Full Shade Perennials

Full shade perennials form the backbone of gardens that get little to no direct sun. They thrive in spots that receive fewer than four hours of sunlight per day, including dappled shade under trees and areas with gentle morning light. Unlike annuals, perennials come back year after year, so your shady beds improve over time.

At Garden Crossings, we select full shade perennials for strong, reliable performance in low-light conditions. You’ll find options with colorful blooms, bold foliage, and interesting textures that keep your shade garden looking lush all season. These plants grow naturally in shade, so they stay healthy and vibrant even where other plants struggle.

Shadowland hosta with varigated leaves and purple blooms
The 'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features deep purple-green foliage surrounding tall spikes of vibrant purple flowers - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a 'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga) spike standing above dark, glossy, textured leaves. The blurred yellow-green foliage in the background highlights this perennial's striking groundcover appeal - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Black Scallop' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of four delicate, light purple 'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum) blooms with yellow centers and green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A cluster of tall, lilac colorted blooms with slender stems and green leaves grows by a gravel path, showcasing the beauty of 'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum) - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Bowles Me Away' Wallflower (Erysimum)

$17.99
$17.99

A group of 'Brilliance' Autumn Fern (Dryopteris) shows green and light brown fronds, with the brown tones indicating new growth or a seasonal shift, creating a striking contrast against the lush surrounding greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of 'Brilliance' Autumn Fern (Dryopteris) fronds in orange, yellow, and green among larger leaves. The colorful gradient showcases new growth and changing foliage of the central garden ferns - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Brilliance' Autumn Fern (Dryopteris)

$18.99
$18.99

'Canary Feathers' Corydalis with bright yellow flower spikes and delicate, fern-like green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Canary Feathers' Corydalis

$19.99
$19.99

'Chantilly Lace' Goatsbeard (Aruncus) features delicate, feathery stems topped with tiny cream flowers, creating an airy texture - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of 'Chantilly Lace' Goatsbeard (Aruncus) features feathery, creamy white plumes and deep green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Chantilly Lace' Goatsbeard (Aruncus)

$18.99
$18.99

‘Cutting Edge’ Foamflower (Tiarella) is a woodland perennial with jagged green leaves and tall stems bearing dense white flower spikes, thriving in garden beds mulched with pine needles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top down view of green, jagged-lobed leaves and purple veins, 'Cutting Edge' Foamflower (Tiarella) forms clusters in dark soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Cutting Edge' Foamflower (Tiarella)

$18.99
$18.99

Clusters of 'Dark Side of the Moon' Chinese Astilbe feature dark foliage and tall stems with vibrant pink and purple blooms, growing in a garden bed amidst green leafy plants and hostas in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A dense cluster of 'Dark Side of the Moon' Chinese Astilbe, with jagged greenish-brown and purple leaves, grows closely in a garden bed, while small yellow and pink flowers can be seen in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Dark Side of the Moon' Chinese Astilbe

$19.99
$19.99

A close-up of 'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola) shows its fragrant yellow blooms edged in light purple, set among green leaves with a dark purple pansy in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of 'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola) features pale yellow flowers with purple edges and soft green leaves, bringing lasting charm and beauty to any garden setting - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Etain' Perennial Violet (Viola)

$17.99
$17.99

A lush clump of bright green 'Fire Island' Hosta grows low to the ground, set against larger blue-green hostas in a shade garden among pine needles and soil - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of ‘Fire Island’ Hosta features bright yellow-green overlapping leaves with prominent veins and a smooth texture, set against darker green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Fire Island' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99
Close-up of 'Fronds Forever' Lady Fern (Athyrium) shows its delicate, feathery green fronds in focus. The blurred natural background highlights the plant's striking foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of the 'Fronds Forever' Lady Fern (Athyrium) displays its delicate, feathery green fronds against a blurred backdrop with a touch of purple - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Fronds Forever' Lady Fern (Athyrium)

$19.99
$19.99

A close-up of 'Gold Heart' Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) displays its pink flowers on a curved stem, surrounded by vibrant gold-green foliage, flourishing in the sunlight of a shade garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A shade garden highlights 'Gold Heart' Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) with vibrant yellow-green leaves and pink, heart-shaped flowers on arching stems. Wooden lattice fencing and plant labels appear among the foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Gold Heart' Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

$18.99
$18.99

Close up of dense clusters of green and yellow variegated foliage, 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) adds vivid texture and striking color as an eye-catching perennial for shady garden spots - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of a group of light purple flowers with yellow centers rise above the variegated foliage of 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium)

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of vibrant purple 'Halo Violet' Perennial Violet (Viola) flowers with yellow centers and green leaves, blooming in clusters - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of 'Halo Violet' Perennial Violet (Viola) flowers with yellow and white centers amid green leaves. Velvety petals and sunlight highlight the rich, vibrant colors of this showy perennial - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Halo Violet' Perennial Violet (Viola)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of delicate pink and yellow spidery flowers with long, thin petals bloom above green, heart-shaped leaves—Hugs And Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium) is a deer-resistant perennial ideal for lush shade gardens - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Delicate pink flowers with long, thin petals and yellow centers bloom on arching stems among green leaves of 'Hugs And Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium). Flower pot and yellow flowers are blurred in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Hugs and Kisses' Barrenwort (Epimedium)

$21.99
$21.99

A lush ‘Island Breeze’ Hosta, a shade perennial with broad, heart-shaped leaves that have light yellow centers and dark green edges, grows closely together over pine needles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of ‘Island Breeze’ Hosta features large, overlapping leaves with bold veins and striking variegated light and dark green color along a stone or brick border - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Island Breeze' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of small, bright blue flowers with yellow centers bloom above the silvery-white veined leaves of 'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera), a striking perennial and perfect shade groundcover for a vibrant garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A top-down view of small blue flowers with yellow centers blooming above green leaves with silvery veins. 'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) is a beautiful perennial ideal as shade groundcover among lush foliage and pine needle mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Jack Frost' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

$18.99
$18.99

'Jack of Diamonds' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) features large, heart-shaped leaves with silvery-white surfaces and bold green veins, thriving as a shade-loving ground cover amid other green foliage and mulch - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top-down view of ‘Jack of Diamonds’ Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera) showcases large, heart-shaped green leaves with silver-white veining, making it an excellent shade ground cover for mulched garden beds amid other foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Jack of Diamonds' Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera)

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of 'Liberty' Hosta, a shade perennial with striking variegated leaves—yellow edges, green centers, and wavy shapes give this ornamental plant a lush, layered look that showcases its distinctive color pattern - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a cluster of 'Liberty' Hosta plants with large green leaves edged in bright yellow provides striking ornamental foliage in a mulched garden bed - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Liberty' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99

A cluster of 'Munchkin Fire' Hosta displays light green leaves and tall stems topped with pale purple flowers beside a stone border in a shade garden, surrounded by various foliage plants in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.The 'Munchkin Fire' Hosta is a compact miniature with long bright yellow-green spikey leaves, thriving in dark soil and shade - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Munchkin Fire' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of lush green leaves with clusters of bright yellow 'Night Light' Moneywort (Lysimachia) flowers. This vibrant shade garden perennial forms excellent ground cover with multi-petaled blooms and layers of leafy bracts - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of lush green and purple-tinged leaves with clusters of small, bright yellow flowers. 'Night Light' Moneywort (Lysimachia) is a healthy, dense ground cover ideal for any shade garden perennial display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Night Light' Moneywort (Lysimachia)

$17.99
$17.99

The 'Old Glory' Hosta features broad, heart-shaped green leaves and tall flower stalks - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Old Glory’ Hosta features large, textured leaves with bright yellow centers and green edges, forming a lush cluster in mulched soil - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Old Glory' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99
'Orange Slices' Spigelia is a bushy perennial with clusters of bright red, tubular flowers and green leaves, thriving in gardens among lush foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.‘Orange Slices’ Spigelia is a bushy perennial with clusters of vibrant red, tubular flowers and green leaves, thriving in garden beds alongside mulch and other plants - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Orange Slices' Spigelia

$21.99
$21.99

Clusters of small, bell-shaped 'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) flowers in blue and pink bloom early in the season above green leaves speckled with white - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A dense bush of 'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria) with green, spotted leaves and clusters of small funnel-shaped pink and blue flowers blooms early in the season, thriving in soil - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Pink-a-Blue' Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

$19.99
$19.99

‘Praying Hands’ Hosta features dense clumps of unique, wavy green leaves edged in creamy white - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.‘Praying Hands’ Hosta features dense, wavy green leaves and clusters of light purple tubular flowers. This unique foliage hosta is a standout in a shade garden creating vibrant texture among lush greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Praying Hands' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99