17 Pretty Shade Garden Ideas That Don’t Need Lots of Light to Thrive

Determine Your Shade Level

If you’ve ever looked at a plant insert to find out how much sun a plant requires, then you know that plants also have varying tolerance levels for shade. 

Before picking out your plants, take a moment to determine the shade level of the area where you’re planning to plant your shade garden. Your plant needs and possibilities will vary depending on whether you have partial, dappled, moderate, or heavy shade.

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Figure Out If You Have ‘Damp’ or ‘Dry’ Shade

Once you’ve determined your shade levels, you should also figure out if you have a dry shade or a damp shade.

It’s fairly self-explanatory, but a dry shade garden will have drier soil, either due to location or surrounding trees sucking in all the moisture. A damp shade, on the other hand, will have moist soil and different plant requirements.

For damp shade, look at ferns, bleeding hearts, and cowslip. For dry shade, consider anemones, euphorbia, and hellebore.

Find the Right Shrubs

If your shade garden is on the side of your home or against a wall, shrubs are a great way to fill the space and add dimension. Hydrangeas are one great option, as they do well in partial or dappled shade.

Avoid Most Climbers

Common plants like honeysuckle and jasmine are called climbers because they climb walls or trellises and grow in the direction of the sun. Depending on the shade level of your shade garden, you probably want to avoid this category of plant altogether.

Skip the Manicured Lawn

A well-manicured lawn is on its way out these days, but even so, it’s a hard thing to manage in a shady part of the lawn. Rather than battle it out with dull patches, look for ground coverage options that do well in shadier zones. Pachysandra and creeping thyme are two great options.

Add Variegated Hostas

Most colorful flowers require some sun, so depending on your shade levels, it might be hard to encourage blooms. However, that doesn’t mean you’re destined to a monotone patch. Variegated hostas do well in shade gardens and are a great way to bring visual interest.

Pay Attention to Your Soil

Most plants that do well in a shade garden are ones that thrive on the forest floor. This means balancing the soil in your shade garden is particularly important, so consider adding nutrients, mulching regularly, and tracking the acidity levels to ensure they’re high enough for shade-lovers to thrive.

Create a Zen Path or Seating Area

Depending on the location of your shade garden, this could be a lovely place to add a moment of zen in your yard. Lay small pavers as a footpath through the shade garden, or nestle a bench among the plants. You’ll thank yourself on those extra hot and bright days when the rest of the yard is less bearable.

Play with Plant Textures and Shape

Even if bright, bold colors aren’t as likely in your shade garden, you can still bring in some drama. Look for foamflowers, which have a pale pink hue and a cone-shaped flower, consider various types of palms, and take a look at euphorbia, which is also known to do well in dry shade.

Incorporate Garden Sculptures

A shade garden is a great place to play with garden accessories and outdoor sculptures. Consider small water features, bird baths, or sweet stone sculptures that can catch the eye and sit among your shade-loving plants.

Use Height to Enhance the Space

As you pick out your plants to fill your shade garden, look for options of varying heights. Along with great ground coverage and pretty mid-height plants, you can also look for taller options, such as Japanese maple. These do well with dappled shade and can bring a splash of color at eye-level or higher.

Consider Your Edging

Whether you opt for a more wild shade garden aesthetic or you want things well-contained, edging can further enhance your shade garden. Opt for plants that grow low, like hardy geraniums, or use stones or pavers to define your garden’s edge.

Invite Critters In

Another added benefit of a shade garden is that it’s a great natural habitat for wildlife. Along with a birdbath, you can consider additional feeders and houses, or other elements that will draw in your local fauna.

Keep an Eye on Moisture Levels

Unlike sunny spots in your garden, shadier areas can retain moisture easily. This means you might not need to water your shade garden as often, but you’ll still need to keep an eye on your soil. This is especially true as you add new plants, as they might require more regular watering to properly establish their root systems.

Make a Lighting Plan

Out of all the parts of your yard, your shade garden might be the perfect place to incorporate a lighting plan. Use solar stakes to place pops of light throughout, or install wired lighting to line the perimeter. You can even define the area with pretty outdoor string lights to add some additional ambiance.

Let Things Go Wild

A perk of a shade garden is that you can have a bit more flexibility and allow things to grow as they please. Bypass green, manicured grass or carefully defined flower beds, and lean into the current meadow trend—see what grows on its own!

Consider the Pros and Cons

Before embarking on a shade garden, consider the pros and cons. For example, there are often fewer weeds, but the ones who make it in a shade garden might be tougher to face. You also might find a rise of fungi in your shade garden.

On the other hand, it’s a great way to learn about plants you haven’t used before, and develop an appreciation for plants that don’t necessarily feature bold and bright blooms.