Perennial Plants for Shade

Perennial Plants for Shade

Add brightness and depth to dark corners with shade-loving flowers

A shady spot in your landscape offers the opportunity to grow some wonderful, unique plant selections that not only tolerate shade but actually prefer it. These include richly-colored flowers, plants with lush green foliage, flowering groundcovers, and vines that will climb and provide cover. Best of all, air temperatures in a shade garden can be 15-25 degrees cooler than in the open sun! So choose your favorites and plant a relaxing place to cool off and unwind.

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  1. Shade Loving Garden - Large

    Our Large Shade Garden features vibrant colors and textures that transform your low light areas into inspired wonderlands. Shade-loving superstars like Mophead Hydrangea and Ligulari...

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    Shade Loving Pre-Planned Garden - Large Shade Loving Pre-Planned Garden - Large
    $231.99 Sale $195.99
    Per Garden of 25
    Our Large Shade Garden features vibrant colors and textures that transform your low light areas into inspired wonderlands. Shade-loving superstars like Mophead Hydrangea and Ligularia The Rocket burst forward, while understory perennials provide a backdrop of lush, multicolored foliage and delicate blooms. This Pre-Planned Garden comes with a garden layout map to make planting easy.
  2. Blue Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica

    Virginia Bluebell’s gorgeous flowers start out as lovely, pastel pink buds and open up into vivid, true blue blooms. A perfect addition to part and full-shade woodland gardens,...

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    Virginia Bluebells Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica
    As low as $13.86
    Per Bag of 3
    Virginia Bluebell’s gorgeous flowers start out as lovely, pastel pink buds and open up into vivid, true blue blooms. A perfect addition to part and full-shade woodland gardens, plant Virginia Bluebells to see early spring blooms and frequent visits from pollinators. This native plant increases in size each year and will form a beautiful colony over time with almost no care from the gardener. (Mertensia virginica)
  3. Feathered Friends™ Cordial Canary Ajuga

    Feathered Friends™ ‚Cordial Canary‚ Ajuga readily spreads to form a dense, low-growing groundcover with brilliant chartreuse foliage. Short spikes of blue flowers bloom...

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    Feathered Friends™ Cordial Canary Ajuga Feathered Friends™ Cordial Canary Bugleweed Ajuga Cordial Canary PPAF
    As low as $9.32 Sale $7.46
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Feathered Friends™ 'Cordial Canary' Ajuga readily spreads to form a dense, low-growing groundcover with brilliant chartreuse foliage. Short spikes of blue flowers bloom in summer, adding a pop of color and attracting pollinators. This highly adaptable perennial tolerates light foot traffic, making it a great choice for walkways, and its golden foliage makes an attractive lawn alternative for yards and hillsides. Plants are evergreen in regions with mild winters. (Ajuga reptans)
  4. Native Shade Low Grow Plant Collection

    Our Native Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection features native perennial flowers inspired by the natural beauty of a woodland edge. Enjoy the soft textures and colors of these resilient,...

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    Native Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection Native Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection
    As low as $36.26
    Per Collection of 4
    Our Native Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection features native perennial flowers inspired by the natural beauty of a woodland edge. Enjoy the soft textures and colors of these resilient, easy-to-grow groundcovers that thrive in shaded areas. Our Low-Grow Collections are perfect for transforming your yard from lawn to flowers, a few square feet at a time! Plant below taller perennials, as edging for a garden border, or as a no-mow lawn alternative. Collection of 4 or 12 plants.
  5. Hart's Tongue Fern, Asplenium scolopendrium

    Hart‚s Tongue Fern is unique in its appearance, with long, smooth fronds that unfurl into tall and narrow blades. Lacking the tooth-like divisions most ferns are known for, thi...

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    Hart's Tongue Fern Hart's Tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium
    $13.32 Sale $10.66
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Hart's Tongue Fern is unique in its appearance, with long, smooth fronds that unfurl into tall and narrow blades. Lacking the tooth-like divisions most ferns are known for, this plant still delivers loads of interest to the garden with its pointed tips that remain curled until the last moment, and notably thick, cigar-shaped spores. The Hart's Tongue Fern will flourish in shady, cool areas with moist soil. (Asplenium scolopendrium)
  6. Sweet Woodruff, close up

    Sweet Woodruff is a vigorous, attractive, shade-loving groundcover. It produces whorls of emerald green foliage around its stems. Plants naturalize conditions to form a dense, low-gr...

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    Sweet Woodruff Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum
    As low as $13.32
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Sweet Woodruff is a vigorous, attractive, shade-loving groundcover. It produces whorls of emerald green foliage around its stems. Plants naturalize conditions to form a dense, low-growing mat, making a great groundcover for shaded gardens and beneath shrubs and trees. Sweet Woodruff is blanketed with tiny fragrant white flowers that form in loose clusters in early to mid-spring, attracting bees and other pollinators. Decorative foliage becomes highly fragrant as it dries. (Galium odoratum)
  7. Hayscented Fern, Dennstaedtia fronds

    Have an area that needs some plant cover? Hay-Scented Fern’s lacy green fronds wave from upright plants that will thrive in shade to part-shade, and even sun if the soil is moi...

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    Hay Scented Fern Hay Scented Fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
    $15.99 Sale $12.79
    Per Bag of 3
    Have an area that needs some plant cover? Hay-Scented Fern’s lacy green fronds wave from upright plants that will thrive in shade to part-shade, and even sun if the soil is moist. Growing from 18-24" tall, Hay-Scented Fern will spread quickly to form colonies that can cover a large expanse. When the fronds are disturbed, the lovely scent of summertime hay wafts through the air. (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
  8. Ginger, Arrow Leaf, Asarum arifolium

    Arrow-Leaf Ginger, grows up to 6-8inches in height. It blooms dark purple flowers in early summer and grows best in full shade to partial shade. It is deer resistant and has scented...

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    Arrow Leaf Ginger Arrow Leaf Ginger, Arrow-leaf Ginger Asarum arifolium
    $17.32 Sale $13.86
    Per Bag of 3
    Arrow-Leaf Ginger, grows up to 6-8inches in height. It blooms dark purple flowers in early summer and grows best in full shade to partial shade. It is deer resistant and has scented leaves. (Asarum arifolium)
  9. Woodland Wildflower Collection

    The Woodland Wildflower Collection includes 6 beloved varieties of familiar flowers found throughout the woods of North America. Blooming in the spring as the sun peeks through the t...

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    Woodland Wildflower Collection Woodland Wildflower Collection
    $93.32 Sale $73.99
    Per Collection of 18
    The Woodland Wildflower Collection includes 6 beloved varieties of familiar flowers found throughout the woods of North America. Blooming in the spring as the sun peeks through the tree canopy, each variety also provides rich foliage in summer and autumn as they spread and naturalize. Includes Virginia Bluebells, White Trillium, Dwarf Crested Iris, Jack in the Pulpit, Bloodroot, and Dutchman's Breeches.
  10. Burgundy Glow Ajuga, Ajuga reptans Burgundy Glow

    ‚Burgundy Glow‚ Ajuga is a vibrant, spreading groundcover with multi-colored foliage and purple-blue flowers. Maroon and green leaves are edged with cream and can create ...

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    Burgundy Glow Ajuga Burgundy Glow Bugleweed Ajuga reptans Burgundy Glow
    As low as $6.65 Sale $5.32
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Burgundy Glow' Ajuga is a vibrant, spreading groundcover with multi-colored foliage and purple-blue flowers. Maroon and green leaves are edged with cream and can create a dense carpet over even the toughest-of-soils in full and part shade. Growing 4-6" tall and 12-18" wide, 'Burgundy Glow' is considered evergreen in warmer regions. (Ajuga reptans)
  11. Pink Foxglove Mertonensis, Digitalis close up flower

    Blooming in a lovely shade of coppery rose, Foxglove ‘Mertonensis’ brings tall stalks of bell-shaped flowers and tidy green foliage to the back border. Growing 3-4’...

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    Merton Foxglove Merton Foxglove Digitalis grandiflora x purpurea
    $11.99 Sale $9.59
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Blooming in a lovely shade of coppery rose, Foxglove ‘Mertonensis’ brings tall stalks of bell-shaped flowers and tidy green foliage to the back border. Growing 3-4’ tall, this biennial foxglove is happiest in full to part shade gardens and is easy to care for. Cutting plants back to their base after flowers have faded may bring a second round of blooms. Deer resistant. (Digitalis x mertonensis)
  12. Lamium Orchid Frost, Lamium maculatum, Dead Nettle

    Orchid Frost makes a great groundcover for shade with variegated leaves and orchid-pink bloom. Only 8 inches tall. PP#11122 (Lamium maculatum)...

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    Orchid Frost Lamium Orchid Frost Dead Nettle PP#11122 Lamium maculatum Orchid Frost PP#11122
    As low as $6.65 Sale $5.32
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Orchid Frost makes a great groundcover for shade with variegated leaves and orchid-pink bloom. Only 8 inches tall. PP#11122 (Lamium maculatum)
  13. Treasured Trillium Collection

    The Treasured Trillium Collection celebrates the most-beloved woodland wildflower in all the land! Featuring five different varieties of Trillium, also known as Wake Robin, in shades...

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    Treasured Trillium Collection Treasured Trillium Collection Trillium
    $87.99 Sale $70.99
    Per Collection of 15
    The Treasured Trillium Collection celebrates the most-beloved woodland wildflower in all the land! Featuring five different varieties of Trillium, also known as Wake Robin, in shades of Red, White, Yellow, Rose (also called Nodding trillium), and the unusual Painted trillium. Be sure to leave a bit of room for these beauties to spread and multiply. Plant together for a carpet of spring blooms.
  14. Woodland Phlox Blue Moon, Wild Sweet William, Phlox divaricata Blue Moon

    ‚Blue Moon‚ is a lovely native Phlox groundcover featuring clouds of rich violet-blue blooms that float above green foliage. With fragrance to wake up your senses, it fl...

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    Blue Moon Woodland Phlox Woodland Phlox Blue Moon, Wild Sweet William Phlox divaricata Blue Moon
    As low as $7.46
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Blue Moon' is a lovely native Phlox groundcover featuring clouds of rich violet-blue blooms that float above green foliage. With fragrance to wake up your senses, it flowers in April May. Its a perfect addition to a rock garden or any shady spot where it can slowly naturalize. Provides early season pollen for hummingbirds and butterflies. (Phlox divaricata)
  15. Lady's Mantle in rock garden

    Lady‚s Mantle is a classic beauty long cherished for velvety, scallop-edged foliage and chartreuse blooms. Growing in soft mounds, the light green to olive foliage is ignored b...

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    Lady's Mantle Lady's Mantle Alchemilla mollis
    As low as $13.32 Sale $10.66
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Lady's Mantle is a classic beauty long cherished for velvety, scallop-edged foliage and chartreuse blooms. Growing in soft mounds, the light green to olive foliage is ignored by deer and rabbits. Sprays of loosely clustered flowers create an airy halo above the plants in late spring and early summer. Lady's Mantle makes a lush groundcover and easy complement many other perennials. With a luxuriously soft, touchable texture, tuck these plants into a cottage gardens or grow at the edge of a path. (Alchemilla mollis)
  16. Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Ostrich Fern

    The Ostrich Fern is a grand, native plant from the Eastern American woodlands. Unfurling in a fiddlehead shape, it gets its name from the open plumes that resemble ostrich feathers. ...

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    Ostrich Fern Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
    As low as $11.99 Sale $9.59
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    The Ostrich Fern is a grand, native plant from the Eastern American woodlands. Unfurling in a fiddlehead shape, it gets its name from the open plumes that resemble ostrich feathers. Like most ferns, this one prefers a cool, moist spot and will spread and thrive in any wet, shady area of the garden. A notably graceful plant. (Matteuccia struthiopteris).
  17. Indian Pink, Spigelia marilandica with hummingbird

    Indian Pink is an easy-to-grow native woodland perennial which prefers moist and well-drained soils. The unusual blooms are trumpet shaped with a red exterior, yellow inside, and a u...

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    Indian Pink Indian Pink Spigelia marilandica
    $17.32
    Per Bag of 3
    Indian Pink is an easy-to-grow native woodland perennial which prefers moist and well-drained soils. The unusual blooms are trumpet shaped with a red exterior, yellow inside, and a unique flare at the top that forms a star shape. This woodland plant has glossy green foliage and spreads easily. Grows in part sun to full shade. (Spigelia marilandica)
  18. Shade Loving Pre-Planned Garden - Small

    Plant a cool, colorful oasis with a Shade Garden! These perennial plants establish themselves beautifully in spots with less sun, so you can spend more time enjoying unique blooms an...

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    Shade Loving Pre-Planned Garden - Small Shade Loving Pre-Planned Garden - Small
    $155.99 Sale $130.99
    Per Garden of 17
    Plant a cool, colorful oasis with a Shade Garden! These perennial plants establish themselves beautifully in spots with less sun, so you can spend more time enjoying unique blooms and striking foliage out of the exhausting summer heat. Discover a world of feathery plumes, mottled foliage and treasured woodland flowers. This Pre-Planned Garden comes with a garden layout map to make planting easy.
  19. Red Bleeding Heart Valentine, Dicentra spectabilis Valentine

    ‚Valentine‚ Bleeding Heart is a compact variety with dark green leaves and fragrant, deep red flowers that hang from true red stems. A newer introduction, ‚Valentin...

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    Valentine® Bleeding Heart Valentine® Old Fashioned Bleeding Heart PP#22739 Dicentra spectabilis Valentine® PP#22739
    $13.32 Sale $10.66
    Per Bag of 1
    'Valentine' Bleeding Heart is a compact variety with dark green leaves and fragrant, deep red flowers that hang from true red stems. A newer introduction, 'Valentine' still sports the delicate heart-shaped flowers that Bleeding Hearts are known for and will feel at home in any shade garden. PPAF (Dicentra spectabilis)
  20. Lamium White Nancy, Lamium maculatum, Dead Nettle

    White Nancy is a mat forming flowering groundcover for shady areas. Use with hostas and other shade lovers. (Lamium maculatum)...

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    White Nancy Lamium White Nancy Dead Nettle Lamium maculatum White Nancy
    As low as $6.65 Sale $5.32
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    White Nancy is a mat forming flowering groundcover for shady areas. Use with hostas and other shade lovers. (Lamium maculatum)
  21. Stormy Shade Low Grow Plant Collection
Black Scallop Ajuga Image Courtesy of  Walter's Gardens Inc

    Our Stormy Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection features a cool and contemporary color palette with silvery foliage and blue blooms. Hardy perennial groundcovers and textural ferns create...

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    Stormy Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection Stormy Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection
    As low as $39.99 Sale $34.99
    Per Collection of 4
    Our Stormy Shade Low-Grow Plant Collection features a cool and contemporary color palette with silvery foliage and blue blooms. Hardy perennial groundcovers and textural ferns create a tapestry of texture beneath trees and shrubs, and brighten shady areas in the garden. Our Low-Grow Collections are perfect for transforming your yard from lawn to garden, a few square feet at a time! Plant below taller perennials, as edging for a garden border, or as a no-mow lawn alternative. Collection of 4 or 12 plants.
  22. Pink Rose Trillium, Trillium catesbaei, Wake Robin

    An easy to grow Trillium bulb with a famous name. The rosy pink flowers nod beneath the leaves. (Trillium catesbaei)...

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    Rose Trillium Bashful Wake Robin, Rosy Trillium Trillium catesbaei
    $17.32 Sale $13.86
    Per Bag of 3
    An easy to grow Trillium bulb with a famous name. The rosy pink flowers nod beneath the leaves. (Trillium catesbaei)
  23. Blue Ajuga Black Scallop, Ajuga reptans, photo courtesy of Walters Garden Inc.

    ‚Black Scallop‚ Ajuga is a fast-growing and attractive groundcover with burgundy-black leaves and spiky, violet-blue flowers. Growing only 4 to 6 inches tall and flowerin...

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    Black Scallop Ajuga Black Scallop Bugleweed PP#15815 Ajuga reptans Black Scallop PP#15815
    As low as $7.99 Sale $6.39
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Black Scallop' Ajuga is a fast-growing and attractive groundcover with burgundy-black leaves and spiky, violet-blue flowers. Growing only 4 to 6 inches tall and flowering in late spring, 'Black Scallop' is fairly forgiving when it comes to soil and sunlight, but prefers things on the moist side. A great choice for attracting pollinators early in the season. Deer resistant. PP#15815 (Ajuga reptans)
  24. Purple Dragon Lamium

    Purple Dragon has stunning silver leaves with dark green edging and large, magenta-purple flowers. This Lamium is perfect for any shady area of the garden. PP# 15890 (Lamium maculatu...

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    Purple Dragon Lamium Purple Dragon Dead Nettle PP#15890 Lamium maculatum Purple Dragon PP#15890
    As low as $9.32 Sale $7.46
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    Purple Dragon has stunning silver leaves with dark green edging and large, magenta-purple flowers. This Lamium is perfect for any shady area of the garden. PP# 15890 (Lamium maculatum)
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