2025) Heuchera [photograph]

Masterwort (Astrantia)

These long-flowering perennials form a clump of fresh, green, lobed leaves. In summer, they produce gorgeous, fragrant umbels of pincushion-like flowerheads in shades of red, pink and white. Great for pollinators like beetles, Astrantia are a garden designer’s favourite for part shade. Wonderful in a mixed or herbaceous border, they make easy companions for a host of other ornamentals, including grasses.

Whitehead, E.J. (2024) Astrantia [photograph]

False goatsbeard (Astilbe)

Another classic perennial for damp shade, Astilbes come in a range of colours and sizes. One of my favourite varieties is ‘Bressingham Beauty’ with its serrated bronze-tinted leaves and feathery plumes of bright pink flowers in the summer. Grow them in dappled shade in moist or boggy soil that does not dry out over the summer (they will not tolerate drought and may be damaged by hot sun).

Whitehead, E.J. (2024) Astilbe [photograph]

Hellebores (Helleborus)

Hellebores are another classic woodland plant. They come in a mass of shapes, sizes, and flower colours – from green, white, and pink, all the way through to blackish purple. They thrive in heavy soil in light shade, putting on a colourful display from winter through to spring. Cut back the old leaves in late winter or early in spring to give the flowers room to put on a good display and to control hellebore leaf spot disease.

Whitehead, E.J. (2026) Helleborus [photograph]

Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

I couldn’t talk about shade-loving plants without mentioning ferns; many varieties of fern need to grow in either full or part shade to avoid leaf damage. One of my absolute favourites – and one that is native to the UK – is the hart’s tongue fern. It’s an evergreen type of fern that forms a mound of gorgeous, arching, rich green, strap-like fronds with ‘wobbly’ edges. Great planted towards the back of a shaded border, it can grow to as tall as 60cm. It’s tolerant of dry soil once established. 

It_was_a_pleasure (2021) Hart’s tongue fern [photograph]

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea)

These classic cottage garden biennials produce a rosette of softly hairy foliage in their first year. In the summer of their second (and final) year, they produce tall spires of spotty, tubular flowers in shades of pink and cream which are loved by all pollinators, but especially bumble bees. Great dotted towards the back of a shady border, if you leave the seed heads on after flowering is done, they will often self-seed around the garden, creating new plants to replace the old ones. One thing to bear in mind though is that they are incredibly poisonous, so they’re probably best not grown at all in gardens used by children and animals. 

LouisaLouisa (2014) Foxgloves [photograph]

Meadow rue (Thalictrum)

Thalictrum have gorgeous, lacy, green foliage and tall, upright stems. In summer, they bear liberal sprays of fluffy, pink, purple, or white flowers. They look great towards the back of a partially shady border, especially when combined with grasses or contrasted with larger-leaved plants. My absolute favourite is ‘Black Stockings' with its frothy, lavender-coloured flowers and striking, jet-black stems.

Whitehead, E.J. (2025) Thalictrum 'Black Stockings' [photograph]

Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

These tall, clump-forming perennials love a bit of shade. Best grown in a damp spot, they emerge from the soil in early spring and produce a mound of fern-like, mid-green leaves. Formerly known as Dicentra, they are one of the earliest perennials to flower and will be covered arching sprays of gorgeous heart-shaped, red, pink or white flowers from late spring into early summer. The foliage does tend to die back after flowering, so mix them in with other later-flowering perennials in a border to create uninterrupted interest.

Whitehead, E.J. Bleeding heart [photograph]

Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida)

Japanese anemones are tall, late-flowering perennials and are fabulous plants for brightening up lightly shaded spots. In late summer and on into autumn, they produce masses of graceful, cup-shaped, white or pink flowers on tall, wiry stems. They do have a tendency to take over once they’re established, so either grow them in a pot or in a self-contained border or bed where they can spread to their heart’s content.

jhenning (2020) Japanese anemone [photograph]

References

• Alicja (2018) ‘Lily of the Valley’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/lilies-of-the-valley-spring-flowers-3365269/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• Hans (2012) ‘Ajuga reptans’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/creeping-g%c3%bcnsel-pointed-flower-54068/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• It_was_a_pleasure (2021) ‘Hart’s tongue fern’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/fern-harts-tongue-leaf-green-5965525/ [Accessed 18 March 2026] 

• jhenning (2020) ‘Japanese anemone’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/japanese-anemone-flowers-meadow-5618001/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• LouisaLouisa (2014) ‘Foxgloves’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/digitalis-purpurea-foxglove-359157/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• manfredrichter (2020) ‘Pachysandra terminalis’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/japanese-ysander-4961835/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• manseok_Kim (2020) 'Big blue lilyturf' [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/liriope-big-blue-lilyturf-flower-5598444/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• Nennieinszweidrei (2021) ‘Cyclamen hederifolium’ [photograph] in pixabay.com. Available at https://pixabay.com/photos/cyclamen-pink-flowers-petals-plants-6709176/ [Accessed 18 March 2026]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2024) ‘Astilbe’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2024) ‘Astrantia’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. ‘Bleeding heart’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2024) ‘Brunnera macrophylla 'Mister Morse'’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2026) ‘Helleborus’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2025) ‘Heuchera’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2026) ‘Pulmonaria 'Shrimps on the Barbie'’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2025) ‘Thalictrum 'Black Stockings'’ [photograph]

• Whitehead, E.J. (2025) ‘Vinca minor f. alba’ [photograph]