Many hobby gardeners reach their limits in areas where there is little or no sunlight. Most plants die in low-light conditions. But there are some specialists who have adapted to such extreme locations. These don’t necessarily have to be mosses and ferns. Flowering plants also decorate shady areas.
Which ground cover plants can I plant in the shade?
Ground cover plants from forest regions are suitable for shade. The degree of shade determines the choice of plants, so a distinction is made between light shade and full shade. Early bloomers are considered bee-friendly and are a valuable source of food in spring.
Ground cover plants for shade are original inhabitants of forests and forest edges that have adapted to low-light conditions. Within the selection of varieties you will find ground cover plants for dry shade and moisture-loving surface cover plants. They cope well with the root pressure of woody plants and prove to be easy to care for. Thanks to a balanced combination of different ground cover, shady garden areas bloom throughout the growing season and decorate the garden with fresh shades of green even in winter. All plants presented are hardy, although some species feel better with winter protection.
What you need to pay attention to when choosing a location
Flowering ground cover plants in the shade are a real eye-catcher. However, not all shade is the same and you should therefore pay attention to the subtleties when choosing your plants. All flowering plants show increased flowering and vigorous growth in better lighting conditions. There are also species that thrive not only in light shade but also in full shade conditions.
Light shadows
Creeping Günsel feels comfortable in the light shade
The bed is in light shade, when sun spots and shadows alternate continuously in a small space. Typical examples of such areas are translucent and gapped treetops of birch and willow, whose branches are soft and sparsely leafed. Beds that are exposed to the sun for no more than four hours in the morning or evening also ensure light-shaded conditions.
Plants that thrive in partially shaded conditions feel at home here. In contrast to partially shaded corners, these areas are never in full shade. If you place pure shade plants in such locations, these species will thank you in their own way. They grow better and bloom more luxuriantly.
Full shade
Low light conditions prevail at these locations at all times of the day. They don't get any direct daylight. Such areas are typical under large evergreen shrubs such as rhododendrons or conifers. Mosses and ferns feel particularly comfortable in such locations.
Typical areas with full shade conditions:
- high walls
- North side of buildings
- Roof projections
- Grave with woody plants
Preparations and planting
Ground cover plants in the shade that draw attention to themselves when they bloom are not only pleasing to the eye. At the same time, they increase biodiversity in the garden and attract numerous pollinators. Early-flowering species are particularly bee-friendly because they provide a valuable source of food in spring. To ensure that they and their later flowering relatives make the garden shine, the correct approach to planting is important.
Before planting
Dig thoroughly the area where the shade plants will grow. This loosens the substrate and ensures air exchange. Remove lawn sod and root weeds so that they do not affect the growth of the carpet-forming species. Make sure that no root residues of groundweed or couch grass remain in the soil. Pay attention to the requirements of the ground cover:
- for plants in drier locations: enrich heavy soils with sand
- for nutrient-consuming plants: incorporate compost
- for sensitive plants: improve soil structure
Planting ground cover plants
After two years the common hazelroot has formed a dense carpet
Area cover plants are ideally planted out in late summer when weed growth subsides. At the same time, the plants can grow in better because they don't have to worry about the stress of hot and dry summer days. The herbaceous plants have enough time for root formation until the onset of winter. How densely the species are planted depends on the individual growth forms and growth speeds. It also plays a role how quickly the area should be covered:
| covering carpet after | required plants per square meter | |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy | one year | up to 4 |
| Common Hazelroot | two years | up to 24 |
| Balkan Cranesbill | two years | up to 4 |
| Carpet Goldberry | two years | up to 16 |
| Fat Man | three years | 12 to 15 |
Weak-growing species such as fat man and hazelroot quickly come into competition if they are planted too closely. They shoot up, which often makes the carpet of plants look unkempt. Place such species more apart from each other and be more patient. If the ground needs to be covered quickly, strong-growing species such as ivy are recommended. Immediately after planting, shorten the shoots by half so that the plant branches quickly.
After planting
Mulch prevents weed growth
Especially with weakly growing species, you must ensure that weeds do not spread over the area in the next two to three years. Work horn shavings into the substrate and then distribute bark mulch under the perennials. This layer prevents uncontrolled loss of water from the soil through evaporation and suppresses the growth of unwanted weeds. Water the plants thoroughly so that pores in the soil close and the roots come into contact with the soil.
Avoid stress and disruption
So that the perennials can grow in well, you should avoid foot traffic in the first year after planting. Numerous ground cover plants are considered to be hard-wearing or walkable. However, such species should not be used like a conventional lawn. There is a risk that the plant carpet will become patchy and real walking paths will emerge. If the ground is wet, the load should be greatly limited so that growth is not restricted.
These are walk-in shade plants:
- Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is ideal for poor soils
- Star moss (Sagina subulata) is an ideal lawn replacement for dry locations that flowers white
- Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) prefers light shade
Ideas for garden design
You can plant ground cover plants individually or mix them with species that have similar location requirements. In shady plant arrangements, also make sure that the species have a similar growth habit. Do not combine weak-growing plants with strong-growing competitors.
- Sprinkle bulb flowers in the area
- Dot shaded areas with light-looking or variegated species
- use light flower colors
- Roses, bamboo and tall perennials break up large-scale planting
Grave planting
Ground cover plants are ideal for graves because they require little maintenance and permanently beautify the memorial site. Choose weakly growing ground covers so that the planting does not appear intrusive or get out of control. With these species, the cutting costs are also kept within limits.
Care tips
With ground cover plants you can make your garden not only attractive but also easy to care for. Evergreen perennials are particularly recommended because they develop a continuous plant cover all year round and provide green color accents. Choose ground covers for shade that are hardy. Shady locations ensure that the plants retain their foliage even in harsh winter months.
Water requirements
Since most shade plants develop large leaf areas to make optimal use of the low light, they lose a lot of water through evaporation. High humidity supports the growth of many ground cover plants. The optimal water supply is important so that the water balance does not collapse. If the perennials grow under trees, the water input is limited even on rainy days. The dense crowns of the deciduous trees shield the area around the base of the trunk. There are some specialists that are adapted to shady and dry locations and require less water.
How to water correctly:
- Provide moisture-loving plants with regular water
- water in the evening after dry and hot days
- Check soil moisture even on rainy days
- water drought-tolerant plants moderately
So that the plants grow well and compact quickly, the right water supply is necessary. Water groundcover plants every few days in the first year to encourage root growth. Use a hose or watering can for irrigation. You should avoid sprinklers, as the watering causes the humidity to rise too much and could cause fungal infestation.
When the shade is too dry
Most forest plants benefit from the increased humidity. In the herb layer the water balance is largely constant. But such areas are difficult to imitate in the garden, so a dry and dark location often results under eaves and dense trees.
There are also ground cover plants for shade that like it dry. Varieties such as the elf flower 'Frohnleiten', Auslese from the Balkan cranesbill or the almond-leaved spurge are considered hunger artists and hardly need to be watered. However, good soil preparation before planting is also necessary for these specialists.
Nutrient supply
Flowering ground cover plants in the shade are leaf eaters that are covered by falling leaves in autumn and push their shoots through the rotting layer in spring. This creates a humus-rich layer and the plants are optimally supplied with nutrients in their natural habitats.
To promote he althy growth, you should base the site conditions on natural conditions. If your shade plants do not grow under deciduous trees and no humus layer is created by leaf fall, you should provide them with a basic fertilizer of compost in the spring.
Ground-growing ground cover plants are not only attractive, but also save the hobby gardener a lot of work.
Cutting and design measures
Pairing fairy flowers in spring is good
Ground cover plants in the shade that are evergreen, just like wintergreen or deciduous species, do not require any mandatory pruning. You can clean out perennials such as fairy flowers, cranesbills or woodland stones in spring if their wild character bothers you. However, this measure is not necessary because it interrupts the natural nutrient cycle. If weeds spread between the plants, they should be removed by hand weeding.
- Hoeing is taboo for ground cover plants
- sharp metal blades damage the shallow growing roots
- Measure creates gaps
- Growing together of plants is delayed
Winter protection necessary?
Ground cover plants usually do not require winter protection. While deciduous species retreat into the ground and survive there, winter and evergreen plants remain above ground. The humus-rich soil stores moisture and ensures that evergreen species such as the small periwinkle are not damaged, even on frost-free and sunny days in winter. If there is no humus layer, the soil can dry out even during the cold season. Winter sun and cold frosts are the enemy of evergreen ground cover plants. Make sure that the water supply is guaranteed.
Propagate ground cover plants
The good thing about ground cover plants is that they reproduce via runners. These can be developed on the substrate surface or in the soil. If the plants have grown well, you can cut off the above-ground runners in autumn and place them in a glass of water. After a few weeks, roots will have formed and the cuttings can be planted out. Species with underground runners are propagated and rejuvenated through division. The individual partial plants can be planted directly at the new location.
Tip
If you want to propagate chickweed, simply collect some flowering shoots from nature. The seeds also ripen when the plant is no longer rooted in the soil. After a short time you can scatter the brown seeds on the soil and let them germinate in good moisture.
What you need to know about shade ground cover plants
There are no bare soils in nature
In natural habitats there is no soil that remains permanently bare. Plant growth is a natural development that occurs depending on the subsoil and environmental conditions. At the same time, the plants take on important tasks and ensure that the ecosystems function optimally.
Benefits of ground cover:
- protect the soil from erosion
- mitigate temperature fluctuations
- reduce soil water loss through evaporation
- Roots loosen the substrate
- suppress unwanted weeds
- produce humus and support soil life
Origin
Many shade plants come from the tropics, because in the rainforests the floors create naturally shaded areas. Plants that do not require much light have established themselves in the undergrowth. Shade plants are typical of forests and are therefore widespread worldwide.
Tip
Place small evergreen clump-growing shade perennials between the native shade ground cover plants. Christmas roses, hostas or display leaves are suitable for setting colorful accents.
A life in the shadows
The lack of light is significantly compensated for by the increased humidity in the herb layer. Shade plants thrive despite the darkness because the high humidity increases their productivity.
Such species that thrive in sunny conditions are often pushed into full shade by competition. They cannot prove themselves against more vigorous species and have to cope with the conditions that prevail in the dense undergrowth.
But even though these plants grow better under increased amounts of light, true forest species are not suitable for sunny locations. Damage quickly occurs under direct sunlight:
- Chlorophyll degradation
- Drought stress
- Leaf burns
Excursus
Types of shade plants
There are so-called obligatory shade plants that grow exclusively in shady conditions. These include ferns and mosses in the undergrowth of forests. Facultative shade plants prove more adaptable, thriving in full sunlight. This group includes all flowering plants such as wood sorrel or forest violets and those that grow in shady conditions in the early stages and later in sunny conditions. Some facultative shade plants develop growth habits in full sunlight that deviate from their actual shape.
Frequently asked questions
Which ground cover plants bloom in the shade?
Plants rely on light to carry out photosynthesis. This metabolic process supplies the perennial with vital energy. However, shade plants only need a tiny proportion of the usual amount of light and can still carry out maximum photosynthesis.
Numerous shade plants grow in the herbaceous layer of tropical rainforests. These include ferns and mosses but also flowering plants such as bromeliads. In our latitudes, forest plants are considered shade plants. Typical examples are wood sorrel and jewelweed, which require no more than one percent sunlight for he althy growth.
Why can shade plants survive without light?
Shade-tolerant plants usually have large and particularly thin leaf surfaces. Many large-leaved shade plants are moisture-loving because evaporation is very high. The leaf tissue is loosely structured and rich in chlorophyll, which allows the plants to make more effective use of the low levels of light. Shade leaves appear darker green than sun leaves due to the higher proportion of chlorophyll. These special adaptations allow shade plants to grow optimally even in low light:
- low light saturation point: Photosynthesis performance cannot increase further even with more light
- low light compensation point: illuminance at which fixed CO2 equals exhaled CO2
- reduced ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b: better utilization of infrared radiation
Which ground cover is better suited for shade – evergreen or wintergreen?
Both growth forms are in demand because they cover the ground with more or less fresh green leaves all year round. A positive side effect is the natural suppression of weeds. Evergreen species such as small periwinkle or fat man only renew individual, over-aged leaves when necessary. They decorate the shady area all year round with a uniform green carpet of leaves and are always full of leaves.
On the other hand, wintergreen ground covers completely renew their foliage in spring, so that the bed appears gappy or bare for a short time. Some species such as foamflower and Balkan cranesbill lose their leaves in particularly cold winter months or in unprotected areas. However, wintergreen ground covers usually bloom more attractively than evergreen species.
Are there edible ground covers for shade?
There are many native plants that thrive in shady conditions and provide edible leaves, flowers or fruit. A well-known example is the blueberry, which can preferably be planted under trees. If you like it a little tarter, you can plant the cranberries in the garden. It has similar requirements as the blueberry.
The wild strawberry offers a special aromatic pleasure, its small fruits are tastier than those of cultivated strawberries. Chickweed is often dismissed as a weed, but it works wonders as a ground cover. If the plant spreads too much, you can remove it in bunches and eat it raw or steamed.
Which types of shade-tolerant ground cover plants are particularly suitable for beginners?
Most plants that grow in such locations prove to be easy to care for. But sometimes the details matter and not every attempt at greening shady areas is successful. Some shade plants are unproblematic and not very sensitive, making them suitable for beginners. These include dead nettles with their purple-red flowers, ivy, species of the Allium genus, cushion bellflowers and the Japanese forest poppy.