25 Best Shade Perennials That Thrive Out of the Sun

Also known by the irresistible name of pigsqueak, this part-shade perennial blooms in early spring. Trim it up as a handsome foliage plant after the blooms fade.

Varieties to try: Miss Piggy, Peppermint Patty

Sometimes called “leopard plant,” Ligularia is an excellent choice for any shade garden—and not just because deer don’t enjoy eating it.

“One of the other nice things about this plant is its striking, purplish-red leaves,” adds Daryl Beyers, author of The New Gardener’s Handbook. “There’s another variety that features yellow, daisy-looking flowers, and yet another called ‘The Rocket’ that boasts spikier blooms.”

Varieties to try: Desdemona, Britt-Marie Crawford, The Rocket

Hosta is a go-to plant for shady areas. Primarily a foliage plant, the broad-leafed beauty can actually be very small or very large.

“Sum and Substance is a variety that gets huge—about five feet across,” says Beyers. “Meanwhile, Mouse Ears is really, really tiny.” But heads up: Avoid this plant if deer browse your yard frequently.

Varieties to try: Sum and Substance, Mouse Ears, Shadowland Empress Wu, Shadowland Autumn Frost

Spiderwort or tradescantia is a part shade—not deep shade—plant. It features an intricate flower and can grow anywhere from a foot-and-a-half to two feet tall.

“The variety Sweet Kate has unique, chartreuse-colored leaves,” says Beyers.

Varieties to try: Sweet Kate, Concord Grape, Webmaster

While some sedums can tolerate a bit of shade, one that thrives in it is Sedum ternatum, or woodland stonecrop.

Native to the U.S., this low-growing plant does well in moist, rocky soil and produces tiny white flowers. One editor grows it in a shady terrace bed along with a dwarf Japanese maple and hostas.

These spring bloomers tolerate some sun, but they prefer part to full shade, especially in the heat of summer. Some types are fragrant, too. If you like to cook, they’re also edible!

Varieties to try: Penny Purple Picotee, Johnny Jump-Up

Lacey, toothed leaves and feathery plumes of pink, white, red, or purple flowers bloom in profusion in early to midsummer. A little morning sun helps them bloom better.

Varieties to try: Dark Side of the Moon, Milk and Honey

Related: 38 Deer-Resistant Plants Bambi Won’t Go Near

Lamium has silvery, variegated foliage and yellow, pink, white or or purple blooms. It’s super-easy to grow and needs almost no care once established.

Varieties to try: Pink Chablis, Purple Chablis

Related: 30 Best Pink Flowers for An Enchanting Garden

Grown primarily for its colorful ruffled foliage, this perennial’s mounding habit shoots up small flower spikes in spring to mid-summer, which hummingbirds love!

Some varieties tolerate full sun, but many prefer shade.

Varieties to try: Dolce Appletini, Primo Pistachio

Related: 21 Flowers That Hummingbirds Adore

These little plants are also known as fairy wings or bishop’s cap due to the adorable shape of their flowers, which appear in early spring.

They don’t like foot traffic, so plant them where they won’t be stepped on. They are one of the few ground cover plants that does fairly well in dry shade.

Varieties to try: Pink Champagne, Lilafee

Frothy-looking ferns are sturdier than they appear, popping up again after even the toughest winters. They prefer moist ground but are fairly drought-tolerant once established.

Varieties to try: Autumn, Japanese Painted

These cold-tolerant plants produce unusual, long-lasting blooms in late winter or very early spring. Also known as Lenten rose because they bloom around the time of Lent, the foliage is evergreen.

Varieties to try: Wedding Party Confetti Cake, Wedding Party Childhood Sweetheart, Honeymoon Irish Luck

Lobed foliage with red or purple veins make this plant unique. Also known as tiarella, this plant boasts floaty little flowers that resemble foam on long stems in late spring to early summer.

Varieties to try: Cutting Edge, Jade Peacock

The intricate flowers (spotted like a toad!) are the reason to grow these little gems. They bloom mid-to-late summer to fall in a variety of spotted colors ranging from white to lavender.

Varieties to try: Purple Beauty, Raspberry Mousse

This exotic-looking flower, also known as ground orchid, appears in early spring in white, purple, and various shades of pink. Its blooms often last up to six weeks.

It’s an unusual landscape plant for warmer climates, or it can be overwintered indoors in containers.

Varieties to try: White Pearl, Kate

This perennial with a funny name is grown for its striking foliage and graceful sprays of long-lasting, tiny blue flowers, which appear in spring. Also known as brunnera, it’s a hardy, low-maintenance plant.

Varieties to try: Jack Frost, Queen of Hearts

Tubular lightly-scented spring flowers hang above finely-cut foliage. The plant is ideal for warm climates. Foliage may die back in summer and sprout again in fall.

Varieties to try: Purple Bird, Canary Feathers

It’s easy to see how this old-fashioned favorite gets its name. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they’re often ascribes special meaning on Valentine’s Day.

Sprays of late spring to early summer flowers come in a variety of colors ranging from deep red to pink with lime-green to dark green foliage.

Varieties to try: White Diamonds, Pink Diamonds

This pretty ground cover blooms in early to late spring with small bell-shaped flowers and spotted foliage.

It looks best planted en masse. The un-glamorous name comes from its historic usage to treat lung ailments!

Varieties to try: Spot On, Pink-a-Blue

Related: 25 Best Ground Covers for Backyard Bald Spots

Although this perennial blooms well in full sun, it tolerates part shade, especially in hot climates. The tall spiked flowers are a standard in cottage gardens and cutting gardens.

Varieties to try: Polkadot Princess, Foxy

Related: Here’s How to Grow An At-Home Cutting Garden

The triangular shape and three leaves below the blooms of this striking native flower gives the plant its name. It’s hardy, showy, and tolerates wet soil.

Varieties to try: White, Red

This intriguing native perennial blooms in late spring. The flower spike is the “jack” while the hood is the “pulpit.”

Varieties to try: Crossing Over, Triphyllum

These delicate bells dangle on short stems and have a strong fragrance. It’s a ground cover that spreads readily, so be careful where you plant it–choose an area, such as in between the house and sidewalk, where it can’t get too aggressive.

Varieties to try: Bordeaux, Rose

Learn More: The Special Symbolism Behind Lily of the Valley

Huge heart-shaped leaves in splashy colors offer plenty of drama. They’re tropical so if you live in a cool climate, put them in pots so they can be brought indoors and enjoyed as a houseplant over the winter.

Varieties to try: Bold ‘N Beautiful, Blushing Bride

Read more: 55 Favorite Container Plants and Ideas for Your Potted Garden

This native perennial boasts a thick blanket of deep-green leaves that grow on upright red stems. Pendulous tuber-shaped flowers dangle from the stems in late spring and become bluish berries in the fall.

Varieties to try: Ruby Slippers, Fireworks