About This Collection
Shade gardens thrive with hostas, ferns, heuchera, astilbe, and many native woodland plants. Match part shade (2–4 hours sun) vs full shade (<2 hours) to each plant's needs.
Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal for many "shade" plants; deep north-side shade needs true full-shade specialists.
Find Shade Plants → or browse the interactive directory.
Featured Plants
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Zones 3–9
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Zones 3–9
Daylily
Hemerocallis fulva
Zones 3–9
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Zones 4–9
Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Zones 4–8
Hosta
Hosta sieboldiana
Zones 3–9
Coral Bells
Heuchera micrantha
Zones 4–9
Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Zones 3–9
Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis
Zones 3–8
Sedum Autumn Joy
Hylotelephium Autumn Joy
Zones 3–9
Hardy Geranium Rozanne
Geranium Rozanne
Zones 5–8
Penstemon
Penstemon digitalis
Zones 3–8
Veronica Speedwell
Veronica spicata
Zones 3–8
Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Zones 3–9
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Zones 3–9
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Zones 4–9
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Zones 3–9
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Zones 3–9
Tall Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata
Zones 4–8
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Zones 3–8
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Zones 3–9
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zones 3–8
Iris
Iris germanica
Zones 3–9
Siberian Iris
Iris sibirica
Zones 3–8
Frequently Asked Questions
Part shade vs full shade?
Part shade is 2–4 hours of direct sun; full shade is under 2 hours. Most shade plants prefer part shade.
Which plants work under trees?
Ferns, hostas, heuchera, and native woodland wildflowers tolerate root competition and filtered light.