Part-Shade Plants

Partial-shade plants thrive in areas that get about 4 to 6 hours of sun each day, usually morning light or dappled shade under trees. This makes these plants ideal for borders, gardens under tree canopies, spaces along fence lines, hanging baskets, and even containers.

At Garden Crossings, we have a wide selection of perennials, annuals, edibles, and garden shrubs that’ll perform beautifully in your shady spot, each selected for exceptional quality and customer success. Explore our plants.

White part shade flowers with variegated green foliage
A close-up of Funky® Pink Begonia shows double pink blooms with layered petals and jagged green leaves, more pink flowers softly blurred behind - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of Funky® Pink Begonia's double pink blooms in a wicker hanging basket, amid green leaves and buds. The softly blurred background suggests a porch setting with lush greenery outside - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Funky® Pink Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Funky® Red Begonia features bright red double blooms with layered petals and yellow stamens, set against lush green leaves. A visible bud hints at more color - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of Funky® Red Begonia, featuring vibrant double blooms and lush green leaves in a hanging basket, set against the softly lit panels of a greenhouse - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Funky® Red Begonia

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Funshine® Abelia, a shrub with green and reddish foliage, producing clusters of pale lavender tubular flowers with pointed petals - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Funshine® Abelia is a shrub with green leaves tinged yellow and clusters of small, white, trumpet-shaped flowers scattered throughout its lush foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Funshine® Abelia

$22.99
$22.99

Bright yellow, star-shaped flowers with slender petals bloom on the leafy Funyella® Clematis vine, creating a charming focal point in any outdoor garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of pale yellow, spiky, bell-shaped Funyella® Clematis flowers with green leaves in the background, displayed in an outdoor garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Funyella® Clematis

$22.99
$22.99

Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox features clusters of vibrant purple blooms with white centers and green foliage in the garden, offering fragrant, reblooming flowers - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A lush bush of Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox, featuring abundant clusters of bright purple flowers, grows among green foliage and white blooms in a garden bed before a brick building - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Dream Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99
Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox displays vibrant light purple and pink blooms with delicate petals and dark green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox showcases dense clusters of five-petaled light purple blooms among green foliage, with darker plants visible in the background to the right - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Fancy Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99
Close-up of vibrant pink Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox bloom in the foreground, with more pink flowers and green foliage blurred behind - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A vibrant cluster of Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox in full bloom, surrounded by green grass and other plants, creates a stunning perennial display in a garden setting - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Garden Girls® 'Material Girl' Tall Garden Phlox

$17.99
$19.99 $17.99
A close-up of the vibrant magenta Gardini® Bourbon™ Clematis shows six petals and creamy yellow stamens, with green leaves and wooden supports - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Three vibrant magenta Gardini® Bourbon™ Clematis flowers with yellow centers and large, velvety petals bloom among green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Gardini® Bourbon™ Clematis

$20.99
$20.99

A close-up of the compact Garland® Giselle™ Clematis, a climbing perennial with pointed pink petals and a dark purple center, surrounded by green leaves and flower buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of a vibrant pink Garland® Giselle™ Clematis, a compact climbing perennial in full bloom, with delicate petals, dark purple stamens at the center, and lush green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Donahue's Clematis

Garland® Giselle™ Clematis

FREE
FREE
A close-up of pale yellow Gatsby Gal® Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers with hints of pink, blooming in clusters among green leaves in sunlight. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of pale cream Gatsby Gal® Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers with small green buds, set among green leaves and a softly blurred green background. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Gatsby Gal® Oakleaf Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

A close-up of white blooms from the Gatsby Glow Ball® Oakleaf Hydrangea, arranged in a cone shape and surrounded by large, jagged green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.The Gatsby Glow Ball® Oakleaf Hydrangea, with its broad lobed green leaves and large cone-shaped clusters of white blooms, adds elegance to a landscaped garden beside a paved path - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Gatsby Glow Ball® Oakleaf Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

A hand holds a large cluster of Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers, cone-shaped and densely packed with small white blooms, surrounded by green leaves. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCTwo large clusters of white Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers bloom among green lobed leaves in sunlight. On the left, a person with pink nail polish gently holds one flower stem, partially visible in the frame. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99
A cluster of pale pink Gatsby Pink® Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers with green leaves, brightly lit by sunlight, stands out against a softly blurred brown and green background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA large Gatsby Pink® Oakleaf Hydrangea with vibrant blooms grows in a mulched garden bed near a white fence, with a red barn and green fields in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Gatsby Pink® Oakleaf Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

A dense, rounded Gem Box Prime™ Inkberry Holly with bright green leaves grows in a mulched garden bed, surrounded by similar leafy evergreen shrub alternatives to boxwood in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Gem Box Prime™ Inkberry Holly (Ilex) is a dense, green evergreen shrub with small, glossy leaves. Thriving in mulched beds and sunlight, it offers a striking boxwood alternative against darker background foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Gem Box Prime™ Inkberry Holly (Ilex)

$22.99
$22.99
A round, dense Gem Box® Inkberry Holly (Ilex), a great boxwood alternative with small leaves, is planted in a mulched bed. Similar shrubs and pink-flowering plants appear in the background. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCTop-down view of Gem Box® Inkberry Holly (Ilex) is a dense, round evergreen shrub with small, shiny green leaves, making it an excellent boxwood alternative for garden beds. Pink flowers are seen in the upper left corner - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Gem Box® Inkberry Holly (Ilex)

$22.99
$22.99

Bright magenta Gigi Dark Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) in full bloom are surrounded by green leaves and unopened flower buds. The petals are lush and layered, creating a striking contrast with the buds and foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of a vibrant pink Gigi Dark Pink' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, showing detailed, layered petals with a soft-focus pink background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Dark Pink Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$10.79
$11.99 $10.79
Top down view of large yellow-orange blooms of Gigi Gold' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum). Many smaller blooms are ready to open on the plant - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA close-up of a vibrant yellow Gigi Gold' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with layered petals and an orange center, set against a blurred green and yellow background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Gold Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
Close-up of vibrant orange Gigi Orange' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flowers in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves and some unopened red-orange buds in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClose-up of an orange Gigi Orange' Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum) flower in full bloom, with vibrant petals and a blurred green and orange background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.

Gigi™ Orange Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum)

$11.99
$11.99
A close-up of Glacier Ivy (Hedera) shows creamy white-edged leaves with visible veins, set against a blurred green background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Glacier Ivy (Hedera)

$10.99
$10.99
Clusters of small white flowers bloom above glossy, serrated dark green leaves on the self-pollinating Glitters & Glows® Viburnum, adding a vibrant and lush look in bright sunlight. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Close-up of lush, serrated, glossy green leaves and new light green growth on Glitters & Glows® Viburnum, a self-pollinating shrub with blue fruit, set against a softly blurred green background. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Glitters & Glows® Viburnum

$21.99
$21.99
Clusters of small white flowers bloom among the bright chartreuse foliage of the Glow Girl® Birchleaf Spiraea creating a vibrant and lush appearance in this close-up image. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of small white flowers with yellow centers appear among chartreuse foliage on the Glow Girl® Birchleaf Spiraea - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Glow Girl® Birchleaf Spiraea

$22.99
$22.99
A cluster of small, bright pink flowers and unopened buds on green stems, surrounded by chartreuse-yellow foliage of the Glow Girl® Pink Spirea - Birchleaf Spiraea, creates a lively garden scene. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Close-up of Glow Girl® Pink Spirea - Birchleaf Spiraea displays clusters of vibrant pink, yellow-centered flowers above chartreuse foliage. This low-maintenance shrub is perfect for adding color and brightness to any green space. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Glow Girl® Pink Spirea - Birchleaf Spiraea

$22.99
$22.99

Close-up of dense, vibrant green foliage on Glow Pop® Japanese Holly (Ilex). This compact shrub features healthy, oval-shaped broadleaf evergreen leaves in a striking mix of light and dark green shades. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCGlow Pop® Japanese Holly (Ilex) is a dense, compact shrub with bright yellow-green leaves, thriving on black landscaping fabric amid green grass and plants; this broadleaf evergreen offers year-round garden interest. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Glow Pop® Japanese Holly (Ilex)

$22.99
$40.99 $22.99

A close-up of a neatly trimmed, upright Glow Stick® Japanese Holly (Ilex) shrub with small leaves, surrounded by mulch and similar compact evergreen shrubs in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A single Glow Stick® Japanese Holly (Ilex), an upright compact evergreen with golden foliage, grows through black weed-control fabric amid grass, with other evenly spaced shrubs visible in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Glow Stick® Japanese Holly (Ilex)

$22.99
$22.99

Part-shade abelia shrub with flowers.

Enjoy Beautiful Blooms and Foliage with Less Shade

Many of the most beautiful flowers and plants thrive in sunny gardens. Others prefer deep shade and will easily burn or scorch in the afternoon sun. But there are also plants that don’t fall comfortably in either category: part-shade plants.

These plants do best in morning sun and afternoon shade, which protects from the harsh midday heat. This gentle sun helps bring out their most vibrant blooms and leaf colors. However, you’ll find that some varieties, like bugleweeds, are very adaptable and grow well in full shade too.

Chokeberry plants for part shade.

Shop Part-Shade Plants and Flowers for Your Growing Conditions

Growing since 2004, Garden Crossings understands first-hand how growing conditions and hardiness zones can influence your plant’s growth. To support your gardening success, we’ve selected partial-shade plants for zones 2 through 9. You’ll also find varieties that meet your growing conditions, from drought-tolerant shrubs to pollinator-friendly perennials. 

Order online for pickup or get your plants delivered.

FAQs

Part shade means your spot gets 4 to 6 hours of sun every day. These plants specifically prefer gentle morning sun and shade in the afternoon for protection from intense midday rays.

Many plants thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade, including begonias, fuchsias, and mums. Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas also often love cool morning light.

Not necessarily. Regional variations can also influence how plants respond to sunlight. For example, afternoon sun in southern states is often much stronger than in northern states like Minnesota. Consider your climate and hardiness zone before planting.