Best Outdoor Plants That Enjoy Shade


We often place plants outdoors so they can receive the benefit of the sun, but not all of us have a garden that will although prolonged exposure. Many of us have either completely or partly shaded gardens which mean we have to find the right plants for our space. Especially if we have no choice but to keep them in shade, we need to find plants which thrive in low-light conditions. Fortunately, thedailyECO is at hand to provide the 15 best outdoor plants that enjoy shade with photos. Keep reading to see what might inspire you for your garden, terrace or other outdoor space.
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
- Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
- Clubbed begonia (Begonia semperflorens)
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.)
- Balsam (Impatiens balsamina)
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
- Fatsi (Fatsia japonica)
- Common ivy (Hedera helix)
- Heart-leaved foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
- Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
- Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
- Asarabacca (Asarum europaeum)
- Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Oyster plant (Acanthus mollis)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Hydrangeas are spectacular plants that produce flowers in clusters arranged in a globular shape. The most common variety in gardens are those that do not grow more than a meter in height, although it is worth mentioning that there are others that grow as big as trees. They do not tolerate the sun, so they can be kept in semi-shade or partial shade.
Choose which is best for you with our guide on 10 different types of hydrangeas.

Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
For those of us with a shady garden or other outdoor area, bringing in a little color can make all the difference. Many flowering plants may not bloom as well in the shade, but you don't always need flowers for color. Also known as the purple queen, the purple heart plant has beautiful purple leaves which can add a rich depth of color even to shaded outdoor areas.
It is a creeping plant that quickly covers the shade, serving as a ground cover. The leaves are rigid, and it produces small pink flowers when it does bloom. It tolerates occasional droughts so it is not very demanding.
If this is your color, check out our guide to purple flowering plants for the home or garden.

Clubbed begonia (Begonia semperflorens)
Clubbed begonias are very docile plants with spectacular shiny leaves that produce striking colorful flowers. They thrive best in shade, but they also tolerate light, so you can keep them in outdoor areas with varying degrees of shade. This is often helpful for gardens, patios or terraces whose light differs throughout the year. However, they must be kept in places where the temperature is always above 50ºF (10ºC) because they do not tolerate the cold.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.)
This herbaceous plant is striking because it produces tiny sky-blue flowers with a yellow center and a typical configuration of five round petals. They are a common gift between lovers due to their common name, often being planted to remember someone special. This plant grows very well under the canopy of trees, since direct sunlight burns them as they are very delicate.

Balsam (Impatiens balsamina)
These plants are an option if you are looking for outdoor plants that enjoy shade with flowers. They come in pink, red, white and purple. In temperate climates they can tolerate shade well, but in warmer places they require a couple of hours of filtered sunlight. A location under trees is ideal.
Discover more about this plant with our balsam plant care guide.

Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
This is another shade-loving flowering plant option for outdoor areas. While it does not tolerate full shade, it does have a low demand of at least 2 hours sunlight. In exchange, you will have a plant with delicate and abundant flowers, which come in pink, yellow and other colors. It should not be given more than 4 hours of sun in a day, because the flowers will wilt otherwise. Ideally, it should only receive morning sun and not afternoon sun.

Fatsi (Fatsia japonica)
Also known as the Japanese aralia or paperplant, this is a small tree with thin stems that reaches no more than 4 meters in height. It is usually kept shorter when planted in gardens. It stands out for its large, lobed leaves which are about 15 centimeters long and which require indirect light. It tolerates a certain amount of shade, but does not tolerate full sunlight. It produces white flowers arranged in a dome shape.
While it is an outdoor plant that enjoys shade, the fatsia is also a large and hardy indoor plant.

Common ivy (Hedera helix)
Also known as European ivy or King's Choice ivy, common ivy is a shade plant par excellence thanks to its rapid growth. It can be used to cover walls, trellis or even as ground cover. It has the great advantage of requiring very little light, but a great capacity for growth. It grows in a temperate climate, so it also withstands cold outdoor climates very well.

Heart-leaved foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Also known as coolwort, it is a herbaceous plant known for producing a tall stem from which many flowers emerge. These flowers cover the plant completely, providing a light appearance reminiscent of foam. It can survive in shade or low light conditions, ideal for giving height to floral hedges or for delimiting paths.

Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Ferns are a great addition to shady exteriors for volume. The bird's-nest fern is characterized by large, ribbon-like fronds which branch out from a center. This is only one type of fern you can have in your garden, but you can incorporate other fern choices as they are shade plants.
Learn about bird's-nest fern care and propagation with our related guide.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Also called spath, this plant is grown for both its white flowers and its dark green and broad-leafed foliage. If you have it in full shade it will not produce flowers, but the leaves will remain brilliant even in semi-darkness. If it gets some filtered light during the day, you can still enjoy the flowers.

Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
It is a plant that can be kept outside because it needs a large space to thrive. Although a tree, its growth can be limited if it is kept in shaded outdoor areas. It does not like direct sunlight due to its sensitive leaves, but it tolerates little light well. It grows as a small bush with leaves hanging like an umbrella, so you can put it outside under a roof or in shaded corners.

Asarabacca (Asarum europaeum)
Asarabacca has many other names, including hazelwort, cabarick, spikenard and European wild ginger. It is a creeping plant that grows in shade, with very shiny rounded leaves and is often used as cover for open shade. As a requirement, it needs a soil that does not stagnate with too much water.

Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Also known as a ribbon plant or spider ivy, these plants reproduce very easily, which makes them great allies for covering shady soils. They give texture and color to the space with their long, ribbon-like leaves in light green and white colors.
This is also a very common option as a living room indoor plant.

Oyster plant (Acanthus mollis)
Also known as bear's breaches, this is a plant that produces tall white flowering stems which emerge from a nest of large lobed leaves. They are very common plants in city gardens and public spaces in temperate areas, because they tolerate a lot of shade. Even if they do not flower, the foliage is striking. This will happen if it is kept in total shade. If it receives a couple of hours of light a day, it can flower.

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- Hodgson, L. (2005). Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens Up the Shadows. United States: Rodale.