The plant may die back in summer and sprout again in fall. Charming sprays of heart-shaped flowers in early summer make this old-fashioned favorite a must-have. The flowers come in a variety of colors ranging from deep red to pink with lime-green to dark green foliage. This pretty ground cover blooms in early to late spring with small bell-shaped flowers and spotted foliage. It looks best planted en masse.
The name comes from its historic usage to treat lung ailments! Although this perennial blooms well in full sun, it tolerates part shade, especially in hot climates. The tall spiked flowers are a standard in cottage gardens.
The triangular shape and three leaves below the blooms of this striking native flower gives the plant its name. It's hardy, showy, and tolerates wet soil. This intriguing native perennial blooms in late spring. These delicate bells dangle on short stems and have a strong fragrance.
It's a ground cover that spreads readily, so be careful where you plant it. Huge heart-shaped leaves in splashy colors offer plenty of drama. This perennial boasts a thick blanket of deep-green leaves that grow on upright red stems. Pendulous tuber-shaped flowers dangle from the stems in late spring and become bluish berries in the fall. Country Life. Design Ideas. Home Maintenance. Country Living Shop. Shopping Guides.
United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Makeover Takeover: Colonial Comeback. Treat Your Family to Homemade Cupcakes. There are many varieties of spurge, but Euphorbia amygdaloides var. From late spring it bears lime-green flowers above dark green leaves. Perfect for dry shade, it works well beneath trees and woodland borders. Left unchecked it can become invasive. The snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis , flowers at the end of winter, often pushing up through frozen ground and blooming for weeks until the daffodils appear.
It thrives in full shade, particularly in heavy, moist soils. Aconites grow into clumps, eventually bearing masses of bright yellow flowers in late January and February. They thrive in damp shade so are perfect for growing in a damp, shay border or woodland garden.
There are many varieties of bellflower, most of which thrive in shade. Campanula lactiflora pictured bears pretty clusters of purple-blue bell-shaped flowers, above heart-shaped green leaves, from summer to autumn. Like all bellflowers, its blooms are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
Our native foxglove, Digitalis purpurea , is a woodland plant that thrives in dappled or partial shade. There are many cultivars and varieties that flower in different colours and have different shaped blooms. Most thrive in partial shade but some require more sun. Aquilegias are a charming, old-fashioned cottage garden plant with bonnet-shaped flowers, perfect for growing in partial shade. Aquilegia flabellata pictured is a dwarf columbine, bearing blue nodding flowers over a compact mound of waxy grey-green foliage.
Bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis Dicentra , bears pink-red, heart-shaped flowers with white tips, which hang from arching flower stems in late spring to early summer. It grows well in light, damp shade and looks good growing in clumps amongst shrubs. Lungwort, Pulmonaria , is named after its mottled leaves, which are supposed to resemble lungs. Different varieties produce different leaf markings, which look their best in mid spring when putting on fresh growth after flowering.
This moves down through:. Dry shade often occurs in urban gardens. Dry shade also occurs beneath large trees with shallow roots. The leaves prevent rain reaching the ground and the soil moisture is further depleted by the shallow root system of the tree. These problems may be further exacerbated if your soil is sandy or shallow and chalky. You can do this by digging in lots of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or compost during the spring or autumn. Suitable mulches include organic matter, decorative stones, gravel or bark chippings.
Another trick is to create a wide planting hole and line it with perforated polythene. Mix the excavated soil with well-rotted manure or compost before backfilling the hole.
The polythene should help retain more water for your plants. Damp shade naturally occurs in areas of woodland or forest where the cool, moist environment is ideal for foliage plants such as ferns and hostas.
In gardens, these conditions may occur near water or in areas with clay soil. As with dry shade, the most important thing to do before planting is to improve your soil by digging in plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost. This will improve drainage, which is particularly helpful if you have heavy clay soil. This will break down over time and further improve your soil structure. There are lots of shrubs that grow equally well in areas of dry or damp shade including Mahonia , the non-fussy Symphoricarpus Snowberry , Viburnum and Sarcococca Sweet Box.
Some of these will require support wires or a trellis in order to climb whereas others naturally cling to a surface, like Hedera helix ivy. The ' Troki Red Wall' variety is a particularly popular low maintenance option: leafy, rich, green vines appear quickly in the spring and turning a deep, rich red at the end of summer. The tough and evergreen Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper and even some varieties of Honeysuckle can also handle dry shade.
Ivy, climbing hydrangeas such as Hydrangea petiolaris and Akebia quinata Chocolate Vine , meanwhile, are happier in damp shade. While common in the woods, they work just as well in gardens with varying degrees of dry shade, as do some varieties of Cyclamens and Anemones. Dicentra spectabilis. The white, pink, or red heart-shaped flowers are borne on arching stems above fern-like leaves. The most commonly grown variety of this deciduous perennial is L. Dicentra spectabilis , a spring ephemeral that dies back in summer.
Plant these alongside hosta or other bold-leafed plants that will grow up and cover the dying foliage. Bleeding heart grows best in rich, well-draining soil with regular moisture. For longer-lasting plants, the foliage and flowers of fringed bleeding heart D. Grow in a woodland setting with other shade lovers, or in a container as a dramatic focal point. Hellebores Helleborus are coveted by avid gardeners for their exceptionally long bloom time, cup-shaped flowers and attractive evergreen foliage.
Christmas rose H. Thanks to recent breeding breakthroughs, the most commonly grown species H. These tough plants prefer rich, well-draining soil, tolerate varying light conditions, and are virtually carefree once established. Naturalize in a woodland setting, plant in front of a mixed border, or in containers. Combine with anemone, hosta, trillium and daffodils.
Stinking hellebore H. Among the most beloved ornamental trees, Japanese maples Acer palmatum are grown for their multi-seasonal interest, elegant structure and brilliantly colored foliage in shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. While some varieties grow into medium or tall trees, others stay smaller, making them suitable for urban lots.
These deciduous trees do best when planted in rich, well-draining soil, and with regular water and protection from hot afternoon sun. Use as a backdrop in a mixed woodland border or as a stand-alone focal point. For natural woodland appeal, birch Betula trees make a valuable addition to the landscape for their elegant stature, fall color, and ornamental bark that is particularly attractive in winter. Some varieties are extremely hardy, making them a good choice in colder regions.
These deciduous trees are fast growing and perform best in rich, well-draining soil with regular water and at least part-day sun. Grown for its showy flowers and statuesque habit, dogwood Cornus is synonymous with spring.
While most are deciduous trees, there are also shrub and groundcover forms. Tree varieties most available to home gardeners tend to be small to medium-sized, making them suitable to urban lots and curbside strips where power lines are a concern.
Some varieties prefer full sun, though others are suited to the dappled shade of their native woodland habitat. Use as a backdrop or focal point in a mixed border, or as a stand-alone focal point in a lawn. Grow with compatible understory plants such as daffodils, sweet woodruff, hosta and ferns.
In the dead of winter when there is little life in the garden, the delicate ribbon-like flowers of witch hazel Hamamelis cheer up even the dreariest days. The graceful vase-shaped structure is just a bonus, with some varieties having additional attributes of fall color or fragrance. This deciduous tree or shrub needs virtually no care once established, with most suitable for small spaces. Smaller specimens can be grown in containers.
Combine with other plants with winter interest such as hellebores, snowdrops, and heathers. Plant expert Kerry Ann Mendez introduces you to a wide variety of perennials, flowering shrubs, annuals, bulbs and flowering vines for shade gardens in Zones 3 to 8. Get design tips and plant combinations that will have you eager to plant up the shady spots in your garden.
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