Perennials for the Shade
Perennials 101, Perennials for Special Purposes
Looking for some excellent perennials that thrive in the shade? Browse our list below.
Click on a Botanical Name for more details on each Heritage Perennial.
| Plant | Features | Hardy to Zone | Bloom Time | Drought Tolerant |
| Aegopodium p. ‘Variegatum’ (Bishop’s Weed) | Dense carpet of green and white foliage |
2 |
summer |
yes |
| Ajuga varieties (Carpet Bugles) | Low carpet of leaves, blue flower spikes |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Asarum europeaum (European Wild Ginger) | Polished, emerald-green leaves |
2 |
spring |
no |
| Astilbe x arendsii varieties | Fluffy flower plumes, ferny leaves |
2 |
summer |
no |
| Astilbe chinensis varieties | Fluffy flower plumes, ferny leaves |
2 |
fall |
no |
| Campanula carpatica (Carpathian Bellflower) | Large blue saucer flowers, low mounds |
2 |
summer |
moderate |
| Carex morrowi ‘Augeo-Variegata’ | Mounds of evergreen, yellow-striped lvs |
5 |
spring |
moderate |
| Chrysogonum virginianum (Goldenstar) | Long blooming starry yellow flowers |
4 |
summer |
yes |
| Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley) | White, scented flowers, carpeting |
2 |
spring |
yes |
| Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Hearts) | Arches of heart-shaped flowers |
2 |
spring |
no |
| Dicentra x ‘Luxurient‘ (Bleeding Hearts) | Low ferny carpet, cherry red flowers |
2 |
summer |
moderate |
| Digitalis (Foxgloves) | Tall spikes of spotted flowers |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Doronicum cordatum (Leopard’s Bane) | Clean,yellow daisy flowers |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Epimedium X rubrum | Red-veined/margined leaves, red flowers |
4 |
spring |
yes |
| Hardy Ferns of all sorts | A great diversity of leaf colour and height |
various |
n/a |
moderate |
| Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) | Carpets of cartwheel leaves, white flowers |
4 |
spring |
no |
| Helleborus orientalis (Hellebore) | Large, nodding flowers in early spring |
3 |
spring |
moderate |
| Hosta ‘August Moon’ | Crisp mound of bright yellow leaves |
2 |
summer |
yes |
| Hosta sieboldiana ‘Frances Williams’ | Huge blue leaves edged in yellow |
2 |
summer |
yes |
| Hosta undulata ‘Variegata‘ | Clumps of wavy green and white leaves |
2 |
summer |
yes |
| Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ | Creeping carpet of silver-veined leaves |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Lamium maculatum varieties | Carpets of white or white striped leaves |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ | Tall purple-leaved clump, orange flowers |
3 |
summer |
no |
| Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ | Creeping mat of bright yellow leaves |
2 |
spring |
moderate |
| Mentha requienii (Corsican mint) | Strongly scented flat green mat. Self-seeds |
7 |
summer |
no |
| Myosotis varieties (Forget-Me-Nots) | Mists of small blue, yellow-eyed flowers |
3 |
spring |
no |
| Primula X ‘Wanda’ | Low mats smothered in magenta flowers |
2 |
spring |
no |
| Pulmonaria varieties | Mounds of silvery leaves, blue flowers |
2 |
spring |
moderate |