Evaluate the Amount of Shade

It’s important to know what you’re working with. All shade is not created equal, a point attested by anyone who’s tried to grow plants under a Norway maple instead of a honey locust tree.

Timing is also a factor. Morning sun followed by afternoon shade generally is easier on plants than the reverse, which exposes them to the more intense afternoon rays. Once you’ve determined the type of shade in your yard, you can start designing a garden bed or area with the most suitable plants.

Light shade, also referred to as dappled shade, is when plants receive indirect light, such as filtered sun through the canopy of a high-branched tree or one with airy foliage. Many sun-loving plants can be grown in these conditions.

Part shade receives 2 to 4 hours of sun at a different time of the day, depending on the location. For example, on the east side of a house, an area receives morning sun and afternoon shade as the house blocks direct sunlight later in the day. 

Full shade is when there is less than 2 hours of sun or no direct sun at all, other than possibly the indirect reflection off walls, sidewalks, and other surfaces. Typically, full shade is found on the north side of structures, under evergreens, the dense canopies of certain deciduous trees, and areas planted with closely spaced trees.

Keep shade plants well-watered, especially if they’re growing under trees, which may block rainfall with their canopy and compete for soil moisture with their roots.

Shade Gardening Tips

Here are some key design elements to ensure your shady space looks as lush and beautiful as a sunny garden.

1. Go with Light or Bright Colors

Choose flowers with cool colors such as white, pale yellow, and blue, which pop more in the shade and psychologically feel cooler. Foliage also adds color and contrast. For example, plants with chartreuse or blue-green foliage are best highlighted when set in front of plants with darker foliage.

2. Include Variegated Plants

Another way to brighten a shady garden is with variegated plants, whether it's white, silver, or golden variegation. Dark colors recede, but light colors stand out. Variegated foliage creates visual depth that makes a garden look larger—and more interesting.

3. Mix Textures

Texture is a subtle element but one that adds visual appeal throughout the season, unlike flowers that come and go. Plant species with contrasting textures, such as frilly ferns with the large, bold leaves of hosta. Hardscaping elements, such as boulders, rocks, and logs, also offer unique textures and have the added benefit of providing year-round structure to the garden.

4. Pay Attention to Plant Form

Plants come in a wide range of shapes, from arching to columnar to spreading. Bear in mind that a little variety goes a long way. Having one of every shape can look chaotic. A better idea is to plant groups with similar shapes, such as oval, rounded, and weeping, throughout the garden. They look harmonious together, and their related shapes knit the space together.

Another idea is to use identically-shaped plants—say, tall and columnar—as a backdrop for accents plant with a contrasting shape, such as mounding.

5. Consider Scale

When deciding what plants to include, consider scale. Large plants have the presence to capture attention, but they can become visually overpowering or seem jungle-like in a confined space best reserved for smaller plants. On the other hand, a large yard filled solely with small plants can look indistinct unless a few larger plants are added as anchors.

Garden structures, such as an arbor or pergola, can also serve as anchors that make the scale of a garden seem better proportioned.

6. Create Layers

Gardens in shade often rely less on color and more on other attributes to please the eye. One way to garner interest is to create a multi-layered garden with a mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, groundcovers and bulbs. The diversity of plant heights mimics what’s found in a forest and, as a bonus, offers better wildlife habitat.

Before planting, mix 2 to 4 inches of compost into the soil. This will aid drainage, add nutrients, and help mimic natural woodland conditions. 

7. Plan a Succession of Flowers

Spring-blooming bulbs and other spring ephemerals are great for shade gardens because they bloom early, sometimes before trees leaf out. But it’s a fleeting show, so be sure to follow up with plants offering eye appeal later in the season. For example, bleeding heart and brunnera followed by azaleas and rhododendrons, Virginia sweetspire, hostas, astilbe, and finally tuberous begonias.

8. Rely on Repetition

It’s usually best to avoid the extremes. Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri. Repeating plants in odd numbers of three or five looks more natural and less spotty. Planting in drifts is a good design strategy, too.

9. Provide a Focal Point

Include a focal point that directs the eye and gives it a place to rest. While large, uniquely shaped or colorful plants work as focal points, a garden structure or piece of garden art can do so as well. Consider adding a bench and arbor, or a vine-covered trellis, garden sculpture, or trickling water fountain. These elements catch the eye and also create a welcoming vibe.

10. Install Paths

Make your shade garden accessible with a winding path of pavers, tree disks, stone or wood chips. It’s a welcoming feature that is also practical, making it possible to appreciate up close smaller specimens that would be hard to appreciate from a distance.