Best Plants for Shade Gardens

Shade gardening success depends on more than just light levels—soil type, moisture, and exposure all matter. Research each plant’s needs before planting. Below are reliable performers for Southern shade gardens.

Shrubs

Azalea, aucuba, mahonia, Japanese plum yew, hydrangea, fatsia, cherrylaurel, corylopsis, mountain laurel, Florida anise, leucothoe, rhododendron, pittosporum.

Flowers & Foliage

Autumn fern, Japanese painted fern, variegated Solomon’s seal, hosta, impatiens, lamium, acorus, Lenten rose, Italian arum, nandina, native ginger, liriope, mondo grass, ajuga, aspidistra, lady fern, caladium, bleeding heart, epimedium, pachysandra, lungwort, rohdea, tiarella, heuchera, chrysogonum.