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
Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features glossy, dark purple crinkled leaves as an attractive evergreen ground cover, with hints of green and yellow foliage - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.Close-up of the dark purple, crinkled leaves of Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga), highlighting their glossy texture and prominent veins - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Fierce Falcon' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Feathered Friends® 'Flashy Flamingo' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features clusters of pale purple flowers and golden yellow foliage, with dense, delicate spikes—ideal as a shade ground cover. Blurred blue-purple blooms appear in the background - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Flashy Flamingo' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed features dense clusters of narrow, glossy dark green and purplish leaves - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.A close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed (Ajuga) in a tray, its dense glossy dark green and purple-tinged evergreen leaves highlighted by sunlight, showcasing unique foliage textures - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Feathered Friends® 'Noble Nightingale' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga) ground cover, displaying textured, veined green and reddish-brown leaves with natural color variations - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features dense clusters of yellow-green leaves with reddish-brown veins and tips, forming a rounded, evergreen foliage plant - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Parrot Paradise' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
Feathered Friends® 'Petite Parakeet' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features gold small leaves that contrast beautifully with bright yellow-green and dark purple foliage, dark greenish-purple foliage is seen in the top of the image - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.A dense cluster of small, yellow-green leaves with light brown edges, typical of Feathered Friends® 'Petite Parakeet' Bugleweed (Ajuga), grows closely together in a tray against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Petite Parakeet' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
A potted Feathered Friends® 'Pink Pelican' Bugleweed (Ajuga), a ground cover perennial with dense clusters of small light purple flowers and green-red leaves, is set against a plain white background - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions. Decorative pot not included.

Feathered Friends® 'Pink Pelican' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of vibrant purple Feathered Friends® 'Pleasant Pheasant' Bugleweed (Ajuga) flower spikes with green and yellowish-brown leaves. Densely packed blooms give a soft look, making this ajuga an excellent choice for shade gardens - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.Feathered Friends® 'Pleasant Pheasant' Bugleweed (Ajuga) features a dense cluster of small, oval leaves in yellow, orange, and reddish-brown, providing vibrant textured foliage for striking shade garden displays - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.

Feathered Friends® 'Pleasant Pheasant' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Rosy Robin' Bugleweed (Ajuga) flower spikes with densely packed blooms above green and bronze foliage - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions. A potted Feathered Friends® 'Rosy Robin' Bugleweed (Ajuga), a hardy perennial with dense spikes of pale purple flowers and reddish-green leaves, is shown against a white background - Photo Courtesy of Garden Solutions. Decorative pot not included.

Feathered Friends® 'Rosy Robin' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Tropical Toucan' Bugleweed (Ajuga) shows vibrant yellow-green, slightly wrinkled leaves with purple stems—perfect for shade gardens or ground cover. The image highlights the plant’s striking color and texture - Photo Courtesy of Chris Hansen.A close-up of Feathered Friends® 'Tropical Toucan' Bugleweed (Ajuga) displays wrinkled yellow-green leaves, some brown-edged—suggesting stress. Sunlight accentuates their texture in this top ground cover for shade gardens - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Feathered Friends® 'Tropical Toucan' Bugleweed (Ajuga)

$17.99
$17.99
A vibrant Fleuri™ Clematis in bloom displays six large purple petals and white-tipped stamens, surrounded by green leaves with another compact clematis partly visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's ClematisFleuri™ Clematis features striking pointed purple petals with white-tipped stamens and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Fleuri™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of Fun and Games® 'Capture the Flag' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) features yellow-green, star-shaped leaves with dark red veins. Its serrated, textured foliage adds vibrant detail - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Densely clustered yellow-green leaves with red veins form the foreground, while small blue flowers and green foliage highlight Fun and Games® 'Capture the Flag' Foamy Bells (Heucherella), a striking shade perennial, in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Fun and Games® 'Capture the Flag' Foamy Bells (Heucherella)

$18.99
$18.99
Yellow-green leaves with dark red veins sit below delicate clusters of light pink flowers on tall stems—this close-up features Fun and Games® 'Eye Spy' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of Fun and Games® 'Eye Spy' Foamy Bells (Heucherella), a shade perennial with light green leaves, dark veins, and stems topped with delicate pink flowers, thrives beautifully in a lush garden setting - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Fun and Games® 'Eye Spy' Foamy Bells (Heucherella)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of Fun and Games® 'Hopscotch' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) leaves overlap in red, orange, and brown shades, highlighting jagged edges and textured surfaces - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of autumn-colored leaves in orange, red, and brown, of Fun and Games® 'Hopscotch' Foamy Bells (Heucherella), glistening with small water droplets - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Fun and Games® 'Hopscotch' Foamy Bells (Heucherella)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of rusty red leaves of Fun and Games® 'Red Rover' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) with a cluster of pink and white buds surround the perennial amid lush green foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a cluster of Fun and Games® 'Red Rover' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) leaves, resembling coral bells, display rich burgundy-red hues grow densely above dark soil - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Fun and Games® 'Red Rover' Foamy Bells (Heucherella)

$18.99
$18.99

Fun and Games® 'Shadow Tag' Foamy Bells (Heucherella) displays light green, ruffled leaves with dark veins - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of scalloped, green-and-silver veined Heucherella leaves fills the frame, showcasing lush texture - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Fun and Games® 'Shadow Tag' Foamy Bells (Heucherella)

$18.99
$18.99

Vibrant bleeding heart plant with bright yellow-green leaves and clusters of red flowers with white tips, photographed in a garden setting. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A flowering plant with bright yellow-green leaves and clusters of red heart-shaped flowers, growing outdoors in mulch with a stone wall and greenery in the background. - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Hearts on Fire' Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

$19.99
$19.99
A close-up of a pale yellow Honeymoon® 'California Dreaming' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with delicate petals, yellow stamens, and surrounded by green leaves and buds - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'California Dreaming' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up shows a person holding a Honeymoon® 'French Kiss' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with pale purple petals, dark purple edges, and clustered white and dark purple stamens; the background has blurred people and shaded gardens - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of Honeymoon® 'French Kiss' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) flowers featuring pale white and purple petals with yellow-green centers and fine purple veining, ideal for brightening shade gardens - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'French Kiss' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of a light green Honeymoon® 'Irish Luck' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with five petals, dark purple center markings, and pale yellow stamens. Two fingers gently hold this shade perennial; green leaves appear in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'Irish Luck' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of the Honeymoon® 'New York Night' Lenten Rose (Helleborus), displaying its dark purple-black petals and bright yellow-green center, gently held by a person's fingers among green leaves in a shade garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Honeymoon® 'New York Night' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with dark purple blooms and pale yellow stamens, showcased among green leaves in a shady garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'New York Night' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99
A hand holds a Honeymoon® 'Paris in Pink' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with five pink petals and a yellow-white center, shown close-up against a blurred green background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of several pale purple and white Honeymoon® 'Paris in Pink' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) flowers with yellow centers and delicate petals, surrounded by green leaves and darker parts, arranged closely together - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'Paris in Pink' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99
A close-up of a Honeymoon® 'Rio Carnival' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) shows cream-yellow petals with maroon-purple splotches and a green, spiky center, framed by lush green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of pale yellow Honeymoon® 'Rio Carnival' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) flowers with bold dark purple splotches and speckles, featuring prominent yellow-green stamens, set against a dark background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'Rio Carnival' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99

Three Honeymoon® 'Romantic Getaway' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) flowers display white petals with deep maroon centers, yellow-green stamens, and are framed by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'Romantic Getaway' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99

A close-up of Honeymoon® 'Rome in Red' Lenten Rose (Helleborus), a deep burgundy perennial with yellow stamens, surrounded by green leaves and softly blurred background foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of the Honeymoon® 'Rome in Red' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) features clusters of deep purple blooms with yellow-green centers and bright stamens - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Honeymoon® 'Rome in Red' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$18.99
$18.99