Brighten up a shady spot on your property (and by “shade” we mean an area that gets less than 6 hours of sunlight per day) with containers full of blooms and greenery once you understand which plants thrive when protected from full sunlight. We recommend starting your shady container garden with annuals because they are the easiest to grow. After that, you’ll want to add some perennials to the mix.
1. Begonia (Begonia spp.)
Many species of the begonia family are suitable for container gardening, including the Rex type, which is grown for its royally attractive foliage. Tuberous Begonias Produces large, frilly “powder-puff” blooms, and wax types spread profusions of small flowers for months. Begonias Enjoy rich soil, high humidity and filtered shade.
2. Caladium (Caladium bicolor)
Photo: istockphoto.com
Color-sprinkled leaves that are shaped like arrowheads and heights that rarely exceed 2 feet, Caladium Hit the bull’s eye when it comes to brightening up those shadowy corners. Also called angels’ wings, most caladiums do well without direct sun, which makes them excellent characters. Plant for full shade. Because they thrive in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, however, they are best grown in southern climates. Pet owners, beware: Caladium is Toxic to both cats and dogs.
3. Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
Popular for their “coats of many colors”. Coleus Cultivars vary in height from 8 inches to 3 feet, and are beloved for their brightly colored leaves. Although they produce blue spikes indistinguishable from lavender flowers, the flowers must be pinched off to prevent footfall. the most Coleus Prefers morning sun and afternoon shade, but more sun coleus varieties (such as Wizard Velvet Red and Wizard Golden). Heat tolerant and sunlight.
4. Creepy Jenny (Lysimachia numisaria)
Often sold as “spillers” for containers, Creepy Jenny Cascading over the edges of pots is pretty, but you’ll want to limit this perennial to containers because of its aggressive nature. Its yellow-green color brightens areas with partial shade, as do its 1-inch yellow blooms during summer.
5. Fern (Dryopteris, Polypodiumetc.)
Photo: istockphoto.com
As finely cut green fronds provide a lacy backdrop for blooms in bouquets, Fern Can do the same for flowering plants in containers. Woodlands, after all, are ferns’ natural environment, which is why most species can thrive in partial or full shade. Ferns look stunning hanging in pots, and bringing them indoors has advantages: some types of ferns, such as Boston FernRemove toxins from the air.
6. Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
Fuchsias Comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, with single or double, often bicolor, blooms that swing like pendulum earrings. There are more than 100 species in the Fuchsia genus. Although many gardeners grow this plant as an annual, it is actually a tender perennial that can survive warm climates—and, with proper care, can overwinter in colder areas.
Fuchsias do not like humid weather, and will wilt if exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat, making them best part shade container plants. They thrive best when there is moist soil and some morning sun.
7. Curiosity (Stimulates Valeria)
Stimulates ValeriaAlso known as the Busy Lizzy, keeps herself “busy” by producing mounds of colorful blooms in shady spots. (caste Valeriana Vigorous in partial or full shade and not to be confused with New Guinea impatiens, which need more sun than their colorful cousins.) Impatiens tend to die out dramatically if they dry out, but usually recover quickly from such stupor when they are watered.
8. Ivy (Ivy spp.)
Often invasive in the landscape, Ivy Known for creeping up the sides of centuries-old university buildings. However, topiary can add “class” to container gardens when shaped into balls or left to cascade over the edges of pots. For a garden that will pass with flying colors, ivy growth In somewhat humid climates – it is likely to happen Spider mites In more arid conditions.
9. Oxalis (Oxalis spp.)
Although plants of this genus are recognized by their showy, shamrock-like foliage, Oxalis Will keep your container “in clover” by producing ¾- to 2-inch blooms in white, yellow, pink or red. Oxalis are usually grown from tubers rather than seeds and thrive in partial shade.
10. Pansy (Viola x Vitrokiana)
Widely loved for their kitten faces, pansies Likes crisp weather and will bloom in spring or fall containers. A partially shaded location that provides the cool conditions they prefer should keep them blooming from spring to summer. With blooms 2 to 4 inches in diameter and 10 inches or more tall, pansy plants pack a lot of color and character into a compact package. Pinch off faded flowers To prevent the plant from going to seed too soon during that time.
11. Sweet Potato Wine (Sweet potatoes)
Although related to morning gloryDecorative types of Sweet potato vine Rarely flower. But their wide variety can provide you with almost any color of heart-shaped or lobed leaves, including black, red, chartreuse and variegated. Those colors are most intense in full sun, but can also be gorgeous in partial shade. Although the roots of the ornamental sweet potato vine are edible, they are not as tasty.
12. Japanese Maple (Maple Palmate)
Japanese Maples Known for their striking ornamental foliage that will treat you to new colors every season, from vibrant reds and pinks to rich purples. This Dwarf tree Cultivars are easiest to grow in containers, but most varieties do well in containers with adequate pruning. These beauties do best with afternoon shade or full shade and some morning sunlight.
13. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconura)
Plant a prayer They get their name from their striking leaves, which open flat during the day and fold inward at night. It is a tropical plant that prefers warm temperatures, so keep that in mind if growing prayer plants in outdoor containers. inside or outside, Plant a prayer Do well in partial to full shade and prefer moist, well-draining soil.
14. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plant A rosette of long green leaves is featured, often with a white variation. They grow well in full shade or indirect sunlight, but they grow quickly, so expect to repot them every other year or so. Spider plant Tip burn is likely, which is usually caused by too dry or too moist soil, so keep the soil evenly moist and sprinkle the leaves with water periodically if you live in a low humidity area.
15. Wishbone Flower (Torrenia fornieri)
Wishbone flowers A low-growing annual that produces attractive, two-toned purple or pink flowers throughout summer and fall. They grow well in containers and are beautiful Hanging baskets Around a shady deck or pergola. To maintain their bushy shape, pinch back wishbone flowers when they begin to get leggy.
16. Don’t Forget Me (Myosotis sylvatica)
forget me There are usually pretty blue flowers, but you can also buy pink and white cultivars. They are relative Low maintenance plant Which can do well in full or partial shade, but if you live in a very hot region, it needs afternoon shade to thrive and will go dormant in the hottest part of summer.
17. Seal of Solomon (Polygonatum biflorum)
Featuring clusters of bell-shaped white flowers and glossy green foliage, Seal of Solomon It is native to eastern North America and grows 1 to 6 feet tall, making it an excellent tall container plant for shade. It prefers partial to full shade, ideally with morning sunlight, but is a highly adaptable plant that can perform well in a variety of climates. It is drought tolerant when well established.
18. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
If you like the idea of winter blooms, consider planting Christmas roses, which bloom around Christmas in warmer areas and in cooler regions in early spring. Resistant to deer grazingChristmas rose plants prefer part to full shade and grow to about 1 foot tall, with large, bowl-shaped white flowers that float in bouquets or decorative bowls of water.
19. Swedish ivy (Plectranthus australis)
Swedish ivy A popular houseplant that can grow outdoors in zones 10 and 11. This fast-growing, shade-loving evergreen container plant prefers partial shade, but can tolerate full shade, and has lavender flowers that bloom year-round. Frost-tolerant plants should be pruned regularly to maintain their shape and encourage new branches.
20. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)
This small plant typically grows between 12 and 18 inches tall, with compound leaves that form an umbrella-like shape around a central point. in spring, Ginseng You will be treated to tiny white flowers that give way to bright red berries. Well-draining soil and partial to full shade will help this beauty thrive.
All you need to do is take care of your lawn and garden
