Shade garden ideas

The hard part of shade is not the light — it is the dry soil under trees. Solve that and shade becomes the easiest garden to keep.

AI-generated concept image

Light: Shade
Water: Moderate
Upkeep: Low
Colour: Green-focused
Planting survives: −20 °C / −4 °F

Getting it right

Work out first whether your shade is damp or dry, because the two plant lists barely overlap. Under mature trees the soil is dry and full of roots: plant small, plant in autumn while there is still moisture, and mulch heavily every year instead of trying to dig. In damp shade you can be far more generous with hostas and ferns. Either way, lean on leaf shape for contrast — one broad hosta beside a fine fern does more than any flower.

Plants that work

Botanical names are given first so you can order the right plant anywhere. Heights are for mature plants in open ground.
Plant	Type	Light	Water	Height	Hardy to
HostaHosta (hybrids)	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	30–80 cm	−35 °C / −31 °F
Male fernDryopteris filix-mas	Fern · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Moderate	0.8–1.2 m	−30 °C / −22 °F
Japanese painted fernAthyrium niponicum	Fern · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	30–45 cm	−30 °C / −22 °F
Soft shield fernPolystichum setiferum	Fern · Evergreen	Shade	Moderate	60–90 cm	−20 °C / −4 °F
Lenten roseHelleborus × hybridus	Perennial · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Moderate	40–50 cm	−25 °C / −13 °F
BarrenwortEpimedium × rubrum	Groundcover · Semi-evergreen	Shade	Low	25–35 cm	−25 °C / −13 °F
Siberian buglossBrunnera macrophylla	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	40–50 cm	−35 °C / −31 °F
LungwortPulmonaria officinalis	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	25–35 cm	−30 °C / −22 °F
Wood anemoneAnemone nemorosa	Perennial · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	10–20 cm	−30 °C / −22 °F
Sweet woodruffGalium odoratum	Groundcover · Deciduous	Shade	Moderate	15–25 cm	−30 °C / −22 °F
Bigleaf hydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla	Shrub · Deciduous	Partial shade	High	1–1.8 m	−20 °C / −4 °F
Japanese forest grassHakonechloa macra	Grass · Deciduous	Partial shade	Moderate	35–50 cm	−25 °C / −13 °F
Snowy woodrushLuzula nivea	Grass · Evergreen	Shade	Moderate	30–50 cm	−25 °C / −13 °F
Lesser periwinkleVinca minor	Groundcover · Evergreen	Shade	Low	15–20 cm	−30 °C / −22 °F