Best Shade-Loving Outdoor Plants for Your Garden

If you have a shaded yard or garden, it might seem hopeless to grow bright and colorful flowers and plants. However, there are plenty of vibrant plants that thrive in partial to full shade. Here is a guide to some of the best shade-loving outdoor plants to consider for your garden:

Hosta

Hostas are a staple of shady gardens everywhere. They're also an easy way to add color and interest to your landscape without worrying about sun exposure. Hostas come in an array of color combinations including some varieties with blue or yellow foliage. They'll thrive in shaded gardens as long as the soil remains moist.

Coleus

Coleus are another plant grown for their stunning foliage rather than flowers. Conveniently, they grow quite happily in partial to full shade, meaning you can enjoy their stunning colors in a yard without heavy sun exposure. Coleus plants have a wide range of colors from lime green to red, pink and orange depending on the type.

Caladium

Caladiums are stunning plants with colorful heart-shaped leaves. While they die back in the winter, caladiums can brighten up any shaded garden throughout the year. This plant is often grown indoors as a houseplant, so if you want to bring them inside for the winter you can plant them in containers for flexibility.

Viola

With over 500 different types of viola, it's important to check the specific light requirements before you decide on what's best for your shaded garden. Some require full sun while many will thrive in partial to full shade. The flowers are extremely varied in color and combination, making them a great option for planting in decorative garden beds or containers outdoors.

Fuchsia

If you're looking for a shade-loving plant to hang in baskets or trail over an arbor, fuchsia is the perfect choice. The blooms on this stunning plant hang reminiscent of tiny pink, purple and white lanterns. Fuchsia also attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators to your yard.