In nature, shade is dictated by the presence of woody plants, trees or shrubs, or by the presence of ground or rock movements. In a garden, woody plants or constructions also generate shade in many different forms.
Indeed, one can compare the shade generated by the plumbing of a roof to that, carried and variable, by a dense grove. Of course not, because it is necessary to count on the daily duration of sunshine, the exposure and the quality of the soil, dry or wet, to define which plants are capable of thriving in it.
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22 Plants that do best in shade
1) Rodgersia pinnatifida
In a depression of land where the soil remains cool in summer, install Rodgersia pinnatifida with embossed, reddish-tinged leaves and pink inflorescences, pink astilbes with feathery plumes and an ornamental rhubarb with lush foliage accompanied by a bright yellow tuft of lysimaque punctuated.
2) Impavide
With Mahonia nervosa, you have a very accommodating shrub that will delight you with the shine of its elegantly composed foliage, evergreen and not very prickly. In May-June, its yellow flowering augurs many blue fruits in autumn, while the leaves blaze in winter.
3) A very refined ivy
Used as a ground cover, to dress a wall, to fall back from a low wall, a suspension or a pot, Hedera helix “Needlepoint” makes sensation by its dense branches, with small matte green leaves. Very easy to cultivate in all soils and exposures.
4) Elegant silhouette
With its branched port, Azara serrata retains an airy silhouette. This attractive Chilean shrub with small rounded and toothed foliage is evergreen. It is particularly attractive in May-June, thanks to its yellow flowers reminiscent of mimosas, which are deliciously fragrant. Grant it a non calcareous, fresh, but well drained soil.
5) Rhododendron “Toucan”
It is in fact a Knaphill azalea with deciduous foliage forming, provided it is planted in soft and acidic soil, a beautiful bush whose leaves are glowing red in autumn. In April-May, the flowers with a divine fragrance are carried in balls of a salmon cream enhanced by a dark imperial.
To play on the monochrome effect, combine it with the variegated foliage of Physocarpus.
6) Luxury chestnut tree
Like his giant cousins, he appreciates half-shade. Distinguished by a stocky port, Aesculus mutabilis “Induta” does not exceed 2 m in all directions.
The spring budburst is beautiful, followed in May by a splendid salmon pink bloom tinged with yellow and red. The slow growth and the autumn livery is superb.
7) Without thorns
Have no fear, Rubus tricolor is a Chinese bramble that is soft to the touch with its red hairy stems and beautiful shiny green foliage. It throws its long branches to form an original ground cover.
It will fall elegantly from a large jar or be trellised against a wall. Its red fruits are edible, but tasteless.
8) Dragonnier
The dragon tree (or dracaena) does not like direct sunlight at all. The dragon tree is really a beautiful indoor plant, rather high and quite green. One can make it grow very easily.
Moreover, there are 50 different varieties of this plant: you just have to choose your favorite one. It still deserves a little maintenance: occasional pruning and regular watering but not too much.
9) Bromeliads
It is a perfect plant for the interior because it prefers the rooms without direct light. Even if it is a tropical plant, you can grow it everywhere, indoors. It can even grow with artificial light.
10) Mountain Palm
It is the most popular indoor palm variety, as it adapts to all interiors, even the darkest. It does not require much care and very moderate light.
In spring, you may see bunches of small yellow flowers provided you keep the plant in a dimly lit place. Water only when the ground is dry, otherwise the plant will die.
11) Sansevieria
Little maintenance necessary for this very popular plant. Its capacity to tolerate the darkness is astonishing. And as it is a fatty plant, it is not even greedy in water. The mother-in-law’s tongue is also called Sansevieria.
12) Philodendron
Philodendron adapts easily to low light conditions but does not tolerate cold. Its maintenance is really easy.
It is enough that the ground is constantly wet but not soggy. It is also preferable that the soil dries slightly between waterings.
13) Peperomia
The peperomia is a small adorable green plant which measures only 15 cm in height. It has a very thick foliage, but it is not a fat plant for all that. The Peperomia likes slightly wet soils but watering should be reduced in winter. You can spray water on the foliage to maintain humidity.
14) Devil’s Liana / Money plant
The Asians call it “money plant”, probably because it reproduces infinitely, just by placing a stem in a glass of water. It is THE plant for those who are angry with gardening.
It does not require too much light, no maintenance and little water. It climbs on a stake or falls if you hang it. You can grow it in the bathroom, kitchen or living room because it removes carbon monoxide from the air very well.
15) Z plant
This plant is really very beautiful with its beautiful brilliant foliage and it has a modern aspect. We can leave it far from a window or in a not very luminous room, it doesn’t bother her. Its only requirement is to have a temperate environment. The ZZ plant is also called zamioculcasi.
16) Spider plant
Its large white and green leaves fall gracefully. It likes indirect light because the sun burns its leaves. Moreover, it purifies the air of the rooms. Why not put it in your room?
17) Silver queen
It is a very beautiful indoor plant which develops even with a weak light. Even if you do not have the green thumb, it will suit you. Its only requirement: not to be exposed to the cold. The silver queen is also called aglaonema.
18) Aloe vera
It is the most popular houseplant at the moment. Why is it so popular? Because in addition to being elegant, it is medicinal. It can grow in full sun or do without it completely.
19) Lush Pottage
Compose an original combination using the abundant upright bicolored flowers of the fuchsia “Waltz Jubelteen”, the blue foliage edged with cream of the hosta “El Niño” and the gray fronds barely highlighted with garnet of the Athyrium niponicum “Silver Falls”.
20) Colorful exotic
Strobilanthes dyeriana stands out by its foliage. Nicknamed “Persian shield”, although it comes from New Guinea, its leaves juxtapose graphically purple and silvery with metallic reflections. Tuck it in in the fall and water it well in the winter. Autumn blue flowers.
21) Australian violets
This Viola hederacea forms creeping stems that root to form a dense ground cover.
Its bicolored, odorless flowers will bloom all year round if you provide them with light shade, freshness and soluble fertilizer. Perfect perennial to line the base of orange shrubs or hanging shrubs. Not rustic
22) Tiny palm tree
With its dense tufts of upright stems bearing leaves in whorls, fine and discreetly edged in yellow, Carex muskingumensis ‘Oehme’ will be wonderful in rather cool soil or even with feet in water.
Of docile character, you can install it in borders or in refined flower beds, or even to lighten flower pots.
