Perennials For Shade

One of the Biggest Challenges in Today’s Garden? Finding Enough Shade!

In newer subdivisions and open landscapes, true shade can actually be hard to come by. Yet many beautiful perennials don’t just tolerate shade — they thrive in it! From lush Hostas and elegant Ferns to colourful foliage and delicate blooms, a shaded garden can become one of the most peaceful and beautiful spaces in your yard.

Whether you garden beneath mature trees, on the north side of your home, or in a woodland setting, there is an impressive range of perennials that love life in the shade.

Not All Shade Is Created Equal

Before choosing plants, it helps to understand the type of shade you’re working with. In Southwestern Ontario, shade conditions shift throughout the day and throughout the season.

Open Shade

Often found on the north side of a home but open to the sky. These areas still receive ambient light and may see some morning or evening sun. Many light-shade plants thrive here.

Light Shade or Filtered Sunlight

Also called dappled shade, this occurs beneath trees such as Birch or Honey Locust where sunlight filters through moving branches and leaves. Many lawns and a wide variety of perennials grow well here.

Medium Shade

Areas further shaded by overhead branches, fences, or nearby structures. This is where classic shade lovers such as Hosta, Astilbe, and Ferns truly shine.

Deep Shade

Permanent shade from mature trees, dense evergreens, or buildings. Grass struggles here, but many woodland perennials flourish.

Dry Shade vs. Moist Shade

Shade doesn’t always mean damp soil.

Moist shade occurs in cool, sheltered areas that naturally retain moisture.

Dry shade is commonly found beneath mature trees where roots compete for water.

Moist shade provides the widest plant selection, but dry shade can still become a thriving garden with the right plant choices, mulch, and supplemental watering during dry periods.

Classic Shade Garden Favourites

Some perennials have earned their reputation for a reason.

Hosta

A cornerstone of the shade garden, Hostas offer luxurious foliage in countless sizes, colours, and textures. Choose from deep greens, blue-greens, golds, or striking variegated forms. Their lily-like flowers add seasonal interest, and some varieties, such as ‘Royal Standard’, even offer fragrance.

Ferns

Easy to grow and wonderfully textural, Ferns bring softness and movement to shaded spaces. Popular favourites include:

  • Ostrich Fern
  • Lady Fern
  • Sensitive Fern
  • Japanese Painted Fern
  • Autumn Fern
  • Christmas Fern
  • Holly Fern

Many prefer cool, moist conditions, while some provide evergreen interest year-round.

Astilbe

Among the most colourful shade perennials, Astilbes produce feathery plumes in shades of pink, white, red, and lavender. Their attractive foliage remains handsome long after flowering, particularly in consistently moist soil.

Together, Hosta, Ferns, and Astilbe create a timeless combination of bold foliage, airy texture, and season-long beauty.

Perennials for Different Shade Conditions

Best Perennials for Dry Shade

Dry shade — especially beneath mature trees — can be one of gardening’s trickiest environments. These dependable performers rise to the challenge.

Barrenwort

Delicate spring flowers and attractive heart-shaped foliage. Extremely reliable once established.

Cranebills

A tough, low-maintenance perennial with fragrant foliage and cheerful blooms. Excellent beneath trees.

Coral Bells (Heuchera)

Known for colourful foliage in shades of lime, caramel, silver, purple, and burgundy.

Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

Beautiful silver-patterned foliage paired with sprays of tiny blue flowers in spring.

Deadnettle (Lamium)

Brightens shady spaces with silvery foliage and pink, purple, or white flowers.

Sedge Grass

Adds fine texture and a natural woodland feel to dry shaded gardens.

Corydalis

A delicate-looking but useful perennial with ferny foliage and soft tubular flowers in shades of blue, yellow, pink, or purple. Excellent for brightening cooler shaded spaces.

Best Perennials for Deep Shade

When sunlight is limited, these plants still perform beautifully.

Hosta

A dependable favourite for deep shade.

Japanese Painted Fern

Known for its striking silver, blue-gray, and burgundy-toned fronds.

Hellebores (Lenten Rose)

One of the earliest bloomers in the garden, producing elegant nodding flowers in late winter to early spring.

Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)

Graceful arching stems and dangling flowers create an elegant woodland look.

Foamflower (Tiarella)

Beautiful foliage paired with airy spring flower spikes.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

A native woodland plant with attractive low-growing foliage.

Bugbane (Actaea)

Tall flower spikes and dramatic foliage make this a beautiful back-of-border choice.

Corydalis

A lovely woodland-style perennial that brings delicate texture, soft foliage, and long-lasting colour to shaded garden spaces.

Best Perennials for Moist Shade

Cool, consistently moist soils open the door to many spectacular plants.

Astilbe

Colourful plumes and attractive foliage.

Ligularia (Leopard Plant)

Large dramatic leaves paired with bold yellow flowers.

Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)

Produces airy plumes reminiscent of a giant Astilbe.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

Clusters of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers bloom above grassy foliage. Easy to grow and adaptable, Spiderwort thrives in moist, partly shaded gardens.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Brilliant red blooms adored by hummingbirds.

Corydalis

Thrives in cool, moist shade where its delicate foliage and extended bloom period provide welcome colour from spring into summer.

Native Shade Perennials for Southwestern Ontario

Want to support pollinators and local ecosystems? Consider incorporating native plants into your shade garden.

Excellent native choices include:

  • Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
  • Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
  • Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
  • Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
  • Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
  • Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)

Native plants provide habitat, food sources, and natural beauty while adapting well to Ontario’s growing conditions.

Designing a Beautiful Shade Garden

Shade gardens aren’t just about flowers — some of their greatest beauty comes from foliage, texture, and layering.

Try combining:

Bold foliage: Hosta, Ligularia

Fine texture: Ferns, Sedge Grass, Astilbe, Corydalis

Colourful foliage: Coral Bells, Siberian Bugloss, Japanese Painted Fern

Graceful accents: Solomon’s Seal, Spiderwort, Bugbane

Seasonal blooms: Astilbe, Hellebores, Cardinal Flower, Corydalis

By mixing different leaf shapes, textures, heights, and bloom times, you can create a lush, woodland-inspired garden that remains interesting from spring through fall.

A shady corner doesn’t have to be a gardening challenge — it may just become your favourite part of the landscape.

Back to Garden Centre Articles