Best Plants for a Shady Yard

Your garden is one of the most notable features of your landscape.  

There is no better way to add a splash of color to your beautifully refined landscape. Gardens are a sanctuary in a sea of grass, fences, and your yard’s other prominent features.  

However, if your yard has many trees or is otherwise covered with shade for most of the day, you may struggle to grow traditional perennials.  

Don’t be deterred. There are many beautiful plants that can thrive (and even prefer) in full or partial shade.  

If you are looking to give your landscape a splash of life, we have assembled a list of the top six plants that do best in shady yards.  

Top Six Plants for a Shady Garden 

Overly shady yards can make it hard to support a beautiful garden. Many people think that the only plant that thrives in shade is the hasta, but this is far from true.  

While it is true that the hasta is an excellent plant for shady gardens, there are many other vibrant plants to choose from.  

Below are our top six plants ideal for shady gardens. 

Primrose 

Primroses are colorful, easy to grow and go well with any style. All you need is shade and moist soil. There are over 400 varied species of primroses and they come in every color of the rainbow and range from three inches to four feet. The flowers, which grow in clusters atop long green stems, resemble brightly colored balls of popcorn.  

Lady’s Mantle 

Alchemilla, known more commonly as lady’s mantle, is excellent for shady yards. Composed of hydro-phobic, pleaded leaves, water beads on the leaves of this plant when it rains. In the early summer, a lady’s mantle produces yellow-green flowers that were made for bouquets. The smallest species grows to about six inches high, and the largest up to 18 inches.  

Foxglove 

Foxglove, known formally as digitalis, is a unique plant that grows bell-like purple flowers in clusters along long, vertical stems. Foxglove is a biennial plant, meaning it will spend its first year growing foliage, and then produces vibrant flowers in its second season, after which it dies. Easy and reliable, foxglove reseeds itself. Expect more foxglove the season after your first plant dies.  

Foamflower 

As its name would suggest, foamflower produces small white flower clusters that resemble a burst of foam. Called a bottlebrush flower, long stems protrude from deep green Penta-pointed leaves near the garden soil. Foamflowers are a terrific way to add a touch of white to a sea of green.  

Dead Nettle 

Known scientifically as Lamium maculatum, dead nettle is a low, spreading plant that features silver-green leaves. In early summer, dead-nettles will sprout purple, pink, red, or white flowers. This plant does spread, but it is not overly aggressive. If you find too much dead nettle has grown, simply pull up and cut off the desired amount.  

Astilbe 

Iconic for their color plumes of flowers, astilbe comes in many different shades from golden bronze to pinkish red. The flowers stick several inches in the air, sprouting from thin green stems. Feel free to mix and match species and colors, it can help make your garden a bit more unique.  

Give Your Yard and Edge 

Gardens are one of the most exciting features of your landscape. They add a splash of life like nothing else.  

If your landscape is full of trees or covered in shade, then you will be limited by which types of flowers you can grow.  

However, if your landscape is not adequate, then not even the most beautiful garden will be able to save it. If your yard needs a little extra help, then it’s time to turn to the pros at Lebanon Lawn and Landscape.  

We serve yards just like yours all over Southwest Ohio. Find out what we can do for your yard today.