How to Grow a Shade Garden with Color and Style: Shade Loving Plants to Dazzle the Eye

If the entrance to your home is a shady spot in your yard, then you already know the challenge of finding just the right flowering plants to liven up a shady area. Although ferns are elegant plants that thrive in the shade, adding a splash of color can bring a shady area to life. With a little care and planning, even areas in complete shade can be bright and inviting.

Ferns

Think of your shade garden as a canvas. Before you begin adding interesting details, you will need a background. Ferns provide a delicate lacy green background from early spring to the last fall frost. There is a variety to choose from in any seed catalog. If you live in a rural area, they are free for the taking.

I transplanted all of my ferns from native ferns growing in shady areas on my property. A walk through the woods will provide you with more than you can use. These are best transplanted early in the spring, but you must dig deep to get the entire root of the fern. Simply dig the clump of ferns and replant in suitable soil. Ferns need a moist soil to perform well, so be sure to provide them with adequate water. Leave plenty of room between your specimens to allow for growth. You want to show off individual plants, not create a wall of ferns.

Impatiens

Impatiens come in a variety of colors from white to bright red. These shade-loving plants are easy to grow and require little care, other than adequate watering. Their delicate flowers will brighten any shady area and their compact growth makes them a great choice to grow under ferns.

Petunias

In recent years, Petunias have earned their fame by being displayed in hanging baskets where their vines are allowed to cascade down the sides. Did you know that petunias are a spectacular choice for a shade garden, too? These plants will send out trailing vines that will cover a shady area in no time. Their profuse blooms will brighten up any corner of the yard and they too come in a variety of colors from cool blues to vibrant fuchsia.

Lilies