Most perennials thrive best in the sun, although some do not cope well with full midday sun. Many perennials also tolerate partial shade well. However, absolute shade represents a major challenge for the garden planner. Find out here which perennials thrive in the shade on the perennial bed.
Which perennials are suitable for a perennial bed in the shade?
A herbaceous bed in the shade can be planted with wood anemone, fat man, fairy flower, Japanese toad lily, Caucasus forget-me-not, small periwinkle, liverwort, lily cluster, foam flower, black snake's beard, silver cohosh, wood goat's beard, woodruff, Waldsteinia and dwarf hosta, which all thrive in the shade.
Total shadow versus light shadow
Is there total shade on your perennial bed, meaning the plants get absolutely no sun, or is there light shade, so the perennial bed is, for example, under a tree with rays of sunshine shining through its leaves? More perennials thrive in light shade. You can find an overview of perennials that grow in partial shade or light shade here.
Perennials that thrive in the shade
Basically, most perennials whose names begin with “forest” thrive very well in the shade. Ferns and decorative green perennials also usually like shade. Below we have put together the most beautiful shade-tolerant perennials for your perennial bed with flower color, flowering time and special features.
| Perennial | Flower color | Flowering time | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| wood anemones | White | March to April | Robust spring bloomer, ground cover |
| Fat Man | White, yellow, pink, red | April to May | Evergreen, ground cover |
| Elf Flower | Yellow | April to May | Very delicate flowers |
| Japanese Toad Lily | Purple-white spotted | August to October | The flowers resemble orchids |
| Caucasus Forget-me-nots | Blue | April to May | Very robust |
| Small Periwinkle | Bluish – violet or white | May to September | Evergreen, ground cover |
| liverwort | Blueish | March to April | Is under nature conservation |
| lily cluster | Purple, reddish or white | August to October | Evergreen |
| Foam Blossom | White | May to June | Groundcover |
| Black Snake Beard | Rather inconspicuous, white flower | June to August | Evergreen, beautiful black leaves |
| Silver Candle | White | September to October | Beautiful, long flowers |
| Forest Goatbeard | Inconspicuous, white | June to July | Edible wild vegetables |
| Woodruff | White | April to May | Smells good and is edible |
| Waldsteinie | Yellow | April to June | Also available as ground cover and evergreen |
| Dwarf Hosta | Inconspicuous, violet | July to August | Very beautiful foliage |
Advantages and disadvantages of a perennial bed in the shade
A perennial bed in the shade has a big advantage: you don't have to water so often. Because the sun doesn't dry out the earth as much here. However, this can also be a disadvantage during a period of heavy rain. It is better not to mulch a shade bed, otherwise the soil and roots can start to mold or rot due to the moisture. To discourage weed growth, you can plant one or more of the beautiful ground covers mentioned above.