Tall trees are great for keeping the house and yard cool, but they may block too much sun for many plants in the garden.   Don’t give up.  We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 plants for shady and partly shady areas that get at least 4 hours of sun a day.

Trees & Shrubs that provide structure to the garden

• Dogwood

Dogwoods are shrubs with elegant flowers and beautiful green foliage lined with white. They can be planted in groups, with other plants and trees, or as a specimen plant. 

• Japanese Maples

Japanese Maples trees are a great foliage accent to the garden with their unique texture and color. Choose from a dwarf or semi-dwarf Japanese maple for a beautiful focal point for your shade garden.

• Viburnum

A beautiful flowering shrub, viburnum has lacy white or pink flowers that are quite fragrant. These shrubs are a beautiful accent to your spring garden, and provide striking fall color as well.

Perennials that come back year after year

• Hosta

With many different varieties, Hosta is the most popular perennial for the shade.  They’re highly recognized for their beautiful variegated or solid green foliage, and work well in borders or mixed with other plants.

• Heuchera

Heuchera, or coral bells, are magnets for hummingbirds. They come in a variety of vibrant colors that act as accent plants for your garden. With wand-like stems, their flowers are bell-shaped, but it’s their foliage that most attract the eye.  

• Astilbe

Astilbe is a very beautiful perennial with feathery plumes of white, pink, lavender, or red flowers that rise above finely divided foliage. This garden thriller blooms from spring up to late summer.

• Anemone

Anemones are lovely, delicate pink or white flowers that dance atop slender stems, giving them their poetic common name of windflower. They are perennial and grow to be excellent flowers for cutting to make bouquets and centerpieces.

Annuals that bloom all season long

• Begonia

Begonias, whether wax or tuberous, are great annuals for the shade or sun. Wax begonias form beautiful, but simple flowers in red, white, or pink with auburn or green foliage. Tuberous begonias have a more complex flower that blooms in white, pink, green and orange with green foliage.  

• Coleus

Beloved for their foliage, Coleus are available in a vast array of colors and textures.  From purple and green to auburn and gold variegation, coleus are great for adding color to shade.

•  Lobelia

Lobelia has a rich color and sweet smell, and attract hummingbirds to your garden.

All of the plant suggestions came from English Gardens’ free seminar: Cool Plants for Shady Areas. To learn more and attend one of our upcoming free seminars, check out the schedule at www.EnglishGardens.com/events