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As a professional gardener with over 20 years of experience, one of the most common questions I get asked is what plants I can plant in the shade? and which I can plant in pots and containers?. The good news is you can plant plenty of wonderful and colourful plants in a shady position in containers.
In this guide, I’ve got some of my top recommendations for plants that thrive in shady spots and adapt remarkably well to being confined in containers. It’s worth noting that although the soil often doesn’t dry out too quickly, it usually still needs watering more regularly than it would be if planted in the ground.
The beauty of shade-loving plants lies in their resilience and versatility. These hardy plants bring life and colour to those shady areas of your garden, patio or balcony where most plants will not thrive.
My recommendations from years of experience from running my own garden maintenance business as well as working on my family garden centre include a diverse mix of shrubs, including one of my favourites, Hydrangeas and the vibrant hardy Fuchsia, each bringing their unique flair and colour to a shady area of the garden. The perennials aren’t far behind, with the colourful Heuchera, of which there are hundreds to choose from with stunning foliage colours. I’ve also included the ever-blooming nonstop Begonias, a favourite of mine, the foliage-rich Coleus, and even Carex grass and Dryopteris affinis, a fern that thrives in shade. Each of these plants has a story to tell, a hue to add, and a texture to share, transforming your shaded positions into something unique and colourful.
The secret to the success of these plants isn’t just their shade tolerance and ability to thrive in pots with confined root systems. Unlike their sun-loving cousins, these plants don’t mind having their roots confined, making them ideal candidates for container gardening.
However, pairing them with the right high-quality, free-draining potting compost and a perfectly sized pot is crucial as well as some winter protection with fleece or bring them not a small greenhouse. These essentials ensure your plants have the ideal environment to flourish, providing nutrients and moisture without waterlogging their roots.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into my recommended plants that thrive in containers in shady positions, starting with my personal favourite, the mop head hydrangea.
1. Hydrangea Macrophylla
Hydrangea shrubs are one of my go-to plants when I’m looking to bring a touch of elegance to shady spots, especially when grown in containers. As a professional gardener, I’ve often turned to these lush, leafy beauties to brighten up those cooler, shaded areas where many other plants won’t thrive.
Their inherent love for dappled light makes hydrangeas particularly suited for container life in shady positions. Unlike many flowering plants that need ample sunlight, hydrangeas come into their own in partial shade, making them ideal for that north-facing patio or under a leafy tree.
There are many varieties, but a couple of my favourites are the large-flowered Hydrangea macrophylla varieties, with colours ranging from blues and pinks to creamy whites, depending on the soil pH level. Growing hydrangeas in pots allows me to control the soil quality more effectively, which can be a game-changer in managing the colour of the flowers. I use a good-quality potting mix, ideally one formulated for acid-loving plants, if I’m aiming for those stunning blue flowers, and a standard potting compost will usually result in pink flowers. I just ensure the pot has adequate drainage as hydrangeas love moist soil but dislike having wet feet, which can lead to root rot.
When planting, choose a container that gives your hydrangea ample room to grow; these shrubs can flourish quite substantially. Regular watering is key, especially during the warmer months, as container plants dry out faster than those in the ground. However, be careful not to over-water; the soil should be moist, not soggy. I personally have an automatic watering system set up for my pots. If I find they are drying out faster than I might like, a layer of mulch on the soil surface can help retain moisture and keep the roots cool. Feeding your hydrangea with a slow-release fertilizer in early spring will encourage healthy growth and abundant blooms. I did a whole guide on pruning hydrangeas, but as long as you give them a trim just after they finish flowering, you can’t go wrong.
2. Carex grasses
Carex is a versatile and unique grass of which a few varieties are perfect for growing in pots, especially in shady areas and comes in a range of colours, from green to bronze to variegated. Carex is easy to grow and maintain, making it an excellent option for those new to gardening and experienced gardeners. When grown in pots, choosing a deep enough pot to accommodate its root system and using a well-draining soil mix is essential. Carex prefers free-draining soil, which can be grown in the shadest positions.
Carex is a fantastic option for those looking to add texture and interest to potted plants, and they look great when combined with other shade-loving plants like ferns and hostas, which I also included in this guide. Overall, Carex is a unique and beautiful option for growing in pots, especially in shaded areas, and is sure to add texture and interest to your patio, paths and balcony.
3. Hosta (many different varieties to choose from)
Hostas are perennials that you can grow easily no matter where you live, and if you have a particularly shaded area in your garden, rest assured that these plants will likely outlive many of the other plants you have and possibly yourself. In the summer, they produce beautiful flowers with a rich fragrance.
Hostas are perfect for containers and will thrive in damp conditions and shade. The reason they thrive in containers so well is because of how they grow. They will grow to fit the size of the space provided for them so you don’t have to be as particular about the size of the container because they will grow to fit that container, and if it’s a smaller container they will grow more slowly so that they don’t maximise the space and outgrow it.
4. Dryopteris affinis – Golden Shield Fern
Also referred to as the Golden Shield Fern, this deciduous fern produces beautiful fronds that can reach over one metre in length. The colours you get will start with a bright yellow-green, and then as it matures, it reaches a rich green.
These will thrive well in full shade or partial shade and provide you with rich green foliage all year round with the added yellow foliage in the spring, making it the perfect container companion. Moreover, they take between 5 and 10 years to reach their ultimate maturity, at which point the spread will be between 0.5m and 1m, and the height will be around 1 metre, making it a suitable size for containers.
5. Oxalis triangularis
Oxalis triangularis is a beautiful and unique plant that is perfect for growing in pots in shady positions. This plant is known for its stunning, triangular-shaped foliage in various colours, from green to purple to burgundy. When grown in pots, Oxalis triangularis prefers well-draining soil and regular watering. It thrives in partial to full shade and is a fantastic option for those looking to add colour and texture to their outdoor pots and containers. Oxalis triangularis is also known for its delicate pink flowers that bloom in the spring, adding even more interest and beauty to your outdoor space.
6. Astilbe – False Goat’s Beard
Astilbes grow well in shaded areas and will attract plenty of butterflies to your garden. When grown in containers they offer clusters of flowers nestled on top of fern-like foliage. You can pick different varieties that come in pink, white or red.
The flower clusters can reach between 30cm and 3/4 of a metre in size and they will grow up to 1 metre tall depending on the variety. There are smaller varieties that will only grow up to 30cm and these are perfect for container growing if you have smaller containers in your garden.
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7. Coleus
Coleus brings with it delayed flowering with a focus more on prolific branching. These plants do much better in shade than they do in full sunlight. However, if you put them in a pot located somewhere they will receive morning sunlight and then shade throughout the rest of the day, you can achieve the optimum brightness in the leaves and they look amazing.
There are small flowers that grow regularly and offer a beautiful backdrop to your garden. You can encourage more growth for your existing plant or less growth. If you don’t want the flowers and the subsequent petals dropping all over your garden you can of course pinch off the branches every few weeks to maintain a specific flower formation without allowing it to over flower.
8. Hardy Fuchsia
The Fuchsia bush usually has a two-toned flower that is quite exotic and will make a stunning addition to your garden. They are available in many varieties, moreover, it will do quite well in shaded areas. It’s important that you water correctly and keep the container properly tended to so that you can enjoy an abundance of flowers all summer long.
You should check the leaves and the stems at the point where they meet regularly to make sure there aren’t any insects trying to eat away at your plant. Fuchsias prefer cooler temperatures in the morning without a great deal of sun exposure so be careful where you place them (in pots) during the height of the summer. If they are exposed to too much sun it will actually weaken the plant and the flowers may not be able to fully develop.
You can get some Fuchsias that are hardy and will last for many years but the flowers tend to be much smaller than the tender varieties you often see in baskets and tubs. Look for a hardy variety if you want to enjoy the flowers year after year.
9. Heuchera – Coral Bells
Coral Bells bring with them traditional foliage and bell-shaped flowers, hence the name. Often evergreen when grown in more sheltered spots, these plants do very well in partial shade.
Between spring and summer, you can watch them reach their full maturity of 30cm, making them perfect for very small containers where you can admire the different colour blooms produced such as red, pink, and white which stand out against the often green leaves, but these are available in many different colours too. The leaves are just as impressive as the flowers because they turn different shades throughout the season going from lime green to gold to red along the edges.
10. Begonias
Begonias have patterned and variegated foliage with brightly coloured blooms. They can be grown in containers effectively and thrive in the shade. They will start to produce flowers at the beginning of summer and continue until the first frost. You can pick one of three popular types, the first being the Wax Begonias that have shiny, wax-like leaves and flowers that come in red, pink or white. The second is a Tuberous Begonia that can be grown upright or in a trailing fashion over a trellis that you have inserted into the container. Angel Wing Begonias have an underside to the leaves that is often a deep red shade and provide speckled attractive foliage throughout the year.
11. Impatiens – Busy Lizzie
Commonly referred to as the Busy Lizzie, this summer annual will provide flowers between June and the first frosts, during which time you can enjoy multiple colours ranging from pink, red, purple and orange, all the way to white depending on the variety.
It requires low maintenance and is very tolerant of shade. When grown in a container make sure that you provide it with good quality compost, one that is designed for baskets and tubs and pinch back the stems of the younger plants in order to help them properly branch upwards and outwards.
These will provide flowers non-stop in shady conditions, unlike any other flower. It doesn’t get excessively large which allows you to fit it in different pots and planters. A pretty flower that offers five-petaled blooms of many colour varieties so that you can mix and match to get the rainbow effect you want.
12. Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’
The Silver Queen is a special, variegated evergreen plant that can be found in many forms, the smaller of which is perfect for containers. You can actually grow it in a pot in the shade and cut it so that it serves as a topiary. With limited sunlight, it will actually slow down its growth rate and this allows it to fit more effectively in a smaller container long-term.
13. Hebe ‘Red Edge’
Commonly referred to as Red Edge, this evergreen shrub will produce beautiful flowers in the summer and the autumn alongside leaves of blue-grey that enjoy red margins in the winter, hence the name.
This evergreen shrub is well known for its strength and ability to thrive in shaded areas, particularly in pots. In autumn you can sit back and enjoy the blue, grey and red colours on the foliage, the same in the spring. But come summer you can enjoy beautiful white flowers and purple flowers that compliment the leaf colours. Similarly to other plants on this list when it reaches full maturity the Hebe Red Edge won’t spread beyond 50cm in height and spread, making it perfect for smaller containers. It is quite easy to grow in containers with well-drained soil and is really only susceptible to leaf spot and aphids.
Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
