Achieving the perfect landscaping means creating an area that both looks great and is nice to spend time in. During the heat of the summer, many people are often desperate to add shade to their landscaping. Shade can help you avoid the full force of the sun and stay cool while you are spending time outside. However, if you have a lot of shade on your property, you will also need to think about what types of plants you can use. The last thing you want is to plant a bunch of things only to realize later that they are not able to receive the sunlight and nutrients they need to flourish. You might be familiar with the term “full-shade” if you’ve been involved in landscaping for a long time. This term refers to plants that receive less than three hours of direct sunlight daily. If a plant is recommended for full-shade environments, it means that you can expect them to thrive in very little light.

The good news is that there are quite a few different plants you can add to your landscaping that are very tolerant to shade. If you choose plants that can handle the shade, you will still be able to have an incredible landscape without worrying about your plants dying. Before you choose the plants for your landscape, it’s important to think about the amount of shade you have on your property and if it receives partial light throughout the day. We’ve put together a few great options for those people that are dealing with lots of shade on their property. Keep reading on below to learn about the best landscaping plants for the shade. Remember to reach out to Cal Blend Soils for all of your landscaping products to help your plants grow the way that you want.

1. Ferns

Ferns are a great choice for landscapers that are trying to find a plant that looks great even if it doesn’t get a lot of sun each day. They typically will reappear after the winter season and come in a large number of varieties to choose from. That means you will be able to find ferns in all shapes, sizes, and colors depending on your own personal style and preferences. The great thing about ferns is that they are very resilient plants. Once they are fully established, ferns are drought resistant and really flourish in shady areas. Ferns have a lot to offer any landscape, and you can use them to border certain areas or even as groundcovers for your lawn. You really can’t go wrong adding ferns to your landscaping!

2. Begonias

Another fantastic plant option for landscapes that are in shady areas is the Begonia. This plant can be grown in the ground or placed within pots to grow. They are fairly low maintenance and will certainly do well in shadier areas. Begonias are a low-maintenance option that you can normally count on to blossom up until the hard frosting season. Perhaps the best feature of begonias is that they come in a lot of different colors like orange, red, white, and even salmon. You can really add a lot to your landscaping by planting begonias, and you know they won’t have any problems growing in the shade.

3. Primrose

If you are looking for a plant that can survive in the shade and add some variety to your landscaping, look no further than the primrose. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, which means finding the look and color that matches your own personal style is not difficult. These plants grow very well in the shade and with moist soil. They will grow to be up to 4 feet tall and come in pretty much every single color you can possibly think of. The most common colors of primrose are pink, deep red, and lilac. If you are looking for soil additives or nutrients to help your primrose grow to its full potential, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today.

4. Astilbe Hybrids

If you are looking for a plant that features bright blooms to add some color to your landscaping, you should absolutely consider going with astilbe hybrids. You can purchase these plants in brilliant shades like lavender, red, and white and use them to improve the design elements of your yard. This is the perfect plant for shady areas like paths and beside a garden pool. You can even grow them inside of pots if you are short on space in your landscaping. The astilbe hybrids have a lot to offer your landscaping without needing a lot of shade to grow.

These are all great examples of plants that can grow in very little sunlight. If you are looking to grow plants in minimal sunlight, keep in mind that you will need to adjust your approach. Here are a few tips for growing plants in the shade:

Tip #1

Keep in mind that the areas beneath the canopy of the trees are warmer, so if you are planting things that are better for warmer temperatures you might want to plant them there.

Tip #2

If you have a shaded lawn, try to keep it mowed higher and avoid using too much fertilizer. You should also try to keep the foot traffic and water levels down.

Tip #3

Try to do as much research as you can when you are choosing the plants for your shady landscape. You want to understand how much direct or indirect sunlight each plant type needs before deciding on anything.

We hope this article has helped you learn some important information about trying to grow plants in shady areas. Every landscape is different, which is why you should always keep an open mind and be hungry for new techniques and information to achieve the best possible landscape. Remember that you can always reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you are looking for the products to take your landscaping further.