Plants for Full Shade Gardens

Plants for full shade thrive in spots that get fewer than four hours of direct sun per day. Whether you're working under a tree canopy, along a north-facing bed, or in a cool shaded corner, the right plants make all the difference. They transform those shadowy spots into standout garden features. Full shade doesn't mean a boring garden, it means a lush, layered landscape full of color and texture.

Our full shade plant collection spans annuals, perennials, and shrubs. We hand-pick every variety for reliable performance in low-light conditions. You'll find options with vibrant blooms, bold foliage, and interesting form. That means you can design a shade garden that looks great from spring through fall.

Purple leaved heuchera in a mulched garden bed
'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) forms a lush mound of bright green, arching leaves, thriving in shade and offering a graceful, cascading look for your garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A clump of 'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) with narrow, arching yellow-green leaves grows in a garden bed beside rocks and soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)

$18.99
$18.99

A large clump of 'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa), with long, arching green and yellow striped leaves, grows in a garden filled with pink flowers and vibrant green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Long, narrow blades of 'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa) in green, yellow, and pinkish-red overlap to form a dense, textured pattern of delicate, arching leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Aureola' Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)

$18.99
$18.99

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

A dense cluster of vibrant red and magenta-pink leaves of Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine) stands out in a lush garden, complemented by green foliage and soft pink flowers in the foreground - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A lush cluster of Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine) showcases dark green leaves with vivid pink veins, complemented by small pink flowers and other greenery in a garden, creating a striking foliage display - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'Blazin' Rose' Blood Leaf (Iresine)

$10.99
$10.99
A cluster of lush green 'Blue Mouse Ears' Hosta with broad leaves and tall stems topped with pale purple flowers blooms in a mulched garden bed, surrounded by other greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Close-up of 'Blue Mouse Ears' Hosta displays green, white-edged leaves with water droplets, thriving among brown mulch or straw - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Blue Mouse Ears' Hosta

$17.99
$17.99
A large 'Blueberry Muffin' Hosta with striking blue-green leaves grows in a bed. Thick, textured leaves feature wavy edges and prominent veins - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Top-down view of 'Blueberry Muffin' Hosta, with broad blue-green leaves in a shade garden - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Blueberry Muffin' Hosta

$19.99
$19.99
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

A cluster of 'Captain Kirk' Hosta with bold green leaves and striking variegation, grows in soil near the base of a tree - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.The 'Captain Kirk' Hosta features large, variegated green leaves with yellowish centers and is sun tolerant, making it a standout among perennial shade plants with diverse leaf patterns and colors - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Captain Kirk' Hosta

$18.99
$18.99

'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

A 'Crested Surf' Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium) with silvery-green, purple-veined fronds grows beside green leafy plants in a shade garden, bordered by brown wood mulch - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A 'Crested Surf' Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium) with dark reddish stems and silvery-green fronds thrives in a shady garden bed, nestled among companion plants near a lattice fence - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

'Crested Surf' Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium)

$19.99
$19.99
‘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

‘Ghost’ Ghost Fern (Athyrium), with its silvery foliage, pairs beautifully with broad-leaved hostas, creating elegant contrast and texture in shade gardens - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A cluster of delicate, light green fern leaves of 'Ghost' Ghost Fern (Athyrium), is complemented by broad variegated hosta foliage in a tranquil, shaded garden setting, bringing elegance with its airy fronds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Ghost' Ghost 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

Top-down view of 'Halo Sky Blue' Perennial Violet (Viola) blooms, featuring fragrant blue-violet flowers with green leaves, thriving in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A black, ribbed planter filled with fragrant 'Halo Sky Blue' Perennial Violet (Viola) blooms sits on a patio, surrounded by green foliage and a softly blurred outdoor background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

'Halo Sky Blue' Perennial Violet (Viola)

$17.99
$17.99

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
‘Humpback Whale’ Hosta features large, textured green leaves with pronounced veins that grow densely, while tall flower stalks rise above its blue-green foliage, adding bold presence to lush garden plantings - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

'Humpback Whale' Hosta

$20.99
$20.99