Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

10 Best Shade-Loving Perennials for a Glorious Garden

10 Best Shade-Loving Perennials for a Glorious Garden

A not-so-sunny garden can still shine bright with beauty.

While some plants demand the sun’s full attention to endure, others thrive in the low-key light of the shade. Like all plants, shade perennials need water and the appropriate soil for survival, but they require little to no sun to reach and maintain their full potential. Whether you’re looking for hearty-leafed greenery for a lush landscape or colorful-petaled flowers for a more romantic vibe, there is a perennial to suit your style and needs. We tapped our favorite experts to share with us which shade perennials you should use to transform your sun-deprived plot into a gorgeous garden.

Chenille Plant


                        

“The name is French and means caterpillar, which the flower resembles,” says Keith Williams of Palm Beach–based landscape-architecture firm Nievera Williams and author of The Graphic Garden. “The chenille plant can get ahead of itself and start to look scraggly as the summer progresses. Cut the faded flowering tassels back 12 inches, and you will be rewarded with double the flowers on a compact, multibranch plant. Maintain moderate water throughout the season.”

White Feather Hosta


                                                                        

“This is an amazing plant with tons of great varieties and sizes,” says Mario Nievera of Nievera Williams. “It is shade-tolerant and can grow to three feet tall. Its fragrant lavender flowers bloom in mid- to late summer, and a weekly watering will maintain its beauty.”

Yellow Meadow Rue


                                                                        

“Meadow rue comes in tons of sizes and colors,” Nievera says. “Most are deer-tolerant, and a few varieties are native to North America. We love the late-blooming flowers and natural look when planted en masse, especially when combined with perennial grasses.”

Purple Firespike


                        

”Give this plant a hard pruning in spring for size, then let it grow up to form a nice, natural shape. It also attracts hummingbird and butterflies,” says Williams.

Everblooming Hardy Geranium


                                                                                                

“Hardy perennials like geraniums are partial shade lovers!” Williams says. “They’re not all that heat-tolerant, but they’re worth it for their long blooming time. They can also be used in pots.”

Persian Shield


                                                                            

“The Persian shield has uniquely colored leaves year-round,” says Williams. “You can either let this plant reach its full height and then allow it to spread outward or pinch it back, sacrificing height but achieving a compact bush. This bright beauty thrives in humidity.”

Dwarf Azalea


                                

“The dwarf azalea blooms on and off all year round. It can be pruned to maintain a more compact shrub look at two to three feet high, or it can grow into a tall man at six feet high,” says Williams.

Beacon Silver Dead Nettles


                                

“Beacon Silver is one of our all-time-favorite perennials that can work as a groundcover in many garden locations,” Nievera says. “It has the most delicate white leaf demarcations and a lavender flower. It’s also deer- and rabbit-resistant. It can be placed in shade and partial shade beds.”

Anemone


                        

“There’s nothing like the hint of fall, when anemones bloom!” says Nievera. “The delicate flower heads and stems rise above medium-green leaves. The leaves turn brown after blooming, so cut it all back and fertilize in late fall.”

Pinwheel Jasmine


                                        

“This can be a great source of color year-round in shady areas. Water it regularly, but give the plant time to dry out a bit between waterings,” says Williams. “Less is more with this plant.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×