While container gardening offers endless opportunities for creativity and growth, the reality of limited sunshine can be a challenge. Whether you’re working with a covered porch or a small city balcony partially shaded by towering buildings, there’s no need to abandon your green thumb dreams just yet.
The key is to select shade-loving plants that excel in containers and planters.
With the right choices, your space will soon be teeming with lush foliage and vibrant blooms, bringing a touch of natural beauty to even the most limited outdoor areas.
Begonias (Begonia Groups and Hybrids)
Begonias are a popular choice for container gardens due to their stunning flowers that add a pop of color. With numerous varieties to choose from, it’s no wonder they’re a favorite among gardeners. Most begonias thrive in shaded areas, making them an excellent option for areas with limited sunlight. As the seasons change and fall arrives, you can easily bring your begonias indoors, where they’ll continue to flourish as beautiful greenery throughout the winter months.
Begonias are typically hardy in USDA zones 9-11 and can be grown as annuals. They come in a range of colors, including white, orange, pink, red, and bicolors. To get the most out of your begonia, ensure it’s planted in rich, well-drained soil and provided with part shade to full shade.
Bleeding Heart ( Lamprocapnos spectabilis )
The bleeding heart plant is a showstopper in container gardens, boasting striking heart-shaped flowers that cascade from slender stems. The blue-green foliage provides a beautiful backdrop for this stunning display. To create the perfect environment for growth, select a container with ample space and ensure the soil remains consistently damp. If you have the time, incorporating organic compost into your potting mix can provide an added boost.
This charming perennial thrives in USDA Growing Zones 2 to 9, where it’s happy to receive part shade to full shade. Its rich and moist soil needs are easily met by using a high-quality potting mix.
Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)
Coleus is a top pick for shady container gardens, thriving alongside flowering companions like verbena and petunias. Its leaves showcase an astonishing array of colors, while the bright yellow blooms burst forth from distinctive spikes. With minimal fuss, you can grow coleus indoors by propagating from seed and transplanting to a partially shaded container spot. This adaptable plant excels in USDA zones 10-11, often grown as an annual.
Its striking foliage comes in a kaleidoscope of colors, making it a popular choice for partial shade to full shade conditions. To keep it happy, provide rich, well-drained soil and bask in the joy of its effortless growth.
Coral Bells (Heuchera Species and Hybrids)
For those seeking to bring a pop of greenery to their container garden, coral bells are an excellent choice. This attractive plant boasts thick, lush foliage that forms a stunning mound above the rim of a pot or planter. What’s more, coral bells possess remarkable hardiness, allowing them to thrive in a variety of conditions – from shaded areas in warmer climates to partially sunny spots during the warmest part of the day. In colder climates, consider relocating the plant to a sunnier location.
Coral bells can grow well in USDA zones 4 to 9, offering a range of color options including dark purple to bright yellow-green hues. The ideal sun exposure for this plant is full sun to part shade, depending on the specific variety. For optimal growth, coral bells require rich, well-drained soil.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Transform your container garden with the creeping Jenny’s lush foliage. This versatile plant is ideal for filling gaps in large planters or window boxes, and its trailing stems can be trained to spill over the edges of hanging containers. To maintain its vibrant green hue, the creeping Jenny prefers partial shade. With proper care, it will thrive in USDA zones 3-9 and flourish in rich, well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade.
Dichondra (Dichondra Argentea)
For small-scale gardening, the dichondra plant is a fantastic choice. Its creeping habit produces charming, rounded leaves that typically reach a height of 4 inches. Each vine can grow up to 2-4 feet long, making it an excellent option for hanging planters, window boxes, and tiered plant stands. To thrive, ensure your container receives at least a few hours of direct sunlight per day.
Gardening Notes: USDA Growing Zones 10-12; typically grown as an annual.
Color Options: Foliage available in green or silver hues.
Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil Preferences: Medium-moisture soil conditions.
Ferns
Ferns are an excellent choice for novice gardeners, boasting a ruggedness that allows them to thrive with minimal care. As long as you provide adequate hydration and nutrient-rich soil, these plants will reward your efforts with vibrant foliage that cascades over the container’s edges. To fully appreciate their beauty, consider placing them on a plant stand or in hanging baskets to maximize vertical space.
Gardeners of all levels can grow ferns in USDA zones 3-7.
While they don’t offer a wide range of color options, their unique texture and luscious growth make up for it. Ferns prefer partial shade to full shade and perform best in rich, medium-to-wet clay soils.
Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
The fuchsia plant is a vibrant addition to any container garden, with its stunning flowers that burst forth in shades of red, pink, and violet. One of the unique charms of this plant is its ability to grow blooms that face downward, making them a delight to view from below. This feature makes it an excellent choice for hanging containers, where the stems can cascade over the side in a beautiful display of color and texture.
Fuchsias are adaptable to moderate temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing them to thrive in shady areas. Imagine hanging them from your porch ceiling, surrounded by lush greenery, and enjoying their riotous blooms. In terms of hardiness, fuchsias are typically grown as annuals in USDA zones 10-11, although they can also be started indoors and transplanted outside when the weather warms up.
Hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla )
Hydrangeas, often identified by their rounded clusters of flowers, can be a delightful addition to a container garden. While you may be familiar with the large flowering shrub variety, it’s essential to choose a smaller type that thrives in planters. When selecting hydrangeas for your containers, opt for oversized pots and ensure frequent watering to promote optimal growth and vibrant blooms.
This hardy perennial is suitable for USDA Growing Zones 5-11 and flourishes in partial shade or full shade conditions. It’s not particular about soil, as long as it’s moist but well-drained. The color palette offers a range of hues including blue, pink, purple, and white.
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
In the realm of shady gardens, impatiens is a tried-and-true favorite. This vibrant flowering plant thrives in conditions with little to no direct sunlight, making it an ideal choice for patios or areas that receive filtered light. With its impressive range of color options – including pink, red, lilac, purple, orange, white, and bi-colored varieties – impatiens can be the star of your garden, or paired with other flowering plants for added texture and visual interest.
A hardy annual that typically requires USDA Growing Zones 10 to 11, impatiens excels in rich, moist, well-drained soil, making it a low-maintenance option for busy gardeners. Whether you’re looking to add a pop of color to your patio or create a lush, shaded oasis, impatiens is an excellent choice.
Lamium ( Lamium amplexicaule )
Transform your garden’s ambiance with the unique lamium plant. The delicate, feathery texture of its petals creates a mesmerizing mist-like effect. With a range of colors to select from, you can harmonize the lamium with your porch or patio. To showcase its most stunning and long-lasting blooms, opt for a spot with generous shade. When it comes to growing conditions, lamium thrives in USDA zones 4-8, preferring well-drained soil with average moisture and fertility levels.
Oxalis (Oxalis spp.)
Transform your container garden with the unique charm of oxalis. This versatile plant boasts crisply shaped leaves that bring an architectural flair to a space often dominated by flowers. Oxalis grows rapidly and abundantly, effortlessly filling any container. As temperatures drop, simply move the planter indoors to preserve the health of its striking foliage. Oxalis thrives in USDA zones 4-9, depending on the specific species.
Its leaves display a kaleidoscope of colors, including white, pink, yellow, peach, and bicolors. This adaptable plant tolerates full sun to partial shade and performs well in average, well-drained soil conditions.
Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyeranus)
Transform your container garden into a vibrant oasis by incorporating the eye-catching Persian shield plant. Its striking leaves boast dramatic patterns and contrasting colors, making it a stunning focal point when displayed alone in a planter or pot. For optimal growth, choose a large planter as the foliage can quickly reach heights of up to 3 feet. While typically grown as an annual, this versatile plant thrives in USDA Growing Zones 10-11.
The Persian shield showcases its unique beauty with purple and green/silver foliage, and excels in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade. To keep your plant happy and healthy, ensure it receives medium-moisture, well-drained soil.
Torenia (Torenia fournieri)
Indulge your love for English charm with the sweet-toothed torenia, a flowering plant that thrives in shady spots. Its soft, velvety petals boasting high-contrast hues will instantly brighten up any space. For optimal display, position the planter below eye level to showcase its beauty. Don’t worry about dedicating excessive time; this low-maintenance gem only requires regular watering and occasional fertilization.
Despite being an annual in all climates, USDA Growing Zones indicate no specific zones necessary for growth. The torenia’s color palette ranges from light to dark purple, while it prefers part shade to full shade conditions. To keep it happy, provide rich, well-drained soil for optimal results.
Trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus var. Pendula)
For a show-stopping addition to your container garden, consider the trailing lobelia. Its long, flowing stems are smothered in small yet vibrant blooms that tumble over the edges of the planter, bringing joy and vibrancy to areas with limited sunlight exposure. With its versatility in thriving in USDA zones 10-11 as an annual, this flower is perfect for creating a dramatic display. You can choose from a range of colors including blue/violet, red, or pink hues.
To ensure optimal growth, provide it with full sun to part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil conditions.
