Introduction
If you live in an apartment with only a few windows or even a basement without any windows at all, you may think that it’s impossible to grow plants. You might not be able to grow the most popular plants, but there are plenty of shade-loving ones out there! It’s easy to get started with these low-maintenance plants that will look great in your home and require very little attention.
Impatiens
Impatiens are a great choice for beginner gardeners and shade-lovers. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes so you can find exactly what you’re looking for to fit your lifestyle. Impatiens are easy to grow and can be planted in containers or the ground. They grow best in shady areas but can also tolerate some sun if given enough water regularly during the warmer months.
Columbine
Columbine is a perennial flower that can grow in most soil conditions and grows well in partial shade.
The columbine is a good choice for attracting butterflies and bees to your garden. The plant produces beautiful blue, pink or white flowers that appear on top of tall stems with large leaves. Columbine plants will usually grow to be between two and four feet tall, unless you prune them back before they get too big.
The columbine blooms between May through August depending on the variety of the plant you choose to grow in your yard or garden area.
Periwinkle
Periwinkle is a low-growing perennial that does well in poor soil, and it is considered a good groundcover. It’s also good in containers, rock gardens, and the shade garden. Periwinkle has lovely blue flowers that appear in spring and summer.
Ferns
Ferns are a great choice for shade, especially if you and your plant are looking to grow up. Ferns have long, lush leaves that usually come in shades of green or brown. They also tend to be tall, reaching upwards towards the light they can’t quite reach on their own.
Ferns can do well in shady spots because they like moist soil but don’t like being over watered. If you want to know more about how much water ferns need, check out our blog post “How Much Water Do Plants Need?”
Ferns live best where there is poor drainage so make sure your pot has lots of holes in it so that water doesn’t build up around the roots of your fern!
Hosta
Hosta is a shade-loving plant. They are easy to grow and are a good choice for the shade. Hosta plants can be beautiful, come in many varieties, and make excellent ground cover.
Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
Plants that love shade are a great option for those who have limited light, because they will grow in the shade of trees and other plants. Bleeding heart is one of these plants that can tolerate low light conditions, making it an excellent choice for your garden.
Bleeding heart is also known by other names, including: bleeding-heart, dicentra and squirrel corn. You may notice that these names refer to its flowers which resemble hearts or corns (as in ears of corn). Bleeding heart has long blooming periods from April through June and sometimes into July depending on your location. This long flowering period makes this plant ideal for providing interest over many weeks instead of just once or twice per season like some other types of shade loving perennials like iris or tulips do!
Bleeding Heart Plant Care Tips
To care for bleeding heart plants properly you’ll need to water them regularly during their growing season but not too much; allowing the soil around them to dry out between waterings will help prevent root rot from setting in when there’s too much moisture present close by due to over watering issues occurring within its vicinity which could lead up towards having problems with fungus infections affecting its roots if left untreated; so make sure not hoe close enough around our specimen until its roots spread out naturally underground where we won’t accidentally damage them while digging up weeds next month–this way we’ll avoid any unnecessary damage caused by improperly digging around near its base stem material during this time period.”
Japanese Painted Fern
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum pictum) is a beautiful plant that loves shade. This evergreen fern grows well in shady areas, but does not do well in direct sunlight. The Japanese Painted Fern is a good choice for hanging baskets or containers because it can be grown indoors, but will also thrive outside if the conditions are right.
The leaves of this fern have an attractive dark green color with hints of maroon to them. The leaves have “forked” divisions, making them look like they have been split into three sections by their leaf stalks (rachis). If you are interested in growing your own Japanese Painted Ferns at home then you should read on!
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east through Turkey and Iran to China. The best known species is Cyclamen persicum, which has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since at least the 16th century.
The leaves are evergreen, 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 5–8 cm (2–3 in) broad, with a wavy margin; they are borne on petioles 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. The flowers vary in size according to variety from 2 cm (0.79 in) wide for single-flowered types up to 6 cm (2.4 in) across for double-flowered kinds such as C. peltatum f1 ‘Pink Princess’ and have five petals that may be pink or white but shades between them are also common, with red markings at the base of each petal produced by anthocyanins; the centre of each flower contains numerous stamens surrounding one pistil formed from three fused carpels.[5] They require darkness during their vernal growth stage but then need bright light conditions after this initial period so will not tolerate shade once they have emerged into early leaf.[6]
Lenten Rose (Hellebore)
Lenten Rose (Helleborus) is a winter-blooming flower that can be found in shades of white, pink and red. It is hardy in zones 3 through 8. Hellebores are easy to grow and require little maintenance, however they can become invasive if left unchecked.
Hellebores make excellent groundcover plants for shady areas because they spread quickly by rooting wherever the stem touches the ground. If you don’t want your hellebore to take over your garden, simply pull out any unwanted shoots before they root themselves in another place!
Fairy Bells (Disporum)
Fairy Bells (Disporum), also known as Disporum sessile, are beautiful shade-loving plants that can add color and life to your garden. They are easy to care for and make a great addition to any garden.
Fairy Bells have delicate flowers which grow from the base of the plant on long stems that can reach up to 2 feet in length. The flowers bloom in mid-summer, beginning white but turning pink with age. The leaves are fern-like and glossy green on top with lighter coloring underneath, similar to hollyhock or foxglove leaves.
You can grow Fairy Bells outdoors during the spring months if you live in USDA Zones 7-9 where they will not be damaged by frost or heat during their dormant period when they go dormant during winter months when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Otherwise it’s best kept indoors as an annual plant if you live outside these zones because of its short lifespan – usually only lasting one season before dying off completely!
Just because you have a shady spot doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful plants.
Just because you have a shady spot doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful plants. Shade loving plants are not just for the shade, they are a good option for people with limited space and time to tend to their plants. Shade loving plants can be grown in containers on your deck or patio. The less sunlight you have in your yard the better it is for growing shade loving plants. If there isn’t much sun in your yard then adding some artificial light will help these plants grow faster and bloom more often than if they were planted outside where there is no artificial light at all!
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the types of plants that will thrive in your shady garden. As you can see, there are plenty of options to consider. The best thing is that many of these plants are also great for other reasons, such as growing indoors or being fragrant. We’ve focused on some common favorites, but there are many more options out there if none of these strike your fancy!