Plants for a planter in the shade
Some plants do better in the shade than in the sun’s rays. We offer a non-exhaustive list of some of them that will enhance your planters and meet all your desires.
Annuals or perennials (hardy or not)
- Impatiens : Due to its ability to flower, even in the shade or indoors, this plant is very popular. It is available in warm colors which, at the time of flowering, will bring a note of cheerfulness to your planter, from June until the arrival of frost. If it is perfectly suited to pots, planters, etc., it is however preferable to install it alone or on the edge of a bed, because it is difficult to combine.
- Tuberous begonia : Here is another plant that is frequently found in shade planters. And for good reason, it is an easy plant to flower. It is available in all colors, except blue. This plant needs a climate that remains mild. It can therefore stay outside only in certain regions and provided it is sufficiently sheltered. Otherwise, it will be necessary to re-enter it when the temperature drops below 10 °.
- The plectranthus “Mona lavender” : it is a decorative plant. Indeed, its shiny foliage is dark green on the top and purple on the back. Its rapid growth allows it to quickly reach a height of 70 to 80 cm. It is a plant with generous flowering during the fall. Not hardy, it must be kept sheltered from October to March.
- The little periwinkle : this herbaceous plant offers beautiful evergreen foliage. There are different varieties of different shapes and colors. Its flowering generally extends from April to June.
- The fragrant violet or viola odorata : it is a plant which, in its natural state, lives in the undergrowth. It will therefore be enjoyed in a planter installed in the shade. This perennial is not very tall since it does not exceed 10 cm. Its flowering begins in February and lasts until May. It is possible to have a second flowering in August or September.
- Ajuga reptans : this plant is better known under the name of “little comfrey”. In the wild, it is found in the woods, so it is perfectly suited to shaded areas. It is a ground cover plant that does not need to be maintained.
Perennials or plants with decorative foliage
- Wood spurge : a perennial with evergreen foliage. Its light green and yellow blooms illuminate its dark green leaves.
- The spotted dead cutter : a covering perennial. Its green foliage presents central macules of a silvery color. It prefers shade and a cool, even humid environment to grow. It is a fairly hardy plant.
- Geraniums : more particularly geranium phaeum or geranium nodosum. Both varieties feature lobed foliage, but in the case of the former it may be smudged with purple-brown while in the case of the latter the leaves are light green and glossy.
- The tiarelle : it looks like the heuchera, but it is more adapted to the shade. It is a perennial with green cut foliage that can be, in some cases, spotted.
- Coleus : it is characterized by a foliage which offers extraordinary colors. It can be two-tone, tricolor, plain or variegated with unusual colors.
- The golden dwarf Japanese charcoal : a shrub that sports oval leaves. Their predominantly yellow color brings a touch of brightness.
- Ferns : with their graphically cut leaves, they are essential and perfectly suited to a shaded exhibition.
- The hosta : this plant with the bushy port is characterized by a very decorative broad foliage which is what one notices first on this plant although a small additional touch is brought by its clusters of fragrant flowers.
Association ideas
You can combine these plants as you wish. However, if you are stuck with an idea, we offer some ideas of association to illuminate a planter in the shade or your shaded spaces.
- If what you are looking for for your planter are colors, you can combine begonias, fuchsias and impatiens. This trio of plants adapted to the shade will offer you a generous and colorful flowering. Be sure to plant them in a light and rich potting soil without forgetting to provide a layer of drainage at the bottom. To prevent the roots from rotting, allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
- For a more minimalist planter, but with maximum effect, you can combine a fern with a geranium of the variety Silverwood, which will bring a little light with its small white flowers, and an ivy. The mixture of materials will be the best effect. The substrate for this planter should stay cool. They are perfectly hardy plants that require little maintenance.
- You can also opt for plants that will brighten up your planter during the winter season. You can thus associate a leucothoe, a shrub whose foliage turns purple during the cold season, with a helleborus x nigercors “Emma” which is a very floriferous and vigorous plant. To complete this composition, you can bet on a grass, such as Carex oshimensis “Everillo” with lemon yellow foliage.
Practical tips
For your planters, choose the soil with care. Prefer one of quality and adapted to the type of flowers you want to plant. It is important to make regular intakes of a adequate fertilizer. To know which one to use, find out about the plants you are going to plant. Regular watering is important as the substrate tends to dry out faster.