We often tend to plant only in sunny areas of the garden. It’s a shame because the shady corners also deserve to be beautified and there are also many varieties of plants that only thrive in almost perpetual shade. Here is a selection of 10 easy-to-grow shade plants for the garden.
1 – Rhododendrons or azaleas
With a few exceptions, these plants of the genus Rhododendron belonging to the family of Ericaceae are rustic. All are to be planted in heather soil, and they adapt very well to the shade. It is also preferable that they do not have to endure the sunshine during the afternoon which can be detrimental to them, especially in summer. Their decorative foliage and their spectacular flowering make them the plants of choice for a northeast exposure.
2 – The hostas
Perfect for dressing an area located at the edge of a forest for example or in a garden with lots of trees which therefore benefits from permanent shade, hostas are plants with decorative foliage which comes in different tones, green, bluish green, yellow, creamy white, plain or variegated. We can therefore easily illuminate a very shady place and quite dark just with a few well-chosen hostas. Note that these plants also like pots.
3 – Periwinkle
Plant of undergrowthperiwinkle (Vinca) belongs to the family of Apocynaceae. Elle blooms from April to June. It has evergreen decorative foliage. very rusticit grows particularly well in cool, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, and periwinkles can easily be propagated by simply transplanting a few cuttings.
4 – The Hortensia
It is a plant much appreciated for its spectacular flowering you know ease of cultivation. The Hortensia (Hydrangea macrophylla) thrives in acidic soil such as heather soil mixed with good, well-drained, fresh garden soil, as well assheltered from the sun. A northern exposure suits it perfectly and it flowers more generously if it can be installed in the shade. Care must be taken that the soil is never dry but beware of excessive watering because this plant hates having its feet in water.
5 – Euphorbia
We like to see it develop under the trees for example where it enjoys good shade. There are nearly 2,000 species of euphorbia (Euphorbia), plants of the family Euphorbiaceae. Many of them produce cyathesinflorescences arranged in umbels and whose yellowish-green color illuminates the not very sunny corners of the garden.
6 – The Heart of Mary
That beautiful sumptuous perennial likes a rich and fresh soil, provided it is located in the shade. Easy to cultivate, the Heart of Mary (Spectacular dicentra), of the family of Papaveraceaeis covered with spectacular flowers white, pink or red, from May to September. You can easily multiply the plants by dividing the clumps during the fall.
7 – The Fuchsia
There are a good hundred species of fuchsias (Fuchsia) but also thousands of cultivars, the latter being the hardiest. Those are shrubs which belong to the family of Onagraceae, very floriferous, working wonders in shade gardens. They are covered with splendid hanging tubular flowers, grouped in clusters, which come in many colors. Generally, Fuchsia flowers are two-tone and follow one another from May until frost, depending on the variety.
8 – The Mahoney
This undemanding shrub particularly likes the shade and you should not deprive yourself of it because it blooms all winter long, from December or January until spring. Its bright yellow flowers are deliciously fragrant. The Mahonia (Mahonia), a shrubby plant of the family Berberidaceae, has no particular sensitivity to drought and tolerates cold. It can be used isolated or in a hedge. It is therefore a very interesting plant to brighten up shade gardens during the off-season, but also in summer because at this time of the year the Mahonia is covered with bluish decorative berries arranged in clusters.
9 – St. John’s Wort ‘yellow flower’
Spectacular with its golden yellow flowers with prominent stamens that light up shady areas from June to October, St. John’s Wort (St. John’s wort), of the family of Clusiaceae, is a shrub that thrives in ordinary soil. It likes partial shade as well as full sun. It is therefore not a complicated plant and each gardener can install this St. John’s Wort wherever he wishes, even within a hedge or even along the wall of the house.
10 – New Guinea Impatiens or Balsamine
It is the perfect annual plant to satisfy gardeners wishing to install potted plants on a terrace always shaded or along a tree-lined path for example. New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) does not exceed 30 cm in height. It is installed in a planter, in a pot, in a basin or in the ground. This plant of the family of Balsaminaceae blooms profusely and without stopping April or May until frost. It comes in a multitude of colors, plain or two-tone. To promote flowering, simply eliminate faded flowers as you go along, but also water the plant abundantly because the beauty hates drought.