Perennials for Shady Areas Horticulture Perennials for Shady Areas For many gardeners, shady areas are problem spots in the home landscape. Many plants, however, perform well in shady areas. Selecting and planting shade tolerant plants can turn a shady problem site into an attractively landscaped area. When selecting plant materials, gardeners should consider the degree of shade at the site.
Some plants thrive in partial shade, others tolerate heavy shade.
Areas on the north side of buildings or under the canopy of dense shade trees receive little or no direct sunlight. Only plants that grow well in heavy shade should be planted in these sites. Partial shade can be described as areas that receive a few hours of direct sun, but are shaded much of the day. The following perennials are good choices for partially to heavily shaded sites. Perennials Adapted to Partial Shade Common Name Scientific Name Height Comments Columbine Aquilegia spp.