21 Flowers That Grow in Shade (with Pictures)

Flowers are a beautiful addition to any home, although not every species is suitable for all environmental conditions. Although most flowers thrive in the sun, many people wonder which flowers will grow well in the shade. Luckily, there are many beautiful flower species that will thrive in shady conditions.

Today, we will talk more about flowers that grow in the shade, so hopefully, you’ll find a species that will add a pop of color to a shady area of your yard or home. Below you can see our list of 21 shade-loving flowers.

The 21 Flowers That Grow in Shade

1. Begonia

Begonias love shady areas, so they’ll be a great addition to a shaded garden or a darker spot inside your home. They are low-maintenance, making them perfect for people who don’t have much time to dedicate to their plants. Typically, begonia flowers are large and can be red, pink, white, or yellow. They come in different forms and varieties, so there’s plenty to choose from. Commonly, begonias are anywhere from 8 inches to 2 feet tall, depending on their variety.

2. Viola

Violas are five-petaled, colorful flowers that come in any color of the rainbow. The most common viola colors are orange, royal purple, yellow, and white. They grow in partial shade, need well-drained, moist soil to prosper, and you can frequently find them in damp, dark areas. Violas are small plants that grow only around 8 inches high, and their flowers are edible. They come in many varieties, so some are perennial, some are annual, and some are shrubs.

3. Stinking Iris

Stinking Iris is an evergreen perennial that prefers shady conditions for growth. They are an excellent choice for gardens that don’t have a lot of sun exposure. Stinking Iris typically grows to around 2 feet tall. Its flowers are pale blue-purplish with a yellow tinge in the middle.

This plant bears red berries, which will look stunning in your garden and add a pop of color. They are low-maintenance, although you should compost them every once in a while to promote growth.

4. Snowdrop

Snowdrop is a perennial plant that blooms from late winter to early spring, bearing stunning white flowers. The flowers have a unique shape with six petals, making this flower stand out from the crowd. The plant is quite small and reaches a height of only 3 to 6 inches. They are one of the first flowers that bloom in spring, and they will spread throughout your garden over time. You won’t have to worry about too much maintenance as these flowers are not needy.

5. Astilbe

Astilbe is a bright, perennial plant that needs full to partial shade to grow. Their flowers resemble plumes and are typically white, red, or pink. This plant needs well-drained, moist soil to prosper, and you need to ensure that the soil won’t dry out. After you plant Astilbe, it will need 2 years to start flowering.

As for their size, depending on the variety, they can be from 6 inches tall to over 4 feet tall. Other than regular watering, these plants don’t require much maintenance, making them perfect for beginner gardeners and people who don’t have much time to spend on plant care.

6. Toad Lily

Toad Lily is an excellent addition to any shady garden, making it look exciting and exotic. Toad Lilies are bell or star-shaped, and they stand out due to their interesting, purple/white/pink spotty color. If you plant them in a proper, shaded location, these plants won’t require much maintenance. They grow out to be 1 to 3 feet high, and they will be taller if you plant them in moist soils.

7. Bellflower

Bellflower is typically a perennial plant, although it can also be annual and biennial. This plant got its name due to the bell-shaped flowers that are commonly blue, and they grow to be around 6 feet tall. They can quickly spread from their seed and could overtake your garden space. You can find them in woodlands as they need moist, dark conditions to thrive. Bellflowers are not needy, but they require regular watering and frost protection during winter.

8. Bleeding heart

Bleeding heart is another shade-loving plant with unique, heart-shaped flowers. This plant typically grows quite fast and can reach 2 to 3 feet in just 60 days. The flowers are commonly red, pink, or white, and they can be toxic to animals and humans. Bleeding hearts are also great for indoor conditions, so you can keep them inside of your home as long as you keep the plant away from pets and children.

9. Primrose

Primrose is a plant that thrives in the shade, and although some species can tolerate the sun, it’s best to plant them in part or full shade. Since they come in various colors, it’s best to buy them while blooming to ensure you’ll get the color you want. They are low-maintenance, although you need to water them regularly. These plants are quite small, and they grow out to be around 12 inches tall.

10. Brunnera

Brunnera is a perennial plant with large heart-shaped, silver leaves and small blue flowers that appear in early-mid spring and can last to early summer. These plants are resilient to diseases and pests, making them low-maintenance, although you must prune them to keep them healthy. Brunnera plants prefer colder climates, and they cannot perform well in hot, humid conditions. They are typically around 1 foot high, and they need moist, well-drained soil to prosper.

11. Spiderwort

Spiderwort is a perennial, bisexual flower native to America and Canada. The plant got its name due to the sticky secretion that flows out when a flower stem is cut and resembles a spider web once it hardens.  The flowers of this plant are commonly blue, white, pink, or purple, and they bloom from mid-spring to early summer.

When mature, these plants can be around 1 to 3 feet tall. To prosper, you need to plant them in partial or full shade, in well-drained, moist soils.

12. Foamflower

Foamflower is a small perennial plant you can find in well-drained, rich, loamy areas. It grows only about 6 to 8 inches tall and has maple-shaped leaves and white/pinky flowers. They are quite small and delicate but long-lasting. Besides its beautiful looks, this plant can be as beneficial as you can use it to treat wounds and relieve sore eyes. These plants are resistant to pests and diseases and require little maintenance to prosper.

13. Calendula

Calendula is a lovely plant that can be grown as annual or perennial. Its leaves and flowers are edible, and many people use them to add flavor to their salads. They are typically 1 to 2 feet high, and they bloom from late spring to early summer. Although they are not susceptible to pests and diseases, they can be prone to mildew. It can withstand cold temperatures, and it prospers in partial shade.

14. Heuchera

Heuchera is a perfect perennial to grow in shady conditions to brighten up your garden. These plants require little maintenance and are easy to grow. Their flowers are typically pink and purple, and they bloom from spring to early summer. Heuchera plants are not prone to pests and diseases, so you won’t need to use heavy pesticides on them. These plants are commonly 8 to 20 inches high, and one of their downsides is that they are not long-lasting.

15. Impatiens

Impatiens thrive in partial or full shade, making them great for indoor planting or shaded gardens. They will brighten up any space with their colorful flowers, which can be red, purple, pink, violet, yellow, or white. These plants grow around 30 inches high, and they are easy to grow as long as you plant them in the shade and provide well-drained, moist, and rich soil. Impatiens are quite heat-sensitive, so you have to ensure that they won’t have too much sun exposure as that could dry them out.

16. Hellebore

Hellebore is a stunning perennial that’s easy to grow as long as you keep it in shady conditions. These plants contain substances harmful to animals and humans, so you should keep them away from pets and children. Hellebores usually reach a height of 1 to 2 feet, and they need moist but well-drained soil to prosper. Their flowers are typically yellow, white, purple, or pink. They are low-maintenance and only require you to clean their leaves every once in a while.

17. Bletilla

Bletilla is a perennial plant that grows the best in partial shade. They are easy to grow which makes them great for beginner gardeners, and they don’t require much maintenance. Typically, Bletilla plants are 1 to 1 ½ feet tall, and they need moist, well-drained soil to thrive. Their bell-shaped flowers are purple, and they bloom from mid to late spring. These plants are generally disease-resistant, though they get occasional visitors such as slugs and snails.

18. Cladiuma

Caladium is a beautiful plant with large, heart-shaped, colorful leaves. They rarely bloom, but when they do, they bear stunning white-pinkish flowers. These plants are fast-growing and they will add a splash of color to a dark, shady area of your garden. Typically, caladium is around 1 to 2 ½ feet tall, while their leaves can be up to 12 inches long. This is another plant harmful to humans and animals, so be cautious when pets and kids are near caladium.

19. Fuchsia

Fuchsia is a popular decorative flower plant, that blooms in various vivid colors. You can grow this plant as a small shrub, bedding plant, or a miniature tree-like plant. Their flowers are tube-shaped, and they are typically red, purple, orange, and yellow. Mature plants can be up to 6 feet high, while some dwarf varieties are around 2 to 3 feet high. These plants need moist, organic, well-drained soil to thrive, and they bloom from mid to late spring.

20. Ivy

Ivy is an evergreen plant that thrives in partial to full shade and blooms in early to late fall. Since Ivy plants can wrap around trees and climb on walls, they can be over 100 feet tall. Although most people think Ivy doesn’t have flowers, that’s not true. Ivy has small, greenish flowers that represent an excellent food source for birds. This plant can thrive in almost any soil, but it requires well-drained, moist soils to prosper.

21. Dead Nettle

Dead Nettle is typically a wild plant although you can plant it in a shady area of your yard. It typically blooms from late summer to late fall, bearing small, lip-shaped, purple flowers. You can use dead nettle as an addition to salads, and it also has medical benefits which is convenient. This plant can grow to be anywhere from 4 to 8 feet tall, and it needs fertile, well-drained soil to prosper.

Conclusion

All of the species we mention thrive in the shade, so you won’t have to worry if your plant is getting enough sun exposure or not. Try to be caring and loving and try to maintain your flowers well so that you can admire them once they are in full bloom.

Featured Image Credit: Congerdesign, Pixabay