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
Long, slender spikes of small white flowers extend from leafy green stems as the dense Little Henry® Sweetspire (Itea) grows over a stone border in the garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of overlapping reddish-brown, pink, and green leaves with prominent veins and glossy texture on the compact Little Henry® Sweetspire (Itea) shrub. Leaves grow from the central stem - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Little Henry® Sweetspire (Itea)

$21.99
$21.99

Clusters of pink and white Little Lime Punch® Panicle Hydrangea bloom beside round purple alliums, creating a vibrant garden scene highlighted by lush green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A healthy Little Lime Punch® Panicle Hydrangea, a hardy flowering shrub, shows clusters of pale yellow and white blooms in a mulched garden bed, set off by green leaves and purple flowers in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Little Lime Punch® Panicle Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

Clusters of large, fluffy Little Lime® Panicle Hydrangea blooms in pink, white, and lime-green stand out among green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A large Little Lime® Panicle Hydrangea with pale green and cream flowers is surrounded by pink impatiens. Behind it stands a blue wooden structure with a yellow crescent moon, and a paved stone walkway appears in the foreground - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Little Lime® Panicle Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

Top-down view of Little Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea is a flowering shrub with clusters of pink and white blooms, set in a mulched garden bed and surrounded by green leaves and similar plants. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCLittle Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea, a dwarf variety with pink and white flower clusters, is set among green and yellow foliage plants in a garden bed topped with mulch. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Little Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

Clusters of small white flowers with pink-tipped stamens bloom on Low Scape Mound® Aronia, set against glossy green leaves. Some buds stay closed, their pink tips enhancing the shrub’s fresh and detailed look - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Dense green shrubs with glossy oval leaves, identified as Low Scape Mound® Aronia, grow closely together in a garden bed with mulch and other plants nearby, adding rich texture and visual interest to the landscape - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Low Scape Mound® Aronia

$22.99
$22.99

Low Scape Snowfire® Black Aronia is a shrub with clusters of small five-petaled white flowers, dark green leaves, and dense foliage - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A close-up of Low Scape Snowfire® Black Aronia, showing clusters of small white flowers and green leaves as it blooms outdoors in bright sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Low Scape Snowfire® Black Aronia

$22.99
$22.99
Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox features abundant small white blooms atop tall green stems, flourishing outdoors amid lush greenery with blurred garden plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Clusters of Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox display vibrant, powdery mildew-resistant white blooms atop green stems and leaves, with a blurred background emphasizing the delicate petals and lush appearance - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

A large Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox, a vibrant and pollinator-friendly plant, flourishes outdoors with clusters of bright pink flowers and dark green leaves among trees and other blooming plants - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Close-up of Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox with clusters of vibrant pink blooms with tightly packed petals, creating a lush, colorful display - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Pink Lightning' Tall Garden Phlox

$18.99
$18.99

A lush garden showcases Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox, its vivid purple-pink blooms and rich green foliage standing out among perennials - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.Clusters of Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox bloom amidst silvery-green foliage against a brick wall - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Luminary® 'Prismatic Pink' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox displays vibrant coral pink blooms amid green foliage and ornamental grasses, adding brilliant color to the garden with a lush backdrop of greenery and blurred landscape - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox features a cluster of vibrant coral pink and red blooms with small purple centers, densely blooming against green grass - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Sunset Coral' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

Luscious® Berry Blend™ Lantana displays clusters of small yellow, orange, and red flowers with green leaves, standing out against a vibrant red background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A large yellow ceramic pot brimming with lush green foliage and clusters of vibrant red, orange, and yellow Luscious® Berry Blend™ Lantana flowers - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Luscious® Berry Blend™ Lantana

$10.99
$10.99

The Luscious® Marmalade Lantana features bright orange flower clusters of small tubular blooms, is drought tolerant, and displays green serrated leaves with unopened buds against a softly blurred garden background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Clusters of vibrant orange and yellow Luscious® Marmalade Lantana flowers with lush green leaves create a dense floral pattern - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luscious® Marmalade Lantana

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of tall spikes of purple-blue flowers with dense blossoms rise above green foliage. Magic Show® 'Ever After' Spike Speedwell (Veronica) - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.A cluster of Magic Show® 'Ever After' Spike Speedwell (Veronica) features slender purple-blue flower spikes and green lance-shaped leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Magic Show® 'Ever After' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of tall spikes of vibrant pink flowers rise above green foliage on the compact Magic Show® 'Pink Potion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica) creating a lush, colorful garden scene with blooms in all stages - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of the tall spikes of vibrant blooms from Magic Show® 'Pink Potion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)with densely packed pink flowers amid green foliage for lively garden color - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Magic Show® 'Pink Potion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)

$18.99
$27.99 $18.99

Close-up of striking purple spiked flowers of Magic Show® 'Purple Illusion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica), a long-blooming perennial with green leaves, stand out against a soft green background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A cluster of Magic Show® 'Purple Illusion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica), a deer-resistant, long-blooming perennial, displays tall purple spikes and green leaves in a mulched garden bed with grass in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Magic Show® 'Purple Illusion' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)

$18.99
$18.99

A cluster of Magic Show® 'White Wands' Spike Speedwell (Veronica) rises above brown mulch in the garden bed, with lush greenery visible in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A group of Magic Show® 'White Wands' Spike Speedwell (Veronica), a deer resistant perennial, stands tall in a mulched bed with elegant white flower spikes and lush green foliage, while purple blooms appear in the background - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Magic Show® 'White Wands' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)

$18.99
$18.99

Tall spikes of vibrant purple flowers, like Magic Show® 'Wizard of Ahhs' Spike Speedwell (Veronica), grow with slender green leaves in dense clusters - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of the tall spikes of vibrant purple Magic Show® 'Wizard of Ahhs' Spike Speedwell (Veronica) bloom densely among green foliage, with more Spike Speedwell and lush greenery softly blurred in a sunlit garden backdrop - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Magic Show® 'Wizard of Ahhs' Spike Speedwell (Veronica)

$19.99
$19.99
The Main Street USA Annual Combination is a hanging white pot featuring vibrant red, white, and purple Supertunia blooms with lush greenery - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Main Street USA Annual Combination

$15.99
$15.99
Close-up of Majestic Giants Blue White Blotch Pansy (Viola), featuring vivid white petals with deep purple blotches and lush green leaves. The soft-focus background enhances the striking early spring colors and unique patterns - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Majestic Giants II Blue And White with Blotch Pansy (Viola)

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of a Majestic Giants Marina Shades Blotch Pansy (Viola) shows vibrant purple, yellow, and cream petals with a dark purple center. Lush green leaves surround this early-blooming perennial, with another pansy softly blurred in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A close-up of a Majestic Giants Marina Shades Blotch Pansy (Viola), an early-blooming perennial with purple, yellow, and creamy white petals featuring a bold dark purple center and small yellow spot, surrounded by green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Majestic Giants II Marina with Blotch Pansy (Viola)

$10.99
$10.99
A close-up of a 'Majestic Giants White Blotch' Pansy (Viola) reveals its large white flowers with striking purple blotches and a yellow center, framed by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of Majestic Giants White Blotch' Pansy (Viola) shows its large white petals with deep purple blotches around a yellow center, set against green leaves and early-blooming perennials in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Majestic Giants II White with Blotch Pansy (Viola)

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of a Majestic Giants Yellow Blotch Pansy (Viola) displays its extra-large yellow flowers with bold maroon centers, framed by green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of a Majestic Giants Yellow Blotch Pansy (Viola) shows its extra-large yellow blooms with dark maroon center markings, surrounded by green leaves and a nearby small flower bud - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Majestic Giants II Yellow with Blotch Pansy (Viola)

$10.99
$10.99

A lush cluster of bright green Margarita Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea) leaves is surrounded by vibrant magenta petunias, set against a light brick wall for a striking display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Margarita Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea) features vibrant lime-green, heart-shaped leaves with a crinkled texture, creating dense, lush coverage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Margarita Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Marto™ Hot Rose Rockfoil (Saxifraga), a drought-tolerant perennial with vibrant magenta flowers, yellow centers, and delicate petals, shown against a softly blurred background of matching blooms - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.The Marto™ Hot Rose Rockfoil (Saxifraga) is a drought-tolerant perennial with clusters of small, bright pink, five-petaled flowers featuring yellow centers and green foliage on slender stems - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Marto™ Hot Rose Rockfoil (Saxifraga)

$16.19
$17.99 $16.19
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.