10 Perennials for Shade That Bloom All Summer
Your yard or garden can add a lot to your enjoyment of your home. If you want even the shady areas of your yard to provide you with an oasis all summer, you need to choose the right plants that will thrive in these conditions. Generally, shade-loving perennials are the best option because they come back year after year, making them more cost-effective and practical than annuals that will die every fall. Plus, most of them will continue to grow every year, filling out your garden more and more with each passing season. But, what are the best perennials for shade that bloom all summer long?
Here are some of the best perennials for shade that bloom all summer long.
- Astilbe
- Begonia
- Coleus
- Impatiens
- Hosta
- Hemerocallis
- Lamium
- Pachysandra
- Tiarella
- Tricyrtis
Now that you know the names of some of the best perennials for shade, let’s look at each one more closely.
1. Planting Astilbe In Shade For Blooms All Summer
This perennial is perfect for shady areas, as it thrives in partial to full shade. It produces beautiful plumes of flowers in shades of pink, purple, red, and white, and it blooms from early summer to fall. Astilbe is a low-maintenance plant, and it’s also deer-resistant. It’s perfect for filling in gaps in shady areas of your garden, and its vibrant blooms look especially lovely when planted in mass.
2. Planting Begonia In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Begonia is a versatile plant that can tolerate both sun and shade, making it ideal for shady areas that get a little bit of sun. It produces small, colorful flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, and white, and it blooms from summer to fall.
This perennial is low-maintenance and deer-resistant, and it’s perfect for shady areas that are dry or have poor drainage. Begonias are also heat-tolerant, so they’re perfect for areas with hot summer days. However, this also means that they don’t typically grow well outdoors in cooler, non-tropical climates.
3. Planting Coleus In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Coleus is a popular shade-loving plant that is known for its vibrant, multicolored foliage. It comes in a variety of colors including green, yellow, red, pink, and purple, and it blooms from summer to fall.
This perennial is low-maintenance — it’s deer-resistant and heat-tolerant, making it the perfect choice for yards with harsh growing conditions. However, because it loves the heat, coleus behaves as an annual in cooler regions, dying at the end of the growing season.
4. Planting Impatiens In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Impatiens are one of the most popular shade-loving plants because they are so easy to grow. They come in a wide range of colors including white, pink, red, purple, and orange, and they bloom from summer to fall.
Note that only specific types of impatiens are perennials, and these are typically found in Zones 10-12. If you’re growing your impatiens as perennials, you’ll need to carefully cut them back at the end of every growing season.
5. Planting Hosta In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Hosta is a shade-loving perennial that is known for its beautiful foliage. It comes in a variety of colors including green, blue, and variegated, and it blooms from late summer to early fall.
Hostas are also slug-resistant, so they’re perfect for gardens that are plagued by these pests.
6. Planting Hemerocallis In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Hemerocallis — also known as a Daylily — is a shade-loving plant that produces beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers. It comes in a wide range of colors including yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple, and it blooms from summer to fall.
These flowers are tough, and they’re resistant to both deer and rabbits. They’re also drought- and heat-tolerant, so they’ll continue blooming even during the hottest days.
7. Planting Lamium In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Lamium is a shade-loving perennial that produces small flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple. It is also known for its variegated foliage, and it blooms from late spring to early summer.
Lamium is a deer-resistant ground cover that will grow vigorously in shady areas without taking over your whole yard.
8. Planting Pachysandra In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Pachysandra is a shade-loving ground cover that is known for its evergreen foliage. It produces small white flowers in spring, and it blooms from spring to summer.
This plant is a member of the boxwood family, and it will grow quickly, even taking over your yard if you aren’t careful. When contained, however, it will create a beautifully thick, leafy ground cover.
9. Planting Tiarella In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Tiarella is a shade-loving perennial that produces small white or pink flowers from its green mound of leaves. It is also known for its beautiful foliage, which comes in a variety of colors including green, purple, and variegated. It blooms from spring to summer.
10. Planting Tricyrtis In Shade For Blooms All Summer
Tricyrtis — also called Toad Lilies — is a shade-loving perennial that produces small flowers in shades of white, pink, and purple. It is also known for its beautiful foliage, which comes in a variety of colors including green, purple, and variegated. It blooms from late summer to fall.
This plant is perfect for shady gardens that need a little bit of color in the later summer to autumn months. However, note that toad lilies are poisonous to cats and dogs, so plant them in an area where your furry friends won’t try to nibble at them.
Related Questions
What is the best ground cover for shade?
There are a number of good ground covers for shade, including pachysandra, Lamium, tiarella, and hemerocallis. These plants are considered ground covers because they will spread quickly and fill in an area without growing vertically or (hopefully) taking over your whole yard. They’re also typically pretty hardy, which means people and pets can step on them occasionally without harming them. Many people plant ground covers under trees or along walkways for these reasons.
What is the difference between partial and full shade?
Partial shade is an area that gets some direct sunlight for a few hours a day — preferably in the morning and early afternoon hours. Full shade is an area that never gets any direct sunlight, and only ever receives indirect, dappled light. Partial shade is typically easier to find plants to grow in because most plants need at least some direct sunlight to grow properly. However, there are many shade-loving plants that do just fine in full shade.
What are annuals and perennials?
Annuals are plants that only live for one growing season, while perennials are plants that come back year after year. Many people prefer to plant perennials because they don’t have to be replanted every year, but annuals can be a good option if you want to change up your garden’s look from year to year. Annuals are also often a good choice for flower pots since they won’t take over the pot and they’ll die off at the end of the season, making way for a new plant next year.
How do I know how big my perennials will grow?
The best way to find out how big a perennial will grow is to look up its mature size in a gardening book or online. You can also ask someone at your local nursery or the store where you bought the plant — they should know or be able to find out how big the plant will eventually get. Keep in mind that some perennials can spread quickly and take over your garden if you’re not careful, so it’s always a good idea to do your research before planting anything.
In Closing
A yard full of flowers and plants is a breath of fresh air. Perennials are a great way to add color and life to your garden, and they can provide you with years of enjoyment, as they’ll come back season after season. If you plan well, you can even choose a collection of perennials that bloom at different times so you can enjoy colorful flowers all summer long. And, as a bonus, many perennials are low-maintenance and don’t require a lot of work to keep them looking their best.
Many even grow best in shade, which means they’re perfect for those shady areas of your yard that are difficult to fill with foliage and color. With a little bit of planning, you can have a beautiful garden that will provide you with years of enjoyment. So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your shady perennial garden today!
